Walking around the blessing mountain-Arunachalam

I was overwhelmed with joy when I received a call from my husband that he booked a room in tiruvannamalai for the week end i.e; Arunachalam. The moment was the most eagerly awaited one for me as I love that place from the bottom of my heart. At last the day arrived and the people who accompanied us were one of my cousins, my friend's mother and her grand mother. They were given the chance in unexpectedly changing situations. That's all god's grace showered on them. They were all very much excited to be on the road to Arunachalam.
                               

                                    We all were ready at 5.30 in the morning to start our ride towards the most holy place. There were two breaks on the way for breakfast on the heavily pouring roads. Earlier, we were afraid to make frequent visits to this place since the regular route has some bad stretch of roads. But this time we were guided by one of our friends to go in a different route that proved to be the best choice. Though it sums up a few kilometers more than the regular route, the travel was a peaceful experience though the calm and serene villages. At last we were at our destination by 12 noon. We occupied the already booked rooms in Shiva sannidhi and proceeded for lunch served there. After relaxing for a couple of hours, we set ourselves ready for the most powerful and little painful part Girivalam - circumambulating around the hill which is the form of Lord Shiva Himself.
                          As our room is nearby the Ramanasharam, we started our round from the Agni lingam spot, which is located a few steps away from the Ashram. Agni lingam was followed by the dashan of Sri Seshadri swami ashram just beside the Ramanasharam. From the pravachanams of Sri Chaganti Koteswararao Grau, one can know in detail about the history of Sri Seshadri Swami and his greatness as a paripurna jnani. His life history leaves a great impression on our minds. Then we stepped into the ever peace showering Ramanasharam. Words can never be able to describe the serenity of this place as well as the godliness of the great maharshi Ramana. Personally I feel very much blessed to get a chance to step in the premises. We are blessed. No doubt at all about that.
                               

                                            The girivalam continued from there after spending a little time there and taking the blessings of the great maharshi for the successful completion of the further project. We went ahead with the help of the map to locate the lingams on the way round the hill. There are some more temples too which we cross while completing the circumambulation like the temple of Ayyappa, Sai baba, Vishnu etc. there are many places throughout the way to rest for some time when you feel like tired. As we move on, the bear foot start troubling as the very small stones on the road prick the sensitive foot. since the time we started our walk was evening, we had the breeze giving us solace. It felt heavenly at such times. there were small shops all the way to provide for water, coffee, sugarcane juice and biscuits.
                                During the last 2 KM of the 14 KM stretch, my husband felt great pain on foot and I felt we wouldn't be able to complete the task. but the magic of the divine power pushed us ahead and I don't know how we reached the end. The aunty and me chanted the lalitha sahasra nama, vishnu sahasranama and had some good spiritual discussions on the way which made task seem easy. the aunty managed to finish almost 10 KM and then boarded an auto to reach the room. we finished our dinner too on the way near by the bus stand and at last finished the round by 11.30PM.
    It's definitely the power of Lord that made us fulfil the task. May The Almighty bless us with more and more such chances to undergo through some physical seva like this in His name.
                        The next day, though we had some pain, that was overcome by the joy we had in the darshan of Lord Arunachaleswara and Goddess Apitakuchamba. The temple itself is a huge compound with stunning beauty. The temple authorities run battery cars for elderly people and provide easy darshan. We again stepped into the holy atmosphere of the Ramanashram and spent a considerable time there and purchased few books there. we had another round around the hill in the car after darshan in the temple and proceeded towards the Bangalore road to wind up the very happy yatra. We followed the same route we took while coming so that good condition of the road is assured.

    Some information regarding the Girivalam:    Girivalam is believed to be the most sacred part of the darshan of Arunachala as it washes away many ill-samskaras. Ramana maharshi used to ask everyone who came to Him whether he had done Girivalam or not. The wind flowing from the plants of the mountain is said to have medicinal values. every day of the week has its special significant result regarding girivalam which were mentioned in skanda purana. It is believed that Lord Shiva stays in the deep forests of the hill in the form of Dakshina murty. the darshanof each linga on the way has its special significance too. One can get the detailed information regarding this through the speech by Sri Chaganti Koteswararao garu in "Arunachala Vaibhavam". if anyone want more details, they can mail me personally so that I can help as far as possible.

Best route suggested from Bangalore to Tiruvannamalai:  Bangalore-krishnagiri-karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Tiruvannamalai.