'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account. Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .' [Arunagiri Andhadhi]
At most holy
places located on hills, the Deity is found at the top. But here at
Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one
of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its
circumambulation. In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called
'giripradakshina' (giri = mountain and pradakshina: Prada = giver of
boons; Kshi = destroyer of Karma; Na = giver of Jnana. Also,
Pra-Dakshina = going around with centre kept to the right).
Pradakshina
(the Hindu rite of going round the object of worship) is "All is within
me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said
to be as effective as circuit round the world. That means that the
whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of
Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e. turning round and
round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self. Says
the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming
concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the
highest circuit (pradakshina).' [Ramana Maharshi, Talks with Sri Ramana
Maharshi]
In the Tamil language, this process of going
around, is called 'giri valam' (giri = mountain and valam = right
side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when
circumambulating.
The Arunachala Puranam declares that:
'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base
is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of
the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of
the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice;
two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga.
Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds
in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries
the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy
round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in
towns far away effects immeasurable purification.'
The
circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it
that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill. There are
eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides an
octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams
are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna
Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam.
There
are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the most
commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams,
Tirthams and Shrines.And the inner pathway which winds its way through
the countryside at the feet of Arunachala.
According to
scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at a slow pace
either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to the
ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the
opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean
white clothes, applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without
accepting any. Free from fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on
bare feet, without using vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without
swinging one's arms about, and with a silent soft tread, one saunters
like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows, first to the holy Hill from
each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to the Lord of that
direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to the
incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One
could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to
flow on to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of
devotional praise.
In the company of those of lofty
character, one is able to halt here and there and enjoy a feast of fruit
and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh can be taken.
Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region and attain Liberation); that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from senility and death); that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all doubts and becomes Emperor); that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain Wisdom and Omniscience); that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all Devas and may even become a renowned Guru); that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's abode). A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection against plantery influences).
The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to mid-January. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or vyatipaada yoga.
It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with siddars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the Hill.
Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?"
Hindu mythology also explains the signficance of circumambulation, in a narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled.
Another story says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that, "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. He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest state". The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada who was suffering, "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".
Courtesy: arunachalasamudra.org
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