The practice of Girivalam—circumambulating the sacred hill—is infused with celestial rhythm. And no moment embodies its luminous power more than the night of the Full Moon (Poornima). Rooted in verses from the Skanda Purana and adorned with myth, astrology, and ritual, this night transforms the earthly path into a walk through cosmic grace.
Walking in Silence: The Ancient Instructions
According to sacred verse, a single step around Arunachala sanctifies sanctifies one’s body and mind.
The Skanda Purana describes how one should walk slowly, silently, like a woman in the throes of childbirth—mind steady, body composed. Sacred ash, rudraksha beads, and meditation on Shiva mark the devotee. One should imagine brushing past invisible siddhas, devas, and subtle beings, each also moving around the hill. Whether walking alone or singing in devotion with others, the soul is called inward—toward surrender, purity, and awakening.
The Moon and Shiva: A Divine Relationship
Lord Shiva is Chandrasekhara, the One who wears the crescent moon on his head. The moon is not merely ornament—it is power, purity, and mind made manifest. On Sivaratri, when the moon wanes to its thinnest silver sliver, Shiva's meditative potency is strongest. On Poornima, when the moon is full, it radiates blessings, boons, and fulfillment of heartfelt prayers.
At Arunachala, the moon’s energy is amplified. Walking Girivalam on a Monday (day of the Moon) or on Poornima is especially potent for those seeking healing, elevation, or a new beginning.
Chandra: The Healer of the Heart
In Vedic tradition, Chandra is more than a celestial body—he is the deity of the mind, emotions, and the nurturing principle. Cool, white, and graceful, Chandra represents intuition, imagination, fertility, and peace. His presence is especially strong at Arunachala, where he is celebrated as a benefic force who blesses those struggling with sorrow, fear, or mental unrest.
Worshipping Chandra, especially on Mondays, is said to restore emotional balance, amplify inner sensitivity, and bring one closer to the soft glow of the Self.
Myth and Meaning: The Moon's Gentle Gift
A beautiful tale tells of the Moon, Sun, and Wind visiting their relatives—Thunder and Lightning. Upon returning, only the Moon brings home food for their mother, Star. Sun and Wind had feasted in selfishness; Moon had remembered love.
From this myth emerges the Moon’s quiet compassion—always giving, always glowing. That same compassion pervades Girivalam under the moonlight. A mother’s grace, a healer’s touch, a mirror of Shiva’s mind—it is all there in the moon’s soft radiance.
To walk around Arunachala under the Full Moon is to walk within the field of Chandra’s light. It is a time when boons blossom, prayers ripen, and the mind becomes still.
Here, fire and moonlight meet. Shiva and Chandra merge. And the path around the Hill becomes not just a journey around a mountain—but a luminous return to the Self.
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Arunachala
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