A rare occasion of girivalam occurring after a period of 68 years

As per traditional myth which has a strong belief, the mountain in the famous Thiruvannamalai temple itself is worshiped as a symbolic representation of Lord Siva.

Another traditional belief is that those who undertake girivalam (doing a pradakshan or a round of the temple around the mountain) on the Full Moon Day (called as Pornami in Tamil or Poornima) will be getting the blessings of Siddhas.

Out os this, doing girivalam on this Tamil calendar month’s Full Moon Day is considered as special as it would help the devotees doing girivalam to get the blessings of Siddhas. Occurring after a long gap of 68 years, the full moon can be seen in fuller brightness astronomically leading to the belief that the full moon on this day is the most powerful.

The auspicious time for undertaking girivalam on this special occasion has been recommended to be from 10.00 PM on 13th November (Sunday) to 7.08 PM on 14th November (Monday).

NASA’s Announcement of Big Moon

When the moon reaches the nearest point to the earth during its orbit, it would appear larger than normal. This phenomenon occurred last on 26th January in the year 1948 when the Full Moon touched the nearest point towards earth on a Full Moon Day.

After this, a similar occurrence of the Full Moon touching the nearest point towards the earth occurs on 14th November this year, 2016. As the Full Moon is at the nearest point towards earth, it will appear larger and brighter than normal.

During the night on 13th November, the Full Moon can be observed at its largest form.

This occasion will occur again, only on 25th November in the year 2034 when the full moon touches the nearest point towards the earth.