Among the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara, one stands out for its sweet intimacy: Giripradakshinapriya—“The Lord who delights in circumambulation.”
At most holy shrines, the deity rests atop a hill. But at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity. To walk around it—known as Girivalam in Tamil or Giripradakshina in Sanskrit—is not a symbolic act. It is worship in motion, meditation through the body, a return to the center of all centers.
What It Means to Walk the Hill
The Sanskrit word Pradakshina breaks into:
Pra – the bestower of boons,
Dakshi – the destroyer of karma,
Na – the giver of wisdom.
Thus, with every step taken with the Hill to your right, you are bowing to the sacred fire that burns eternally as Arunachala.
According to the Ribhu Gita, “I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes rotate within me.” Pradakshina, then, is a profound recognition: all is within the Self, and the Self is Arunachala.
A Path of Light, A Ritual of Grace
In Arunachala Puranam, the Hill is described as the Adi Linga, the primal pillar of light. The pathway encircling it is the sacred Yoni, the source of all creation. Every step is a yajna.
One step = the merit of a fire sacrifice
Two = the merit of a Rajasuya Yaga
Three = the reward of an Ashvamedha Yaga
The Hill is also said to be rich in siddha herbs, and the wind that brushes past it carries their healing aroma to all who walk in devotion. Even the dust lifted by the feet of a pradakshina pilgrim purifies distant lands.
The Outer and Inner Pathways
There are two sacred circuits:
The outer path (14 km), lined with temples, tirthams, and the eight cardinal lingams: Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, and Isanya.
The inner path, a subtler trail through the forests and foothills, traditionally walked in silence.
Siddhars—mystic sages—are said to dwell unseen across these trails, their presence felt by the sincere.
How to Walk: Rituals of the Round
Scripture prescribes that one should walk slowly, silently, and in a spirit of surrender
Barefoot, without umbrella or vehicle
In clean white clothing, wearing vibhuti
Avoiding anger, fear, or desire
Reciting mantras, singing bhajans, or holding inner silence
Offering alms but accepting none
This is not merely a physical act—it is a moving meditation, likened to a queen in her tenth month: dignified, inward, and full of grace.
The Power of the Days: Weekly Girivalam Blessings
Each day of the week offers its own unique spiritual reward when Girivalam is performed:
Sunday
Union with Shiva’s Solar Abode; grants liberation and transcendence.
Monday
Merges one in Shiva’s form; bestows youthfulness and freedom from decay.
Tuesday
Destroys karmic debt; ends the cycle of death and rebirth.
Wednesday
Grants divine skill in arts and philosophy; awakens omniscience.
Thursday
Leads to guruhood; earns veneration among sages and celestial beings.
Friday
Attains the grace of Lakshmi; aligns with Vishnu’s abode of bliss.
Saturday
Offers planetary protection and worldly success; mirrors the blessings of an auspicious planetary conjunction.
When the Stars Align: Auspicious Timings
The benefits of Girivalam increase exponentially on:
Sivaratri, Tamil New Year, and the three holy months from mid-October to mid-January.
Solstice Days – where fruits multiply a crore-fold.
Poornima under Magha nakshatra (Feb–Mar).
Brahma Muhurta – the sacred pre-dawn hours.
Solar eclipses, and Vidhipaada Yoga – rare moments of cosmic alignment.
Every Full Moon draws mystics, siddhas, and seekers to the sacred path, when the breeze carries the scent of herbal healing and divine presence is thick in the air.
When asked why a sadhu only walked the hill and didn’t read Vedanta texts, Ramana Maharshi replied:
“What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?”
The path is the teaching. The Hill is the guru. The walk is the awakening.
From Goddess Parvati, who was advised by Sage Gautama to walk the Hill daily to fulfill her heart’s desire…
To Sage Durvasa, who declared that even curses could be lifted only through Girivalam…
To King Vajrangada, whose healing came by the same act…
The tradition of circumambulating Arunachala lives on, timeless and luminous. For to walk around this Hill with devotion is to walk into the heart of Shiva Himself
Arunachala
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