GIRIVALAM ON 10TH JULY 2010

TOUR DIARY  DATED 10/07/10  ON   GIRIVALAM

It  so happens , sometimes, that  when  we decide  to commence  something, it clicks well and we are able to remember how  successfully  we  performed  it  without much  of the so called  perfect  planning;  This is true when  we suddenly  gathered   a  small group of  16  to  venture  a  night  girivalam  tour  to Thiruvannamalai  on the evening of 9^th July 2010 -  Friday,  so that we can rest on 10.7.10  and on the ensuing  Sunday as well.  Also  we focused on this  day  as it was a Pradosham day.   A  City Rider Tourister van was organized,  with  finally 14 participants  as  2  could not join the tour.   Balaji family  supplied the  iddlys, sambar and  chilli powder  besides the  delicious snacks  packets  taking  good care of the  food  needs.

We  tried best to be during   the  Pradosham  pooja  time at  Atcheeswarar temple , an ancient temple of built  many  centuries ago,  at  Achiru pakkam.   This  huge temple has  two  sannidhis  for the lord, one facing the Rajagopuram and the other  with a grand dharshan of  Lord Siva  (Umai Atcheeswarar) and the Goddess Parvathi  appearing   as newly wed couples behind the sivalingam in sculpted form    The story connected with this grand temple is lbriefly recalled below

 Lord Shiva once set out on a mission in a chariot to destroy the Tripura demons, Tripurasamharam (related to Atta Veerattana Sthalam  at  Thiruvadhigai .   ( we  once  toured to this  great temple ) Lord Shiva forgot to embark on his mission wih  a prayer to Vigneswarar for success. In view of this it is said that the axle (Achchu in Tamil) of Lord Shiva's chariot broke here and this sivasthalam is known as Achirupakkam. It is also said that the axle of a Pandiya King's chariot also broke down here as he was bringing soil from the Ganges for building a dam across a river.

 The temple has a 5 tier tower (gopuram) on the east side. Once we enter through this tower, we will see the  dwajasthambam ,  balipeetam and  Nandhi mandapam being located on the right side in the eastern outer prakaram. There is an entrance straight in front once we enter through the impowint  Rajagopuram. One can go striaght through this second entrance and reach the sanctum sanctoru m of  the other  sannidhi.   This sivasthalm is one among many other places where God has shown a vision of his marriage to sage Agasthiar.
 The second Goddess Ilangili Ammai's shrine is located in the north-east corner of the northern outer prakaram. Kanva Munivar and Gowthama Munivar are said to have worhshipped Lord Shiva at this sivasthalam. 
When we  reached Thiruvannamalai  it was as  programmed, at  1030 pm.  We  began the Girivalam.  As  all the  participants  contributed sorgs, slokams, anecdotes, short stories and interesting  conversation,  we  never  felt  tired or  exhausted  and  visited almost all the temples all along the Girivalam route until we reached back the Arunachaleswarar  temple main entrance covering the girivalam of 14 kms.  You are invited to see the  photo album which will bring back the happy memories of our Girivalam tour.
j.k.sivan  9840279080.