Thiruvannamalai Simply Divine :Part 2

Thiruvannamalai Simply Divine :Part 2

Girivalam: Giri = Hill, Valam = circumambulation. Hence Giri Valam means circling the hill, The Thiruvannamalai Girivalam, is to circumbulate the holy hill. Girivalam Padhai is a 14 KM route around the hill , there are 8 Shivalingams enroute, as a matter of fact the first Lingam namely Indira Lingam is very close to the temple. There is lots of spiritual & scientific reasons on this circumbulation. “The greatness of this giripradakshina has been described at length in Arunachala Puranam.  Shri Ramana Maharishi, has encouraged all of his devotees to make the nine-mile circuit. It's very good to do this girivalam by foot or through any motor vehicle or cycle, the road is well laid and well lit (Thanks to Super Star Rajini), who had sponsored the sodium vapour lamp en route. Sri Sadguru Seshadri Swamigal Ashram & Sri Ramnashramam are en route this girivalam. There are new temples that have sprung up , so are the Ashrams. Apart from the 8 Lingams, other important temple is "Ner Annamalai Temple", it's a pretty beautiful but small temple that houses Shri Annamalayar & Unnamalai Amman along side with Shri Gayathri Matha. An interesting info about this temple is on first day of Chitthirai (first month of tamil calendar) every year the Sun's rays fall on the holy sanctum.

Out of the new temples that have come up recently, the Chandra Lingam &  Shri Venkatajalapathi temple is quite impressive. Shri Ramanshram has published a detailed map of around 52 temples around the Girivalam route. The detailed note of all the temples around the girivalam shrine is published in the following link of Agsthiyar.org website

Guide to Girivalam Temples: http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0009-gv.htm

Iduku Pillayar shrine:

Iduku pillayar shrine is a narrow a shrine with a narrow slit. There is a small Nandhi that faces the holy hill. It's very holy to worship the Arunachala Hill from this spot. The mode of worship in this temple is to pass through this slit without showing back to the hill. Doing such worship is believed to  get rid of future births. As always, I believe there must be more scientific and profound reasons behind such process of worship. It was a great experience to get in and out of that shrine.

Other References:

http://www.omarunachala.com/giri.asp

http://www.thiruvannamalai.in/tiruvannamalai-temple/girivalam-Timing.html

http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0009-gv.htm

http://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/

TiMaS Tip: It's good to go around the hill by foot, however going around the hill through motor vehicles or cycle is easy , the road around the hill is well laid and lit. The auto wallas are available right outside the Main entrance of the temple near hotel Abirami., you can have your food and start from there ,The local auto wallas charge any where around Rs 200/- to Rs 250/- to go around the hill along with the 8 Lingams, Saibaba temple and Iduku Pillayar temple and back to main gate. There is Hotel Ramakrishna at the end of girivalam path. You can have food there once your girivalam is complete. It's a very peaceful experience to go around the hill, one has to experience that and there are no words to express the happiness one rejoices circumblating the hill.