''Girivalam'' is a Hindu religious practice held in

Tiruvannamalai Tiruvannamalai (Tamil: ''Tiruvaṇṇāmalai'' IPA: , otherwise spelt ''Thiruvannamalai''; ''Trinomali'' or ''Trinomalee'' on British records) is a city and the administrative headquarters of Tiruvannamalai District in the Indian state of ...

, India, that involves devotees embarking on a sacred pilgrimage around the foothills of

Arunachala Annamalai (IAST: , 'Red Mountain') is a hill in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, and one of the five main Shaivism, Shaiva holy places in South India. The Arunachalesvara Temple to Shiva is located at the base of the hill. The hill is al ...

, also known as Arunachala Hill, mainly on full moon nights and also on all weekdays i. e 365 days.

Background

The town of Tiruvannamalai holds spiritual importance, due to the presence of the ancient Arunachaleswarar Temple, dedicated to the god

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

. Situated at the base of Arunachala Hill, the temple serves as a starting point for the circumambulation. The practice of Girivalam involves walking a distance of approximately around the hill, following the designated Girivalam Path. Cloudytvm

The circumambulation of Arunachala is known as ''Giri Pradakshina'' in Sanskrit and ''Girivalam'' or ''Malai Suttru'' in Tamil. Performing ''pradakshina'' of Arunachala is considered to be beneficial in all ways. Typically, ''pradakshina'' is done in bare feet, with the Hill on the right.

Ramana Maharshi Ramana Maharshi (; ; 30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) was an Indian Hindu Sage (philosophy), sage and ''jivanmukta'' (liberated being). He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was b ...

once explained the meaning of the word pradakshina and how it should be done by a devotee: "The letter "Pra" stands for removal of all kinds of sins; "da" stands for fulfilling the desires; "kshi" stands for freedom from future births; "na" stands for giving deliverance through jnana. If by way of Pradakshina you walk one step it gives happiness in this world, two steps, it gives happiness in heaven, three steps, it gives bliss of

Satyaloka Brahmaloka (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मालोक, IAST: Brahmāloka) or Satyaloka (Sanskrit: सत्यलोक) sometimes refers to the realm of Brahma, the creator god, a member of the Trimurti along with Vishnu and Shiva, along with his ...

which can be attained. One should go round either in mouna (silence) or

dhyana Dhyana may refer to: Meditative practices in Indian religions * Dhyana in Buddhism (Pāli: ''jhāna'') * Dhyana in Hinduism * Jain Dhyāna, see Jain meditation Other *''Dhyana'', a work by British composer John Tavener Sir John Kenneth ...

(meditation) or

japa ''Japa'' () is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, with parallels found in other religions. ''Japa'' may be performed while sitting in a meditation posture ...

(repetition of Lord's name) or sankeertana (bhajan) and thereby think of God all the time. One should walk slowly like a woman who is in the ninth month of pregnancy." Throughout the year, pilgrims engage in a practise called ''giri valam'', considered to be a simple and effective form of ''

yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

''. The circumambulation is started from the temple with bare feet and is considered a sacred act.Melton 2008 The central government of India asked the Tamil Nadu government through the supreme court to direct the path of ''girivalam'' under the provision of the proposed Tamil Nadu Heritage Conservation Act.Gaur 2006, p. 21 There are eight small shrines of ''lingams'' located in the 14 km circumference of the hill, each associated with the 12 moon signs. These are collectively termed as ''Ashta Lingam'' (meaning 8 lingams) and is considered one of the rituals of worship during the ''girivalam'' (circumbulation of the hill).Goodman 2002, pp. 38-39 File:1._Indhra_Lingam.jpg, 1. Indra lingam File:2._Agni_Lingam.jpg, 2. Agni lingam File:3._Yama_Lingam.jpg, 3. Yama lingam File:4._Nirudhi_Lingam.jpg, 4. Niruthi lingam File:5._Varuna_Lingam.jpg, 5. Varuna lingam File:6._Vayu_Lingam.jpg, 6. Vayu lingam File:7._Kubera_Lingam.jpg, 7. Kubera lingam File:8._Easanya_Lingam.jpg,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Girivalam (religious Practice) Puja (Hinduism) Hindu pilgrimages