THIRUVANNAMALAI-2

THIRUVANNAMALAI TEMPLE GOPURAM

                  

Thiruvannaamalai-Girivalam-2

     Sri.S.V.Varadharajan

   This means it attracts the devotees like a magnet absorbing iron filings.It is also called as Arunachalam.'Aruna' means sun which represents brightness or reddish colour. 'Achla' means mountain.It is thus a mountain with reddish slopes. The mountain itself represents God,or Annamalai and its glory cannot be estimated. It measures 800 meters meters gigantically into the sky (2668 feet and its base has eight phases (sides and is about 8 miles (14kms in circumference. There are eight siva Lingams on the path that goes round the mountain and which is yhe route use by devotees for Girivalam.The mountain apears in different shapes at different places.From the eastern side it looks like a single block representing 'Eka Linga' principle.On the Girivalam path, it shows up as two divisions representing 'Ardhanareewara' principle. From western side, we see three divisions, hinting at 'Trimurthi' principle.At the finishing point of the Girivalam route, we can see five phases of the mountain representing the five faces of Lord Siva.

    Thus the Annamalai mountain represents various philosophical concepts in its shape and existence.The Girivalam route is called as Thiruvikram Pandian Seventh Street.We see shops selling flowers, fragrant Sticks, herbal products etc. for pooja. On the route, we come across the Asramams of Sshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi,Annamalai Swami, and Yogi Ram Surat Kumar Swami  [Visiri Swamy ]. There are sixteen Vinayaga Shrines and Seven Arumuga Sannadhis on the route in addition to Navagraha temple, Durga and Hanuman shrines.


To be continued