Thiruvannamalai Girivalam

Thiruvannamalai Girivalam:

All days are suitable for doing Girivalam. The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres.Poorima or the full moon day is considered auspicious to do the Pradakshina. Nevertheless circumambulation done on all days of the week bestow the Lord's blessings abundantly.

One who thinks Arunachalam and desire to go around by water covering 15km the Arunachala hill and forwarding one foot will get equal benefit of Yagam and for second foot he will achieve the benefit of Raja suya Yagam and with clear mind of third foot will achieve Aswameda Yagam and who continues further will get beneficial of all Yagams.

Siddhas and devotees from various part of the World walk around on all days. In the full moon day of every month, lakhs of devotees go around the hill regularly.

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 : Prosperity and reaching the abode of Vishnu

Saturday : Worldly success and the aversion of ill effects of the planets in the horoscope.

Method of Girivalam:

One is to take a bath before doing the Pradakshina or Girivalam, wear clean clothes and wear the Rudraksha. The Pradakshina is supposed to be done with a meditative mood slowly with heart filled devotion and love for the Lord in order to imbibe the silence and the stillness of Arunachala in one's being. 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.  It is auspicious to do Giripradakshina on the day of the commencement of the Uttarayana season which is the Makara Sankaranti to attain one's goal in life.

The benefits of the Pradakshina is reaped if one could do it by foot. It is not recommended to circumambulate in any mode of conveyance. Thousands of invisible Siddhapurushas, Devatas and Manus are said to accompany a devotee who circumambulates the Hill with reverence meditating on Shiva. The palms are to be joined prayerfully at every specific direction. It is also good to do the circumambulation chanting the Lord's name, singing or dancing His praise. It is good to offer alms to the needy while doing the Pradakshina with utmost humility and love. The Lord is said to asunder the cord of the birth and death cycle bestowing His own state to a devotee who does the Girivalam accordingly.

Lets thus circumambulate Annamalai Hill in reverence to attain the Lord's grace to have our thoughts transfixed to the Hill, to be motionless within in order to realise the silence of Arunachala in one's being.

Tips to follow while going Girivalam

1. It is advised that devotees go Girivalam only barefooted.
2. Always view the top of the giri all through their Girivalam.
3. Preferably Girivalam should be undertaken only during full moon nights or else in normal nights.
4. To chant during Girivalam the namam of Om Arunachala.