The Tiruvannamalai Arunachala temple and Ramanashram

 Home to the sprawling Arunachaleswar Temple and Ramanashram, Tiruvannamalai is around 200 kms away from Bangalore, on the Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri- Pondicherry route, yet not many are inclined to travel to this temple town, and many do not even know it exists. This small temple town buzzes with activity  because of the incredibly beautiful temple of Lord Shiva, the construction of which, it is said, dates to 850 AD. Over the ages, the temple was enlarged, more shrines were built : and has now evolved into an incredibly large and amazingly beautiful temple complex with massive gopurams beyond which towers the the holy Arunachala hill and which , from the Skandashram, resembles a fortress of some ancient kingdom of yore. Just a kilometer away from the temple is the serene and calm ashram of Ramana Maharishi , known as Ramanashram, where followers of the Maha rishi from all over the world gather to ponder over his teachings and celebrate his presence that is felt even today, more than three score years after his attaining mahanirvana. Beyond Ramanashram, a kilometer and a half up the hill, is Skandashram, and the Virupaksha cave, where the Maharishi once lived.

RAJAGOPURAM OF MAIN TEMPLE OR 'PERIYA KOVIL'

Girivalam or Circumambulating Arunachala

The mountain represents the ultimate Shiva lingam, the embodiment of Lord Shiva Himself.  Believers invariably have to complete the 'Girivalam' or circumambulation of the holy hill, a distance of 14 kilometers. On Pournami day (full moon day) it is estimated that believers in their thousands complete the Girivalam walk; and during  the Karthika festival it is believed that the number of pilgrims runs into lakhs.  

 

RAJAGOPURAM



Folklore has it that the whole world is represented by the holy hill, and to walk around it is walking around the world itself. It is said that the mere thought of the mountain brings liberation of the soul from the cycle of reincarnation (moksha). It is strenuous  and is better done with good footwear, though it is supposed to be done barefoot.  



Pradakshina is another word for  circumambulation, both meaning the ritualistic walk around a holy object or location. Devotees chant the mantra sacred to Lord Shiva, "Om Namah Shivaya," while circling the holy mountain on foot. According to the Skanda Purana , a sacred text, the devotee who walks around the sacred mountain is said to gain a different blessing for each day of the week:



VIEW FROM GIRIVALAM PATH



RAJAGOPURAM



“A devotee who circumambulates the Hill on a Sunday penetrates the region of the Sun and attains Liberation. He gains the world of Shiva. He who circumambulates the Hill on a Monday lives free from the afflictions of old age and death. He who circumambulates the Hill on a Tuesday is released from all debts and becomes an emperor. If Pradakshina is done on Wednesday, he becomes omniscient and wise; on Thursday, he is worshipped by all the devas and attains fame as a guru. Circumambulation on a Friday brings prosperity and takes him to the abode of Vishnu; a Saturday Pradakshina brings worldly success and averts the ill-effects threatened by the planets in one’s horoscope. If those who suffer from physical and mental ailments, as well as those who are weak and emaciated, circumambulate Me, their ailments are cured.”

It is said that 'Ninaithale Mukthi Tharum Thiruthalam' -   mere remembrance of Lord Arunachaleswarar  gives salvation to all souls. The SivaPuranam identifies four sacred places for obtaining salvation, and   Thiruvannamalai is one among them. The earth is formed by 'Pancha Boothas', the five basic elements namely land, water, fire, air and ether. They have been associated them with five sacred places for worshipping Lord Siva. The center of these five elements,  Fire,  is identified with Thiruvannamalai. In most of the holy places the Deity is found atop the hill, but here the Holy hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and is worshipped. "Arunam" means sun and denotes the red colour of fire. "Asalam" means "Giri" or "malai" (mountain). Thus "Arunachalam" means the Holy hill which is red in colour. The Holy hill is 2668 feet high. It is said that the Annamalai Hill was Agni (fire) during Kirthayugam, was Manikkam (Emerad) during Threthayugam, was Pon (Gold) during Dwaparayugam and rock during Kaliyugam.


VIEW FROM GIRIVALAM PATH



There are eight lingams, located at the eight directions on the Girivalam route :  Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam.  It is considered auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during a Full moon day On every Full moon day thousands of devotees circumambulate the Hill and pay obeisance to Lord Annamalaiyar.

SRI RAMANA MAHARISHI AND RAMANASHRAM


RAMANASHRAM PRAYER HALL



Saints, sages and the common man throughout time have sought out the sacred mountains, and it was Sri Ramana Maharishi who opened Arunachala  to the West. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 1879 - April 1950) was a world-renowned guru of the 20th century who inspired many to seek out self-realization through meditation, self-inquiry and silence. It was his meditation in the caves of Mt. Arunachala that brought pilgrims from around the world to the holy mountain. Sri Ramanasramam is the name of the ashram dedicated to the memory of Sri Ramana Maharishi, and is a peaceful retreat with wild monkeys and peacocks in its courtyard. Beyond the ashram, about a kilometer and a half, is Skandashram and the caves where Maharishi meditated and achieved enlightenment. 







RAMANASHRAM PRAYER HALL





RAMANASHRAM PRAYER HALL