Hindu Temple Site

Preview of Venoth's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/venoth/63/1277913530/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Vallimalai, India Entry Title: "2nd Stop - Vallimalai Murugan Temple" Entry: "From Padmavathiyar temple, we diverted to the Ranipet road heading to Vallimalai. I guess from here, we pretty much broke the initial itinerary and visited more places. We finally arrived in Vallimalai at 12.30pm. For a moment, I was unsure if I would be able to make it up ti the hill temple based on the heat and temperature at that time but we managed to take small breaks and go up the stairs to the hill temple. Our journey started with the main Valli Amma temple at the bottom of the hill and then proceeded to the Arunagiri Temple just beside that and then the journey of climbing the fleet of stairs started right to the hill top. The view was great from the top and the temple was magnificent, the entire structure was built on a single rock. After praying, we came down to the car at 3.00 pm. Below is a brief of the temple: After witnessing Kanda Sashti festival at Tiruchendur, if one makes a bee-line north straight to the Andhra Pradesh border in Vellore district, one will arrive to Valli Malai, the birthplace of Valli Amma according to tradition, just at the time of the annual Guru Puja commemorating the samadhi on 22.11.1950 of Vallimalai Sri Satchidananda Swamigal, who popularised Saint Arunagirinathar's Tiruppukazh songs and Valli Malai all across South India during the early part of the 20th century.The power and beauty of this sakti peetam (Skt: 'seat of sakti or subtle power') are among the better-known secrets known to Murugan bhaktars. Indeed, Valli Malai remains as Valli Amma's own playground where She and Bala Murugan romp and play Hide-and-Seek with each other and with their devotees to this day. The stunning beauty of Valli Malai with its pools, fresh greenery, caves and unusual rock formations stands as mute testimony to the continuing presence of the ever-youthful Goddess Herself.Unlike towering Mount Kailasa in the trans-Himalaya where Lord Siva abides in cold silent majesty, the Valli Malai hills by comparison are child-sized. Indeed, the whole of Valli Malai appears designed to please the goddess of Valli Malai, Valli Amma or Pongi (literally 'bubbling over', i.e. with joy). Pongi is the spirit of a twelve-year old girl, just as Murugan always remains a kumara or youth. Valli Malai was the birthplace in prehistoric times of Lord Murugan's sweetheart Valli and to this day her spirit remains here and in the hearts of her devotees.Vallimalai Sri Satchidananda Swamigal has since been succeeded by his disciple Valli Malai Balananda Sadhu, whose renown as a friend of Pongi Amma and exponent of Tiruppukazhsongs has been spreading across the world of Murugan devotees. Balananda Sadhu has single-handedly restored the delapitated Vallimalai Satchidananda Tiruppukazh Ashram and turned it into a model ashram and center of devotional activities including daily annadanam and annual functions that attract and feed hundreds of devotees.A life-long brahmachari and former automotive engineer, Balananda Sadhu is well-endowed with the energetic drive and talents needed for one who serves as Pongi Amma's own cook, driver, manager, engineer, foreman, accountant, priest and secretary all rolled into one. He is constantly engaged in devotional service of Pongi Amma and Lord Murugan. Behind the temple there is a kulam Saravana Poikai. Near the kulam there is a Valli temple also. On the top of the hillock there is another temple for Lord Muruga. One has to climb 444 steps to reach this temple that is carved in a single rock. On the steps there are a number of resting mandapams. Out of the many canopies one of them is still not renovated. When they tried to renovate it, Mr. Arunachalam, Mr. Apathurai and Kripananda Variar tried to remove the stone. When they had smoke incense smell coming from the chamber below the stone they had the vision of siddhas and rishis seated in yoga posture. All the three had a shock and became unconscious. From that time the stones were closed and this particular canopy ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/venoth/63/1277913530/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Unique Hill Temples along the way to Vallimalai" 2. "Somehow, the road here is better" 3. "Stopped along the way to imitate a monkey" 4. "Homes along the way in Andhra" 5. "Crossing Andhra Border" 6. "The Holy Tank in Vallimalai" 7. "Valli Amma Temple at the foot hill" 8. "Arunagirinathar Temple, Vallimalai" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00b5-d80a-1d7a?ytv4=1