Mahan Sri Seshadri Swamigal -- The Glory and Significance of Arunachala Giripradakshina/Girivalam

Mahan Sri Seshadri Swamigal 

The Glory and Significance of Arunachala Giripradakshina/Girivalam:

Mahan Sri Seshadri Swamigal often talked about the virtues of Arunachala Girivalam.

“Girivalam around the holy mountain of Arunachala is equivalent to a thousand trips to Kailash”, Seshadri Swamigal says.

The circumambulation of Arunachala is known as Giri Pradakshina in Sanskrit and Giri Valam in Tamil. Pradakshina refers to the Hindu tradition of walking around any holy place in a clockwise direction, with one’s right side facing the object of worship. ‘Giri’ means hill and Giripradakshina means walking around the Arunachala Hill. Arunachala Mahatmyam explains the meaning of the word Pradakshina saying: "The letter "Pra" stands for removal of all kinds of sins; "da" stands for fulfilling the desires; "kshi" stands for eradicating the fruits of karma and; "na" stands for bestowing liberation.

Throughout the year, millions of devotees do Girivalam (circumambulation) of Arunachala hill which is 14 km in circumference for both material and spiritual benefits. This is a rewarding practice which removes sins, fulfils worldly desires, bestows good health and helps to achieve freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

There are 8 small shrines of lingams or Ashta Lingams (Indralingam, Agnilingam, Yamalingam, Niruthilingam, Varunalingam, Vayulingam, Kuberalingam and Esanyalingam) located all around the hill, each associated with the 12 moon signs of the zodiac.

Each lingam addresses different aspects of man’s life and blesses the devotees with several benefits. They are believed to have been installed by various Gods. Each of these lingams has a dominant Navagraha (planet) and praying to each lingam brings forth various benefits that the respective Navagraha (planet) confers on the devotees when they pray to that particular lingam to achieve their desired results.

As one goes around the Arunachala hill, from a place near the Idukku Pillaiyar Temple, one should also view the Panchamukha peaks, where the five faces of Shiva (Tatpurusha, Aghora, Ishana, Vamadeva and Sathyojata) are visible as the five peaks of Arunachala. The Pancha Mukha Darshan is another significant aspect of Girivalam which should not be missed.

It is believed that the Arunachala hill has taken different forms during different periods of time and age. It was Agni (Fire) during Kritayuga, was Manikkam (Emerald) during Tretayuga, was Pon (Gold) during Dwaparayuga and has now turned into Rock during the present, Kaliyuga.

The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts of these siddha herbs to the person doing the holy Girivalam. As one does the Giripradakshina, the body becomes healthy and the mind attains the peace and calmness of the soul. Because of all these benefits, Giripradakshina is an extraordinary sadhana.

All days are suitable for doing Girivalam. Pournami or the full moon day is considered auspicious to do the Giripradakshina. 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: Brings prosperity and takes one to the abode of Vishnu;

Saturday: Worldly success and the removal of ill effects of the planets in the horoscope;

The sins committed by the mind are destroyed by the first step of Pradakshina, the sins committed by speech by the second and the sins perpetrated by the body by the third step. (Skanda Purana Ch.9 v.28)

Sri Ramana Maharshi says:
"Arunachala is truly the holy place. Of all holy places, it is the most sacred! Know that it is the heart of the world. It is truly Siva himself! It is his heart-abode, a secret kshetra. In that place the Lord ever abides in the hill of light named Arunachala."

Sri Ramana Maharshi says:
"All is within me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as a circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill." (19th June, 1936 Talk 212).

Sri Ramana Maharshi tells that doing Giripradakshina is better than doing japa, as in the former the mind wanders, but in the latter, that mind remains one-pointed even though the limbs and the body are moving. One should go round either in mouna (silence) or dhyana (meditation) or japa (repetition of the Lord's name) and thereby think of God all the time.

Excerpt from Arunachala Mahatmyam:
Lord Shiva says:

“Worship me especially by circumambulating me every day. For I, the Lord of Sonachala am pleased when devotees circumambulate me.

At every step that one takes on the path round Me all the sins committed in one’s past lives are expiated. By circumambulating Me one obtains the merit of performing thousands of horse sacrifices, innumerable Vajapeyas (a particular sacrifice) and bathing in all the tirthas. Even a great sinner who has no good deed to his credit can attain all kinds of powers by circumambulating Me. Merit acquired by bathing in all the tirthas, by performing all the sacrifices, by studying all the scriptures and by following all the Dharmas can be easily acquired by merely circumambulating Sonachala.

One attains this world, (i.e. the earth) at the first step, the middle world at the second step and the world of the Devas at the third step.

At the first step sins committed mentally are destroyed, at the second the sins committed by speech and at the third the sins committed by the body. There are thousands of ashrams of Munis and Siddhas and abodes of Devas around Me. I myself abide here always in the form of a Siddha worshipped by the Devas. Let one imagine a divine abode gloriously existing within Me. What is known as Arunadri is really a Column of Effulgence. Meditating on this great Linga one should circumambulate it slowly. If one does so all sins will be expiated. One will not be born again and will certainly become eternally one with Sonachala.

The moment one takes a step with the intention of circumambulating Sonagiri the very earth becomes extremely pure by coming into contact with the dust of one’s feet.

At every point of the compass one should meditate and bring the palms together in praise and reverence. One should walk carefully, slowly and noiselessly. Before setting out a bath should be taken, clean clothes should be put on, sacred ash applied on the body, and rudraksha beads worn. While circumambulating one should meditate on Siva. Thousands of invisible Manus, Devatas, Siddhapurushas and others accompany a devotee who circumambulates in this manner.

Therefore a wise man should, even amidst a crowd, tread with great care regarding the Hill as divine. One may also walk in the company of devotees singing the sacred names of Siva and dancing. Alms should be given on the way according to one’s means and one should remember Siva in the heart with love and devotion.

This Hill is incomprehensible, being beyond speech and thought. It is unapproachable, being a mass of fire. It is the Absolute and therefore called the Supreme. The body of one who performs anga-pradakshina around this Hill becomes divine and immune to injury. The Devas circumambulate Me every day. The sun and other celestial bodies have obtained their lordship over the other planets by circumambulating Me.
If those who suffer from physical and mental ailments, as well as those who are weak and emaciated, circumambulate Me, their ailments are cured. The Nakshatras (stars) and the Devatas (deities) presiding over the planets favour those who circumambulate the Hill. Tithi, karana, yoga, muhurta, hora etc., (divisions of time) are also favourably disposed”.

Arunachala Siva Arunachala Siva Arunachala Siva Arunachala!!!
Arunachala Siva Arunachala Siva Arunachala Siva Arunachala!!!

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