Arunachala
| Arunachala | ||
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| height | 817 m | |
| location | India , Tamil Nadu , Tiruvannamalai | |
| Coordinates | 12 ° 14 '25 " N , 79 ° 3' 27" E | |
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| rock | Volcanic rock | |
| particularities | one of the holiest mountains of the Hindus | |
The Arunachala (also known under the name Arunagiri , Annamalai ) is a mountain in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu , around 150 kilometers southwest of Chennai . Its height is 817 meters above sea level. The city of Tiruvannamalai lies at its foot . The Arunachala is one of the oldest Indian rock formations and has a bare cone made of reddish volcanic rock.
Religious meaning
In Hinduism , the Arunachala is considered a sacred mountain . Its importance even exceeds that of Kailash in South India . Arunachala is considered a manifestation of the god Shiva , while Shiva is only supposed to live on Kailash. The city of Tiruvannamalai is therefore considered a pilgrimage city. Legend has it that Shiva appeared on this mountain in the form of a fiery linga to the gods Brahma and Vishnu . The name of the mountain, which can be translated as "hill of light" or "hill of dawn", also refers to this legend.
In memory of the appearance of Shiva on the summit as a pillar of fire, the believers celebrate a great festival, the Dipam , on a full moon night at the end of November / beginning of December, on the summit and in the temple at the foot of the mountain . Large amounts of oil and ghi are carried to the summit and a fire is kindled at the moment of sunset and moon rise.
It is a traditional ritual to go around the mountain. The Sanskrit name for this pilgrimage is giri pradakshina or giri vallam . Meaning of syllables: pra - sells sins because - lets wishes to be fulfilled kshi - clears karma na - self-knowledge, liberation giri - Mountain Vallam - circumnavigation The circumnavigation is completed clockwise. The pilgrims should go barefoot, be freshly washed, wear fresh clothes and walk “in a pure and meditative mindset”. In the south of the mountain is a Shiva Linga sanctuary, which is considered to be one of the oldest in South India. On the slope of the Arunachala there is a hermitage called Yelu Sunai ("Seven Springs").
The mountain already cast its spell on Guru Ramana Maharshi at the age of 17, so that he spent until mid-December 1922 in various caves of the mountain and from then until his death on April 14, 1950 at the foot of the mountain. Sri Ramana Maharshi revered Arunachala as the highest consciousness and wrote five hymns in his honor, among other verses.
“Arunachala is a hidden sacred place. He has always remained relatively little known. The mountain gives self-knowledge, jnana , but most people have other, stronger desires and do not really seek that deep knowledge. Oh Arunachala, you uproot the egos of those who think of you in their hearts. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ See the elevation of 2682 feet in the map India and Pakistan 1: 250,000, Series U502, US Army Map Service, 1955-, sheet ND 44-14 Conjeevaram .
Web links
literature
- Karl Gratzl: The Mountain Myth. Lexicon of the important mountains from mythology, cultural history and religion . Hollinek, Purkersdorf 2000, ISBN 3-85119-280-X , p. 30-31 .