Girivalam In Thiruvannamalai-Spiritual Practice

Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 14:00

Girivalam or Giripradikshana in Thiruvannamalai forms an integral part of the pilgrimage to this sacred town. A sleepy town with the Hill Arunachala towering over it, it attracts pilgrims and seekers from across the globe round the year, who drink from its tranquility of eternal bliss. Ramana Maharshi, known to many as the saint of Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) has claimed that the place to be the spiritual centre of the universe .

Girivalam in Thiruvannamalai-Spiritual Practice

Girivalam in Thiruvannamalai bears its own significance (Read detailed version) with innumerable merits. How does it aid a person on the spiritual path?

Girivalam in Thiruvannamalai is a spiritual practice in itself. It exposes one to an elaborate practise of whatever spiritual practice he/she may be following in the three to five hours one takes to circumambulate it.

All spiritual practices aim at a silent mind. There is ample time without haste to tackle the emerging thoughts whether the person follows Japa (Repetition of a mantra), Dhyana (Meditation) or Vichara (Self enquiry).

No doubt the task is strenuous owing to the long tiresome walk, especially with barefoot. However it renders the mind calm as fatigue takes over. Ramana Maharshi Himself performed Girivalam in order to emphasize its importance to the seekers of truth.

To quote the words of S.S.Cohen (An ardent devotee of Ramana who received direct teachings from the Master) about the benefit of Girivalam, “The partial fatigue experienced during the latter half of the journey, automatically induced this mental rest without much effort. Somehow this practice worked marvelously well with me" Ref: Guru Ramana, by S.S.Cohen, Courtesy:Ramanashram, Thiruvannamalai.

Girivalam is a Dhyana or meditation by itself. The fruit of sitting in a place and meditating is borne while walking around the holy hill. What people call as Walking meditation in the modern days can be attributed to the tread around Arunachala.

The stubborn emergence of thoughts is quelled gradually as the walk progresses, for the physical effort contributes to the mental stillness. Having the concentration fixed on a mantra or even on the source where from the thoughts rise, helps handle the physical strain.

The scattered mind is collected and consolidated into pure awareness sooner or later in the course of one's walk depending on one's spiritual maturity.

At the culmination of the Girivalam or circumambulation, when one stands before the temple of Arunachaleshwara one actually experiences Lord Arunachala as the still and unwavering mind.

Girivalam in Thiruvannamalai is thus an effective mean to realise the spiritual goal.