[The below narrative is taken from my website
dedicated to Arunachala and available at this link].
One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara
is giripradakshinapriya—the Lord who loves giripradakshina.
'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of
learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account.
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]
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Arunachala southside after seasonal rains
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At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the summit
of the Hill. But here 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 circumambulation.
In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called '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).
'Pradakshina (the Hindu rite of going round the
object of worship) is "All is within me." The true significance of
the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as a circuit round
the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The
circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e.
turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the
Self.
Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas
innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This
meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).' [Ramana Maharshi: Talks with
Sri Ramana Maharshi]
In the Tamil language, this process of going around, is called 'giri
valam' (giri=mountain and valam=right side), inferring that one should keep the
Hill to the right when circumambulating.
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.'
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The Asta (8) Lingams plus the additional Surya and Chandra Lingams i.e. Dasa Lingams (10) are underlined in the above map of the 14 km outer Girivalam Arunachala pathway
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The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it
that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill.
There are eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides
an octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams are:
Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu
Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. To find out more about the esoteric
signifiance of the Asta Lingams around the octagonal perimeter of Arunachala
which reflects the geometry of a Cosmogram, go to this link here.
To learn more about the Dasa Lingams and their relevance to the geometry
to both Arunachala and also Arunachaleswarar Temple Siva Sannidhi Shrine go to
links on Surya Lingam and Chandra Lingam.
There are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the
most commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams, Tirthams
and Shrines. And the inner pathway which winds its way through the countryside
at the feet of Arunachala.
According to scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at
a slow pace either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to
the ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the
opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean white clothes,
applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without accepting any. Free from
fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on bare feet, without using
vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without swinging one's arms about, and with a
silent soft tread, one saunters like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows,
first to the holy Hill from each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to
the Lord of that direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to
the incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One
could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to flow on
to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of devotional
praise.
In the company of those of lofty character, one is able to halt here and
there and enjoy a feast of fruit and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh
can be taken.
Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious
for circumambulation:-
The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region
and attain Liberation);
that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from
senility and death);
that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all
doubts and becomes Emperor);
that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain
Wisdom and Omniscience);
that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all
Devas and may even become a renowned Guru);
that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's
abode).
A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a
nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection
against planetary influences).
The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on
Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to
mid-January. 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; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or
Vidhipaada Yoga.
It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform
"Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with
siddhars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the
Hill.
Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana
for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the
Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana
retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the
Hill?"
Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulation, in a
narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama
circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled.
Another legend says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that:-
"The curse cannot be lifted by any act except
that of circumambulating the Arunachala Hill."
He then proceeded to relate what Siva Himself had
declared in an assembly of devas and others:
"He who circumambulates with devotion the
Arunachala Hill which is my form, attains a form like mine. He becomes the Lord
of the entire world and reaches the highest state".
The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada
who was suffering,
"The Lord of Aruna Hill is a repository of
compassion and His glory is great. Circumambulate the Aruna Hill on foot as a
means of release from suffering".
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2021 Full Moon Calendar for Arunachala
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