Ramanashram and Ahta lingam in Girivalam

Ramanashram and Ahta lingam in Girivalam
Ramana Ashram
At Ramana Ashram, I was welcomed by the melody of peacocks. I went in and
prostrated in front of Sage Ramana's Samadhi. An inexplainable peace surrounded
me. There was a hall where he lived with His photographs. I went in and found many
foreigners seated so beautifully, either in Padmasana (the lotus pose) or Sukasana
with their spine erect, in meditation. I, too, meditated there for a while and came out.
I saw people looking skywards, with camera. I then realized that it was the peacock
in a tree. But then someone signalled to me 'see here' and I was taken aback with
what I saw. A beautiful peacock, spread out its wing and was posing for us. I took
photos of both of them.
1 I read on the internet that on the day when Sage Ramana Maharishi left for his
heavenly abode, the peacocks kept on lou-louing and stopped abruptly when he left
his body. They kept a great silence after that!
The darshan of the Arunachala mountain from the Ashram is Eru Pancha Mukha
Darshan. It is for all those who have committed sin out of circumstances. It helps
them not to get in to the same trap again.
The mind will wander when you sit and do japa but if you do pradakshina that mind
will remain one-pointed even though the limbs and the body are moving. It is known
as sanchara samadhi.
The Lingam (also, Linga, Ling, Shiva linga, Shiv ling,
Sanskrit िलङ्गं , meaning "mark" or "sign") is a
representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for
worship in temples. The Lingam has also been
considered a symbol of male creative energy or of
2 the phallus. The lingam is often represented with the Yoni, a symbol of the goddess
or of Shakti, female creative energy. The union of lingam and yoni represents the
"indivisible two-in-oneness of male and female, the passive space and active time
from which all life originates". A complimentary theory suggests that the Lingam
represents the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite
nature of Shiva. Etymology The Sanskrit term िलङ्गं ', transliterated as linga, has
diverse meaning ranging from gender and sex to philosophic and religions to uses in
common language, such as a mark, sign or characteristic. Vaman Shivram Apte's
Sanskrit dictionary provides many definitions: A mark, sign, token, an emblem, a
badge, symbol, distinguishing mark, characteristic; A false ...
Giri Pradakshina
Girivalam is the path around Arunachala and the performance of
Pradakshina, to go around the hill on this path, is one of the principle
activities prescribed for devotees, to seek the blessings of Lord
Arunachaleswarar at Arunachaleswarar Temple or Annamalaiyar Temple in
Tamilnadu
Whether undertaken as an act of devotion, duty, or to achieve boons or
blessings, millions of people have made and continue to make this action a
part of their spiritual experience.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi on Giri Pradakshina:
3 One of the devotees asked Sri Ramana “several people here go around the
hill frequently. What is its greatness?” Bhagavan then recounted the following
story:
It seems Amba who was doing tapas went around the hill on the day of the
Karthigai star in the first quarter of the night. Immediately after the darshan
of the holy beacon (deepam) she was absorbed in Lord Siva. Bhagavan said
to a devotee:
“The word pradakshina has a very precise meaning. The letter pra stands for
removal of all kinds of sins; da stands for fulfilling desires; the syllable kshi
stands for freedom from future births, na stands for giving deliverance
through jnana.”
Bhagavan himself used to frequently go on pradakshina of Arunachala hill for
several days at a stretch and used to advocate the practice to spiritual
seekers saying, “what better sadhana can there be than going round the
hill?”
Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulating the hill.
The story goes that Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama worshipped
Arunachala. She circumambulated the hill everyday in the company of Her
friends with the aim of getting her desires fulfilled. She adored the Lord of
Arunachala and gave herself to Him mentally. She thus practiced penance in
the prescribed manner. Finally she was absorbed in Arunachala.
Another story says that Sage Durvasa, king of sages, once cursed two
vidyadharas. They then beseeched him to be merciful, forgive their
trespasses and redeem them from his curse. To which Durvasa unequivocally
stated, “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
(saroopya). He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest
state”. He then advised King Vajrangada whose mount attained liberation
because he rode on it and performed circumambulation. When he saw his
horse attain liberation easily, he was greatly pained that he had done a great
misdeed by going round the hill on a horse. The two vidyadharas (celestial
beings) appeared before him and said, “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”. The king heeded their advice and with
great zeal and devotion he performed circumambulation and attained
liberation.
Girivalam literally means circumambulation of the hill – in Tamil language,
4 “Giri” means “Mountain” and “Valam” means “Circumambulation”. It is said
that proceeding one foot bestows equal benefit of Yagam (a ritual of
sacrifice), second foot offers the benefit of Rajasuya Yagam and the third foot
gives the benefit of Aswamedha Yagam (horse sacrifice) and continuing
further provides the beneficial of all Yagams. Girivalam is sometimes referred
as “Malaivalam” by the people in Arunachala.
The Sacred Arunachala Hill
It is said that the 2668 ft high Arunachala Hill was Agni (fire) during
Kirthayugam, Manikkam (Emerald) during Threthayugam, Pon (Gold) during
Dwaparayugam and rock during Kaliyugam. The total circumambulation path
is 14 km and it is auspicious to perform Girilvalam during every full moon day.
You can see numbers of Siddhars on the hill during the day. There are eight
lingams, eight nandis more than 350 tanks and many mandapas around the
Arunachala hill.
There are eight lingams located at the eight directions and provides an
octagonal structure to Tiruvannamalai Town. Each lingam represent one
direction are
The Ashtalingams or Eight Lingams around Arunachala Hill
Devotees come across eight lingams known as Ashtalingam (Ashta Lingas)
while walking around the hill. They are set at different locations and each
lingam signifies different directions of the earth.
These Asta lingams are named as
1) Indra Lingam or Indra Linga (direction East)
2) Agni Lingam or Agni Linga (direction – South East)
3) Yama Lingam or Ema Linga (direction – South)
4) Niruthi Lingam or Niruthi Linga (directon – South West)
5) Varuna Lingam or Varuna Linga (direction – West)
6) Vayu Lingam (direction – North West)
5 7) Kubera Lingam (direction – North)
Esanya Lingam (direction – North East)
These lingams are believed to have been installed by various gods and they
have dominant Navagrahas. Praying to each lingam brings various benefits,
conferred by the respective Navagraha.
Nandi in the top of the hill that has been formed
Along side of the girivalam path we will find many Mutts, small temple,
Ashrams. Some of them are
•
•
•
•
•
Ramanashram
Yogi Ramsuratkumar (VisiriSamiyar) Ashram
Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
Ancheneyar Temple
adiannamalaiyar Temple
Indra Lingam ( East )
This is the first lingam on the Girivalam and has east as its
main direction. Said to be installed by the celestial king,
Lord Indran, Indra linga is dominated by the Navagrahas,
Lord Surya and Lord Shukra (Venus). Devotees are blessed
with long life and with prosperity, on worshipping Indra
lingam.
Dominant Navagraha : Sun and Sukiran .
Agni Lingam :(South East)
This is the second lingam . Located near the lotus tank, Agni
Lingam is the second lingam to worship on the Asta Lingams in
Girivalam. Agni Linga faces the south-east direction. This is
the only lingam found on the right side of the path, while all
other lingams are on the left side. Worshipping this lingam
helps the devotees to get relieved from diseases, to maintain
good health and also helps to face any challenges with ease in their lives.
Lord Chandra (Moon) is the dominant Navagraha of Agni lingam.
6 Yama Lingam : (South)
The third lingam on the Girivalam and next to Agni lingam and 3
kilometer away from the Rajagopuram, the Yama lingam occupies the south
direction. Ruled by the red planet, Mangala (Sevvai or Mars), the Yama lingam
is said to be installed by the God of Death, Lord Yama. There is a holy tank
called Simma Theertham. Devotees get rid of their financial constraints on
worshipping the Yama lingam.
Niruthi Lingam : (South West)
This is the fourth lingam on the Girivalam and its direction is
South East while we see the peak of the holy hill Arunachala, it views
accompanying of two parts of mountain and shows 'Sivan' and 'Sakthi'
together. Lord Rahu (Raghu) is the dominant graham of Niruthi
lingam. This lingam was installed by Niruthi, the King of Giants.
A holy tank called as Sani Theertha is located nearby. Health,
wealth and fame are the beneficial aspects of this lingam. It is also said that
those couples who are worrying about not having a children will get children
by worshipping Niruthi linga.
Varuna Lingam : (West)
This temple placed West of the hill Arunachala, this is the fifth lingam. It is 8
kilometers away from the Rajagopuram.Installed by the Rain God,
Lord Varuna, the Varuna lingam signifies the west direction.
This lingam has Lord Shani as its dominant Navagraham.
Varuna Theertham, a holy tank, is located here. Devotees are
protected from illness, particularly water related diseases.
Vayu Lingam : (North West)
The whole world is made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Sky. no living creature can survive
without Air . Occupying the north-west direction, Vayu lingam is
installed by the God of Air, Lord Vayu Bhagavan. Kedhu
(Kethu) is the dominant graham of this lingam. Relief from
heart diseases, stomach proble ms, lung problems and
general illness are conferred to the devotees on worshipping
this lingam.
7 Kubera Lingam : (North)
This seventh lingam on the Girivalam faces the northern
direction. Installed by Kubera, the God of Wealth, Kubera linga
has Lord Brihaspati (Guru or Jupiter) as its dominant graham.
Improvement in wealth and life status is the beneficial aspect
of worshipping Kubera lingam.
Esanya Lingam
Easanya Linga is the eight lingam in the Girivalam path and
faces the north east direction. This lingam was installed by
Esanyan, and Lord Budha (Budhan or Planet Mercury) is its
dominant Nava graham. Devotees are blessed with peace of
mind on offering prayers to Easanya Linga.
How to perform Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai Arunachala Hill
It is said that to obtain the full benefits of Girivalam, devotees should walk
around the hill barefoot and chant the mantra “Om Arunachala”. Also one
should view the peak of the Arunachala hill during the circumambulation.
Performing “Girilvalam” during night on every Pournami day (full moon day) is
said to be very auspicious and bring great goodness in life.
8 9 http://view360.in/virtualtour/thiruvannamalai/
compiled by cnu.pne
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