Blessings and Curses - Tiruvannamalai

Blessings of our sages:

It has been said there are three major pilgrimage methods in which a true devotee can achieve liberation from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. One is to meditate within the Virupaksha Cave on Mount Arunachala where the venerated sage Sri Ramana Maharshi lived from 1899 to 1916 in silence and solitude (he later moved to the Skandasraman cave, a few minutes more up the hill, where he lived from 1916 to 1922, but it is not considered as holy). The second is by making the climb to the top of Arunachala's holy peak (where it is reported a yogi lives who has not eaten since 1990. (Haadi Vidya Siddhi). And the third is the custom of Giri Valam, circumambulating the base of Mount Arunachala.

The custom of Giri Valam, Giri Pradakshina, or Pradakshina Giki-Dakshina, has been in use since times immemorial. For the Enlightened Indian holy man Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi, the Sage of Arunachala, this was a regular and enjoyable thing. He used to say that the red sores caused by the sharp pebbles on the soles, while doing Giri Valam on barefoot, will be the rubies for the crown of the Lord.

The word Pradakshina itself has profound meaning.

  • PRA - Expels sins
  • DA - Grants ones wishes
  • KSHI - Destroys karma
  • NA - Liberation /Self Realization/Death of the Ego.
Curses of our greedy people:

Salem and Tiruvannamalai Districts


Farmers and environmentalists are fighting an iron-ore mining project at Kanchamalai in Salem. According to official sources, TIMCO and SISCOL joint venture wants 1,000 acres of mineral-rich hills in two places in Tamil Nadu. While 638 acres is sought at Kanchamalai, revered for the indigenous medical practitioners and rich herbs, 330 acres has been asked for at Tiruvannamalai District (Vediappanmalai, Kauthimalai). Around 90,000 trees at Kanchamalai and 200,000 trees in Tiruvannamalai District will be felled if the project is cleared by the Forest Department. A Committee’s report is currently with the Supreme Court.

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