<center><font size="3"> <font color="purple"> The Significance of Girivalam, (Circumambulation) – Karthika Deepam </font id="size3"></font id="purple"></center>
<font color="red">Tiruvannamalai</font id="red"> the home of Annamalayaar or Arunachaleswarar (Shiva worshipped as a Shiva Lingam) and Unnamulaiyaal (Apitakuchambaal - Parvati), is one of the largest temples in India. It occupies a special place in the Saivite realm and is regarded as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (one of the five grand temples associated with the five basic elements.
Five ancient temples in South India enshrine Shiva as the manifestation of the five basic elements of wind, water, fire, earth and space respectively. All of these five temples are widely visited centers of worship and are repositories of ancient worship traditions.
<font color="red">Kanchipuram</font id="red"> near Chennai in Tamilnadu is home to the Ekamreswarar temple enshrining Shiva as a prithvilingam symbolizing the element earth .
<font color="red">Sree Kalahasti </font id="red">in Andhra Pradesh is where the manifestation of Shiva in the form of the element air is celebrated – Vayulingam.
<font color="red">Chidambaram</font id="red"> in Tamilnadu enshrines Shiva in the form of Nataraja and in the form of the formless element space – Akasha lingam .
<font color="red">Tiruvannamalai</font id="red"> in Tamilnadu is an ancient center of Shiva worship. The Annamalai hill is symbolically regarded as a tall column of fire or the Tejolingam.
<font color="red">Tiruvanaikkaval</font id="red"> or Jambukeswaram near Tiruchirappalli , Tamil Nadu is where the ancient temple holding Shiva in reverence as a personification of the element water – Jala lingamis located.
The temple town of Tiruvannamalai is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India. In most of the holy places the Deity is found atop the hill. But here the Holy hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and is worshipped. "Arunam" means sun and denotes the red colour of fire. "ACHALAM" means "Giri" or "malai" (mountain). Thus "Arunachalam" means the Holy hill which is red in colour. The Holy hill is 2668 ft. high.
The Annamalai Hill was <font color="red">Agni (fire)</font id="red"> during Kirthayugam, was <font color="green">Manikkam (Emerald)</font id="green"> during Threthayugam, was <font color="orange">Pon (Gold)</font id="orange"> during Dwaparayugam and <font color="brown">rock</font id="brown"> during Kaliyugam.
There are eight lingams located at the eight directions and provides an octagonal structure to Thiruvannamalai Town. The eight lingams are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. The Adi Annamalai Temple glorified in Dhevaram is located on this path. Apart from these, hundreds of temples of Ganesh, Subrahmanya swamy, various avatars of Parvathi, Balaji, Anjaneyar and many other deities are located on the path.
The <font color="red">circumambulation </font id="red">path is 14 kilometres. History has it that even today a number of siddhas are living on the hill. It is auspicious to perform "Girilvalam" (Circumambulation) during every Full moon day which would do immense good. It is because during Full Moon Day siddhas movement would be there and the whole atmosphere would be filled with perfumes of herbal plants. This will provide peace of mind and good health to body. It is a proven fact that on every Full moon day lakhs of devotees circumambulate the Hill and get all benefits by praying to Lord Annamalaiyar.
Of all the full moon days, on kartika pournami is specially celebrated since Bramhotsavam is celebrated and the number of devotees taking GIRIVALAM would be the highest. The celebration of "Kartika Deepam" marks the conclusion of the ten day Brammotsavam in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio , Nov 15 through December 15). <font color="red">This year the Kartikai Deepam is on 03.12.06.</font id="red">
The human mass gathered within and around the precincts of the temple, along with the residents of the town and neighboring towns catch sight of the flame atop the Annamalai hill, cherishing the age old belief that it is a representation of Shiva himself, who appeared in the form of a flame whose origins could not be deciphered by the other two of the Trinity namely Bhramma and Vishnu.
Keeping with tradition, the inner sanctum doors close, with the arrival of the deepam outside, and it is believed Annamalaiyaar is to be worshipped only as the beacon until the next morning when the shrine is reopened.
Legend has it that Shiva manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet, Bhramma and Vishnu attempted in vain to reach. (See: Lingodbhavar) A celebration of this manifestation is seen today in the age old traditions observed in the Shivaratri and the Kartikai Deepam Utsavams held here.
There is an air of deep mysticism around the temple, the hill and its environs and the town itself has been known for its long association with Yogis, Siddhas, the well known spiritual savant Ramana Maharishi and several others. The origin of this temple dates way back in time, although much of the temple structure as seen today, is a result of building activity over the last one thousand years.
The circumambulation path has been provided with sodium lamps at the expense of 12 lakhs donated by cine artist Shri Rajinikanth. This benefits pilgrims who perform circumambulation during night times. On behalf of Town administration bore well pumps are erected to supply drinking water to pilgrims. Moreover for the benefit of the devotees during special occasions annadhanam is performed by Sri Agasthiar Ashram, and so many donors. Milk is distributed by certain well wishers. People who go for girivalam every full moon day take 3-4 hours approx. The sight of several groups of people singing Bhajans during girivalam makes us feel more energetic.
Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram!
Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram!
Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram! Om Sri Sai Ram!
kavita
Topic: GIRIVALAM - KARTHIKA DEEPAM -01.12.09 (Read 5286 times)