The ideal time for undertaking Girivalam in Tamil Month Thai on Full Moon Day!
The Temple administration of Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunchaleswarar temple has announced the ideal time undertake Girivalam (going round the Thiruvannamalai Mountain by foot and then go for Darshan of Lord Sri Arunchaleswarar) on the auspicious occasion of the Full Moon Day (Poornima or Pournami) when the star of Poosam in the Tamil calendar of Thai!
As per the temple administration, the Full Moon Day commences at 10.42 PM tomorrow (Saturday, 4th February) and concludes at Midnight 12.48 AM) on Sunday, 5th February)and it is best to undertake Girivalam during this period!
Rathasapthami Theerthavari event at Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunchaleswarar temple! Deity of Lord and Consort took to Cheyyaru
At the temple of Lord Sri Arunchaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai important ‘Theerthavaris’ are performed as per Tamil Calendar from the Chithirai to Panguni. Among these Theerthavaris, the Rathasapthami Theerthavari event is performed on the 7th day after the NEW Moon Day (Amavasya or Amavasai)!
On this sacred day of Rathasapthami Theerthavari, the deity of Lord Chandrasekhar along with the deity of His Consort Ambal is taken out of the temple in the early morning at 5.00 AM to Kalasavakkam Cheyyaru.
Earlier, the deities were taken to Dhanakotipuram for a survey of the lands owned by the temple. During this occasion, the women used to prepare Pongal from the rice just harvested and pray to the Lord and His Consort.
As such, swarms of devotees gathered on the route taken by the Lord Chnadrasekharar and His Consort Ambal!
Subsequently, Theerthavari was performed at Cheyyaru!
Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunchaleswarar Temple: Lakhs of devotees undertake Girivalam on Full Moon Day!
Lakhs of devotees undertook ‘Girivalam’ (taking a walk across the bottom of the mountain) on the Occasion of the Full Moon Day (Pournami or Poornima) at the Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunchaleswarar temple!
In fact, the devotees had started undertaking ‘Girivalam’ right from yesterday (Friday, 6th January) afternoon! By 6.oo PM in the evening, the crowd of devotees started swelling in large numbers!
Further, the devotees had to stand in long queues in the common and paid routes for having the Darshan of Lord Arunchaleswarar!
Further, police personnel were deployed for safety throughout the Girivalam route!
As the time for the Pournami (Full Moon) was up to 4.20 Am today (Saturday, 7th January), the large number of devotees undertook ‘Girivalam’ during the entire night session!