Girivalam Circumambulation Tips

Normally people start before the dawn or after the sunfall. Because Thiruvannamalai is a rocky place the day time may not be suitable because of hot sun and dry humidity whether.

As per the custom, full day fasting is required before the circling. People have food only after completing the walk around the mountain.

Walking around the hill is a kind of walking meditation where you suppose to concentrate on your steps and repeat your preffered mantra. You hear many different slogans and chanting like arunachala arunachala, annamalaikku arohara, siva siva, muruga muruga, ramanana, Krishna Krishna yogi ramsuratkumara, yesuvey yesuvey, jesus Christ and buddham saranam kachaami etc. Walking around the hill is kind of walking meditation where you supposed concentrate your steps and chanting your preferred mantra. As per my guru Yogi ramsuratkumar, which ever mantra you like to chant which ever god you like to pray , whomever you want to follow as a guru it doesn’t matter. What count is remembering god and being spiritual.

It is good to keep a bottle of distilled water and a packet of glucose due to low sugar because of fasting. Some people serve free water, milk, juice in the girivalam path. You may try if you want. But the important thing to remember is that you should not break the fasting until circling the mountain.

Keep sufficient of 1 rupee coin as well as 50 paise coin so that you may share with those who are in need. By doing this you are actually helping your karma to restrain its previous sins.

14 km of walking around the Arunachala mountain is a must with bare foot without shoes. Occasionally you may be pinched by small pebbles or others may step on your toe giving you the acupuncture effect, so you will enjoy walking. On the month of Karthigai millions of people will be dashing. There will be enormous crowd. It is better in crowd, but walk carefully.

The most notable thing in the girivalam is the people who are walking along with you. The people from Europe, America, Africa and Asia will be walking along with you for a strange reason and seeking. The reason why they choose to walk with you on that specific day is because both of your’s karma has some kind of contact that connection pulled each of you to cross again. Nice but that’s what spiritual seekers says. So be gentle in case when someone step on your toe while walking.

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Girivalam means circumambulation of Arunachala Hill

Girivalam also called as Giri Valam is a festival which is observed on every full moon day at Thiruvannamalai for the sacred mountain Annamalai. In Tamil language “giri” means mountain and “valam” means circumambulation. People those who seek spiritual things choose to walk around the mountain and worship Arunachala temple of Thiruvannamalai on Pournamai day called Girivalam. Girivalam is connected to the hill Annamalai , considered as a deity and god Shiva temple called Arunachaleswarar a Tamil ancient massive shrine found at the bottom of the Tiruvannamalai hill.

This Arunachaleswarar temple was named after "The mountain of fire". The god who lives there is also called by the same name. In sanskrit "Arunam" stands for fire with red colour, "asalam" is called as "malai" or hill. The mountain is red in color, has the height of 2668 feet with approximately 16 KM in diameter. Eight Siva lingams are located around the Arunchala mountain.

During the Girivalam circling, people visit these Siva lingams. Each lingam represent one direction. If you watch Thiruvannamalai town very closely, it is structured around these lingams in octagonal dimension. Each lingam has its own name such as Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. Indian spiritual history has it that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill. During the time of full moon , Maha Girivalam or Deepam festival day of Karthigai month, Siddhars movement would be there and whole atmosphere would be filled with perfumes of herbal plants.

This will provide physical fitness and peace of mind. It is a proven fact that Tiruvannamalai girivalam pulls 100,000 of devotees to circumambulate the Arunachala mountain and obtain seeken wish comes true by praying to siva Annamalai.

The giri valam circumambulation path has been well maintained with rows of sodium lights around the hill. People can walk round the clock 24 hours a day without any fear or getting lost. To improve the devotees experience, Tiruvannamalai town government has established many road side stores as well as strict vigilant Police patrol around the mountain.