Parvthamalai Girivalam 2017: Meditative Video

Parvathamalai 20 kms from Polur and 30 kms from Tiruvannamalai, is part of the Javadi Hills and accessible through Kadaladi village or Thenmadhimangalam. Parvatham means mountain and Parvatha Malai as it is called, connotes ‘Hill of Hills’ or ‘Queen of Hills’. Parvathamalai presents eight different shapes from eight directions around the hill. Parvathamalai’s close proximity to Tiruvannamalai ensures that it is infused with Arunachala’s radiating spiritual power.

Parvathamalai

The Sage of Kanchi (Kanchipuram) the great Sri Shankaracharya Chandrashekarendra Saraswati twice undertook pilgrimages of the Indian peninsula on foot from Benares in the North to Rameshwaram in the South. On one of those pilgrimages (written about in Paul Brunton’s book, ‘In Search of Secret India’) he visited Parvathamalai after his time at Arunachala. On seeing Parvathamalai he declared that it is in actual fact a Siva Lingam and proceeded to walk the 25 kms circumference base of the Hill. From that time the fame of Parvathamalai girivalam has spread.

Arunachala (centre back) from Parvathamalai Summit

Nowadays many devotees and pilgrims visit and climb the hill to worship at the Temple on the summit in order that they may attain bliss and enlightenment. Others following the example of the Shankaracharya prefer not to walk on the Hill itself but instead choose to perform the 25 km (approximately 8 hours to complete) girivalam around its base. The busiest times at Parvathamalai are the days of full moon, no moon and new moon.

Below is a meditative video compiled of sequential photographs of Parvathamalai Girivalam. The 25 km walk starts at Thenmadhimangalam where the main highways converge—the Hill is ever to the right and the video finishes at the starting point.

To find out more about Parvathamalai, visit this link here.

Arunachala Samudra Upgrade

Arunachala Samudra website is currently undergoing reformatting and recoding to make the website accessible to all internet devices. All of the many pages of the website have to be individually upgraded, including the numerous photo galleries, audios and videos—this takes time and is the reason for the current erratic display of the website. 

Taking this opportunity to include 3 new sections on the reformatted Website, that will be populated over the coming months. The three new sections are entitled: Arunachala, Lord Siva and Albums. Next week new material will be uploaded onto the site including a large and comprehensive section on Parvathamalai, information on the Dasa Lingams on Arunachala girivalam roadway and a fascinating narrative with photographs of the great Isakki Swamigal of Panchamukham Darshanam. 

Will gives updates on the progress of the Website upgrade. 

Shani Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple: Saturday 25 March, 2017

The below set of photographs are of Shani Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Saturday 25 March, 2017. 

The next Pradosham to be observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple will be Shani Pradosham on Saturday 8 April, 2017 

Enjoy the peaceful and meditative 12 minute video below "Climbing to the Summit of Arunachala". 

Abshishekam evening of Lord Vallalan's sraddha observance: March 12, 2017

After abhishekam was observed at Pallikondapattu in the daytime of Monday 12 March, 2017; Lord Arunachaleswarar returns to Arunachaleswarar Temple on a palanquin carried by devotees. That evening a special worship arranged by the Vanniyar Kula Community, is conducted at the Second Prakaram of the Temple.

King Vallalan's Funeral Rites: March 12, 2017

King Vallalan was an ardent Saivite who made many improvements to Arunachaleswarar Temple. What is now known as Tiruvannamalai was located near the geographical centre of the King’s empire, which led him to often make long stays at this place. It is generally believed that during the last fifteen years of his reign he permanently resided at Tiruvannamalai.

In a concluding verse on King Vallalan in the Arunachala Puranam, Lord Siva undertakes to perform King Vallalan’s funeral rites for him, a task which is normally performed by the son of the deceased. The promise is still remembered in Tiruvannamalai and each year King Vallalan’s funeral is re-enacted to commemorate the event. 

This annual commemoration which occurred this year on Sunday 12 March, 2017; began with Temple priests reading out the news of King Vallalan’s death to Lord Arunachaleswarar. Then the Lord was carried in procession to the village of Pallikonda Pattu, close to Tiruvannamalai, for performance of the King Vallalan's sraddha rites. 

This year's immersion occurred in a specially created water tank at Pallikonda Pattu. 

The connection between Pallikonda Pattu and the life and death of King Vallalan is no longer known. It is unlikely he lived at that place, since his palace is thought to have been located about a mile to the east of the main Temple. Until about a hundred years ago the last remains of what was reputed to be his palace could still be seen there, but around the turn of the century the land was levelled and cultivated and the railway line from Villupuram to Tirupathi now runs across the site. 

King Vallalan

Vallala Gopuram

Procession from Arunachaleswarar Temple to Pallikonda Pattu

Specially created tank for immersion

The Sulam being immersed in tank

After immersion, abhishekham is performed on the Sulam

After abhishekam, aarti offered to Sulam