Girivalam-Thiruvannamalai

Faith Mysticism

-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, September 18, 2008, 17:16

Annamalai Hill in Thiruvannamalai can be loving, dangerous, childlike, empowering and enamoring all for the same reason of having those souls who look upon Him endearingly to be pinned to his feet in eternal enchantment. Though looking insentient, it is capable of arousing the devotional fervour in one's heart making it drunken with ecstasy. Circumambulating the Hill is the best form of worshipping this form of Shiva as mentioned by none other than Shiva Himself.

The Meaning Of Pradakshina And The Greatness Of Annamalai

The holy Annamalai Hill is the manifestation of Lord Shiva who arose as the column of fire to crush the ego of Brahma and Vishnu and later stood still as the Hill of Arunachala for the world to worship. A Holy beacon is lit atop the Hill on Karthikai Deepam day commemorating the aforesaid event.

The significance of Annamalai Hill and the circumambulation of the Hill was narrated to Parvati by Sage Gautama what He had learnt from Lord Shiva.

Of The the word Pradakshina (circumambulation ), 'Pra' would mean rooting out sins, 'da' would mean granting desires, 'kshi' would mean to destroy the fruits of karma and 'na' would mean to bestow liberation. But the greatness of Annamalai is such that Lord Shiva Himself circumambulates the Hill in the company of Rishis, Ganas and Devas at the time of the sacred Uttarayana for the world's benefit.

Sage Gautma narrates that a feet that bleeds on account of going around Annamalai, it is wiped with the Mandara flowers from Devandra's head. The feet of a person injured during the Pradakshina is soothed with the kumkum or the vermilion which is smeared on the body of Lakshmi. While Shiva abides as Annamalai on earth, the celestial beings and saints circumambulate it.

It is said by Shiva that the Devas circumambulate the Hill everyday and the sun and other celestial bodies have said to have attained their lordship as a result of circumambulating it. The Devas and the Rishis with the view of attaining liberation in the avoidance of future births have assumed the forms of trees in the proximity of the Lord.

The Benefits Of Doing Pradakshina or Girivalam In Annamalai

Innumerable are the benefits of circumambulating the the Annamalai Hill. As per the words of Sage Gautama to Parvati regarding the greatness of the Hill, one gets all his sins expiated at every step he puts forward with the intention of circumambulating it. One acquires the merit of performing thousands of Ashvameda Yagna and innumerable Vajapeyas, bathing in all the thirthas and studying all the scriptures. One would gain all virtues by just going around the Hill.

Circumambulation of Annamali would mean attaining worldly success in the first step, the middle world in the second step and the world of Devas in the third step. The very first step tramples on the sins committed mentally, the second the sins committed by speech and the third, the sins by the body.

All days are suitable for doing Girivalam. Poorima or the full moon day is considered auspicious to do the Pradakshina. Nevertheless circumambulation done on all days of the week bestow the Lord's blessings abundantly.

Sunday : Penetration into the region of the sun and attains liberation and the world of Shiva.

Monday : Freedom from the afflictions of old age and death

Tuesday : Freedom from debts and the attainment of the state of an emperor

Wednesday :Attainment of wisdom and omniscience

Thursday : Attainment of the state of a Guru and being worshipped by the celestial beings

Friday : Prosperity and reaching the abode of Vishnu

Saturday : Worldly success and the aversion of ill effects of the planets in the horoscope.

Read the method of Circumambulation of Annamalai on the Next Page