Girivalam means circumambulation of holy mountains. Among the circumambulation of various mountains, circumambulating the holy Arunachala hills is considered as a holy task, and by doing that, we would get good results in our lives. Arunachala hills are worshipped in the form of Lord Shiva. The Girivalam path is about 14 kilometres, and it takes a minimum of three hours to circumambulate the holy mountain. While doing Girivalam, lot of small temples and ashrams for Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi and Yogi Ramsurat Kumar are available. While doing Girivalam, we can also have a glimpse of a nice temple, which is known as Idukku Pillayar Temple and it is a wonderful temple which is also located on the Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai.
Still now, during every Full moon day, lot of devotees while doing Girivalam, used to visit this temple and would pray to Lord Vinayaka, in order to get their wishes fulfilled. It is also believed that just by once visiting this holy temple, we would get salvation after our death. It is suggested for the devotees that while visiting this temple, their entire thoughts should be only on Lord Vinayaka, by chanting the Mantra, “OM SRI IDUKKU VINAYAKANE NAMO NAMAHA”.
It is believed that by entering into this temple our several diseases would be cured. We can also find newly married couples who used to eagerly visit this temple to get the blessings from the first god Vinayaka in order to run their life smoothly. Most of the devotees would be having the curiosity to visit this temple, but at the same time, entering and coming out of this temple is a little bit difficult task, especially for the fat bellied people!
I have visited this temple several times while doing Girivalam, and during my last visit, that is on June 2023, I found a little bit difficult to come out from this temple, but, however one of the devotees helped me by giving his hand, in order to come out safely from this temple.
However recently, new restrictions have been imposed on devotees, after a devotee died, since he found it difficult to come out from this temple, due to obesity.
“OM SRI IDUKKU PILLAYANDAVANE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR