The foothills of Vellingiri hills have a rich spiritual ambience. No wonder! The holy shrine of Vellingiri Andavar and His consort Manonmani Amman is situated here. Countless siddhas have made this their home in the past. Even today, many siddhas reside here and perform penance.
Poondi is a small village. But it is the abode of Lord Panchalingesha. This place is filled with the vibrations of the five elements- water, fire, wind, the earth and the sky. It is the abode of the Lord of Vellingiri. Tamilnadu has thousands of temples with majestic gopurams, artistic mandapams, lengthy parikramas / prakarams, exquisitely carved sculptures and colourful festivals.
They are the living symbols of spirituality. They have also become inseparable parts of the people of this land. Even the small, ancient temples in the tiny villages are equally rich in their spiritual association. The sacred temple of Vellingiri Andavar and His consort Manonmani Amman, situated at the foothills of Vellingiri in Coimbatore district is one such. This acts as the threshold for Vellingiri, the abode of the siddhas.
Poondi is situated at the foothills of Vellingiri, which is a part of the Western range of mountains. Poondi village is 40 kilometers away from Coimbatore. Those who wish to climb the hill should begin from Poondi. They can have a darshan of the Swayambhu Lord, after climbing the seven hills. Saint Agasthya has lived here. Countless siddhas have walked around this place.
People usually carry the necessary articles including food and water while climbing this hill. Women do not allowed to climb this hill. One can climb this hill between the first of Thai till Vaigasi Visakam. Climbing begins usually at dawn is the best. Vellingiri hill has an altitude of 6000 ft and one has to trek a distance of 6 k.m. to reach the summit.
Devotees of Shiva believe that there is a Kailash in the north (Uttara Kailash), one in the centre,(Madhya Kailash) and the third in the south (Dakshina Kailash) Among them, Uttara Kailash is present only in the subtle form. Madhya Kailash is in Tibet. Vellingiri hill is the Dakshina Kailash. So it is referred to as‘Then Kayilayam’ or South Kailash.
It is believed to be the abode of Saint Agasthya and so his successors worship this hill with great devotion. People say that Adi Shankara came here and offered his worship to the Lord.This hill is considered as a symbol of Lord Shiva . It is also looked at as a symbol of penance as saints have been doing penance here since time immemorial.
Vellingiri has been sanctified by the presence of Mahayogi Pazhani Swamigal, Shivayogiyar, Sadguru Shri Brahma, Aghori Vimalanadaa, Azhukku Samiyar, Soundarapandi Samiyar, Kalathri Samiyar, Mysore Samiyar, Etti Kotta Samiyar, Milagaay Samiyar.
Vellingiri symbolically represents the seven chakkras (energy centres) in the human body.
First Hill | Mooladhara | The shrine of Velli Vinayagar |
Second Hill | Swadhishtanam | Pambatti sunai |
Third Hill | Mani poorakam | Symbol of Agni, kai thatti sunai |
Fourth Hill | Anahatham | Sidhar Ottar’s samathi |
Fifth Hill | Vishudhi | Bheeman kaliyurundai hill |
Sixth Hill | Aagna | Sethizhai cave, Aandi sunai |
Seventh Hill | Sahasraaram | Swayambhu lingam, the lord of Vellingiri |
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· Velliangiri Mountains
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· The Velliangiri Mountains, (Tamil: வெள்ளியங்கிரி மலை)a part of the Nilgiri[1]Biosphere, are situated at the western border of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Known as the “Thenkailayam (Tamil: தென்கயிலை) – Kailash of the South”, these mountains are held and revered on par with spiritually most powerful place on the planet – Mount Kailash, the legendary abode of Shiva. On the top of the Velliangiri Mountains, Shiva is worshipped as Swayambu, one who is self-created and in this form,he graces the devotees. In the past, many Siddhas, Siddhar and Sages[2] have practiced severe austerities[3], Tapas and attained Self-realization on these mountains.
· Besides, the Shiva Temple of Velliangiri, the presence of the Dhyanalinga is another reason why people throng to the Velliangiri Hills.
Story of Velliangiri
· These mountains for many in this [4][5][6] tradition, became sacred because a long time ago, there was a young maiden at the southern-most point of the Indian peninsular who aspired to hold Shiva’s hand as a wife
· Her devotion and austerities crossed all levels of sanity and she remained absolutely focused upon him every moment.This stirred Shiva’s compassion and love. So he started making his journey to South India. She set up this deadline: “If I am not married to him by sunrise on this day, I am going to leave my body.”
· Shiva came to know of this and was hurrying down but he could not meet the deadline due to false setup was created by a few who does not like his marriage. He was close but since he felt the time crossed he sat there itself. So she left her body standing. Even today she stands there as Kanyakumari. There is a shrine on the very tip of this landmass which is known as Kanyakumari or the ‘Maiden’s Shrine.’
· Shiva felt very disappointed with himself that he could not make it on time. He started walking back and needed a place to sit and work out his despondency. So he climbed up this mountain and at the peak of this mountain he sat. Wherever Shiva spent a little time, people call that place ‘Kailash’ due to the mountains imbibe his presence and reverbrate it eternally. So they called the Velliangiri Mountains the ‘Kailash of the South’. The mountain peak is 6000 ft above the sea level, and its chillness, wind force, cloudy mist, and the steepness gives hard climbing for a devotee.
Sacredness of these Mountains – The Seven Hills
· Kailash is considered as Shiva himself. “Many many great masters of all tradition deposited their wisdom and energy in this peak made it as a spiritual library of the world” says Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation and the Isha Yoga Centre. Shiva is known as Swayambhu, the source of the creator. Any one who experiences the source of creation, there is nothing more in this planet for him to experience. Only because of this, Kailash pilgrimage has been kept as highest than any other pilgrimage.
· Normally pilgrimage to a place is unlike trekking, considered as a spiritual tool to subdue one’s ego and enhance one’s perception and life experience. That is why great masters offered this tool to humanity with the process of preparation to imbibe the sanctity of the place in to one’s life.
· Even today going for Kailash is not possible for many. When one powerful sthana is reverbrated in the same dimension, which is easily accessible for people who are born in this land it is really a great boon. So in this sense, Thenkailaya yatra has become significant and great possiblity for one.
· Apart from Shiva, many many great beings bestowed their energy and wisdom in Velliangiri peak makes the mountain more significant for one to pilgrimage. The places like Pambatti Siddhar Gugai (cave), Ottar Samadhi, Sadhguru Shri Brahma’s Samadhi and many many more Saints and Sages, Yogis and Siddhas made this mountain more powerful for one to imbibe this great dimension in his life.
· The seven mountains reverberates the seven basic Chakras of human body shows its sacredness. So any one who pilgrimages to these powerful sathana with proper preparation and guidance can receive all the 7 basic dimensions of life.
Significance of Pilgrimage
· Pilgrimage to a sacred place is considered as so significant since it becomes a tool
for one to experience and enhance the higher dimension in his life.
· This is a traditional and an ancient tool in this culture, which has strong and long history of Bhakthi yoga (path of devotion). Many many great beings such as Agasthiya, Adi Shankara, Vivekananda keep on walking in this sacred land just to impart this highest possibility to the people in the society so as to enhance their life.
· We can hear many stories of many great beings who traveled to Kāśi or Rameshwaram or other significant places just to imbibe this higher dimension.
· The story of the great Nayanmar Tirunavukkarasar Swamigal and Karaikkal Ammeiyarwould express how they took Kailash Yatra in their life. When someone undertakes a pilgrimage to Kailash, with proper preparation and guidance, cannot be stopped from receiving since the journey itself cleanses the body, opens up the Nadis apart from being connected the basic five elements.
· So one can receive the fullest benefit when he undertakes the trek as pilgrimage with devotion and proper preparation will yield physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
· The Iyakkam (Movement) offers a rare guidance for the devotees in order for them to prepare themselves to make them receptive by making them aware of the purpose of the yatra and place that they going to Darshan.
Velliangiri Yatra or Thenkailaya Yatra
· Yatra is a tool of devotion, to enrich and enhance our life with new dimension. That is why in this tradition, pilgrimages were created and offered to people by great Sages and Saints.
· The Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyakkam guiding the devotees as how to prepare, how to receive so that they can get benefit of what they come for. It organizes yatra , for those who contacted them, in order to make them experience the glimpse of the magnificent mountains where many many masters pour their grace and wisdom.
· Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyakkam[7] is a bhakthi or devotional movement run by independent non-profitable charitable trust called Thenkailaya Bhakthi Peravai, created by devotees of Velliangiri mountain. The iyakkam creates awareness among public and Velliangiri devotees, about the sacredness of Velliangiri mountains, and make them to opt for yatra instead of trek or of tour. Apart from creating the awareness about the path of devotion , the iyakkam plans to work and mobilize support from all sects of people in order to create basic facilities such as information stalls, medical aid centers, sanitation facilities, etc.
· The Iyakkam also plans to mobilize general public, devotees along with corporate sector in order to preserve the sanctity of the place and cleanliness (by removing plastics thrown from the forest) by organizing Sivanadiyar seva’s.
· The Thenkailaya Yatra, the 2-day program with one night stay in the dense forests of the hills gives an exposure about the natural world, along with the spiritual dimension to a participant by various sessions in order to experience the mountains.
· The poondi temple , the adivaram[8] and Dhyanalinga (Isha Foundation) on both sides of the foot hills reflects the sacredness. The best season to go for pilgrimage is from Jan 14th to May 31st (Tamil month: Thai 1st to Vaikasi 31st). However, one devotee has to bring winter clothes and torch light since the hill always famous for its chillness and people will go to the trek mostly in night.
· Also it is very much necessary for one to pack his food and snacks but natural water resources are available at Pambatti Chunai (at the end of second hill), Kai Thatti Chunai (at the end of third hill) and Andi Chunai (sixth hill). The iyakkam welcomes support from all individuals and corporate sectors in order to create facilities for the devotees who opt pilgrimage during the season.
· A spiritual person should use all the tools , all the four wheels, body, mind, emotion, energy to enhance their perception and experience the unlimited.
· The Mount Kailash, regarded as spiritual centre of the universe, is revered by all religious of this land. Kailash pilgrimage has been kept as highest due to the possibility of experiencing the source of creator, the suwayambhu, the shiva.
· But even today, when the transport mode is better, stills it is long way for many.
· The south kailash has which represent 7 chakras of the body and reverberate the presence of shiva. The primary objective of the Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyyakkam is to offer people an oppertunity to experience and imbibe yatra.