Divine Trip To Kancheepuram and Tiruvanamali - Feb 2020

One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara is giripradakshinapriya – the Lord who loves giripradakshina.

Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .' [Arunagiri Antadi]. At Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its 'giripradakshina' (giri = mountain and pradakshina: Prada = giver of boons; Kshi = destroyer of Karma; Na = giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina = going around with centre kept to the right).

SHARMALAYA chose the appropriate dates and day, Thaipusam for girivalam after seeking the grace of SHAKTI, Kamakshi Devi. It was also Tripurasundari Devi Jayanti. Energies were dense and high.

The Arunachala Puranam declares that: 'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice; two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga. Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in towns far away effects immeasurable purification.'

Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation The fruit of a Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits, worldly success and protection against plantery influences. Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode, enter the solar region and attain Liberation. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March.

It is a known fact that many ancient Siddhars reside in Arunachala and even Gods are believed to do Giripradakshina to burn their Karmas.

These are the reason for planning our trip during the peak time of the year for Girivalam, as the Energies will be in their peak with major planets in Uccha Sthan.

Joy Maa Kali