Saduragiri Shivan malai - My Trekking Experience

Sathuragiri Hill is also known as Sivanmalai/Sitharmalai, the whole mountain is in square (Chathuram) in shape so the name called as Sathuragiri. When I research in internet, I got another meaning to add here that is Sathuragiri came from Chathur (4) Veda (Vedas) Giri (Hill), where all the four Vedas met and formed the hill.

Sathuragiri Entrance

Sathuragiri is the Abode of God which falls under the Western Ghat ranges. It is really a great place to worship lord Shiva in his place. It is believed that 18 sithars (Agasthiyar, Nandi Devar, Thirumoolar, Bogar, Konkanavar, Machamuni, Gorakhnathar, Sattaimuni, Sundaranandar, Ramadevar, Kudambai, Karuvoorar, Idaikadar, Kamalamuni, Valmiki, Pathanjali, Dhanvanthiri & Pambatti) are still available in Sathuragiri and worshipping lord Shiva. People in Sathuragiri said that sithars might come in any form or they might near them but we cannot see easily them. We cannot enter the hill without their permission, before climbing the rock pray all the 18 sithars and start your journey.

It was my first time visit to Sathuragiri but for my dad it was fourth trip, I tried several times to visit but only Oct 5^th I got an opportunity to see lord Shiva, only now I received approval from God to reach his place. I was surprised to see 6 years old kid to 65 years old people climbing the hill, the highlight is few physically challenged people also travelled along with us. While seeing these definitely we won’t feel any difficulty to climb the hill, our self confidence will get increase to reach the temple.

One physically challenged person finished his worship and getting down from hill

  

 

During full moon and new moon devotees visit the temples and pay their penance and have darshan. Pilgrims will climb the mountain only in groups and not in solo, since the forest is full of animals. Those who have strong heart and health are advised to climb up. The new moon during the month of July-August (Aadi Amavasai) attracts about 10 to 15 lacs devotees who come there to have the darshan of the Lord Mahalingam.

Every year my dad will go to Sathuragiri for Navarathi festival, Aanandavalli Amma Kollu will be setup for ten days. This year I got an opportunity to join along with my dad. We started from Nagercoil on Friday night at 11pm by Nagercoil – Kumli bus. We reached Sirivilliputhur around 4am early morning; from there we need to catch local bus to reach Watrap (vatrairuppu). From Watrap, we have mini bus as well as share auto service to reach Thaani Parai which is the entrance of Muulikai Vanam (Sathuragiri Hill Entrance). While reaching the entrance, lot of instructions mentioned to follow during the trip. One among them is we are advised to enter only between 6am to 6pm, the real reason behind this instruction is lot of wild animals are available in the hills, if we travel in night it is highly dangerous for us, but people won’t listen to this.

After entering at the foot hills, we can see

• Aseervadha Vinayagar
• RajaKali Amma
• Vana Petchi Amma
• Karuppasamy

Of these, Paechi Amma and Karuppasamy were installed by Sithars for guarding the southern side of the Hill.

Aseervadha Vinayagar & RajaKali Amma Temple (Foothill)

Vana Petchi Amma & Karruppan Swami Temple (Foothill)

Then on the way to Sathuragiri Shiva temple, we have:

• Gorakkar Cave
• "Irattai Lingam" or Sankaran Narayan Lingams
• Vana Durgai Amma
• Pilavadi Karuppasamy

 

Gorakkar Cave

"Irattai Lingam" or Sankaran Narayan Lingams

Then we can reach Shri Sundara Mahalingam Temple and have a good darshan.

Sundara Mahalingam Entrance (Thorana Vayil)

Sundara Mahalingam

After Finished darshan at Shri Sundara Mahalingam Temple then we need to visit Shri Santana Mahalingam Temple which is nearby.  In Santana Mahalingam temple, there is a sanctum for 18 sithars, Amman Sanctum, Murugan Sanctum and Vinayagar Sanctum. After that, we can see and mediate in Satta Natha Muni cave is situated near the temple.

Santhana Mahalingam Entrance (Thorana Vayil)

Santhana Mahalingam

After finishing darshan in Santana Mahalingam temple, we need to walk more for 1.5 kms to reach ‘Vana Kali Temple.’

Due to time constraints, the following places yet to see, I will plan it in my next Sathuragiri Trip.

• Vana Durga
• Oonjal Karuppan Swamy
• Korakkar Scripture Rock
• Vella Ganapathi (White colored Lord Ganesha)
• Nadu Kattu Ganapathi
• Naga Kanni Kavu
• Periya Mahalingam
• Thavasi Cave (It is said that Sithars are still there and one can enter only with their permission).

Periya Mahalingam

Thavasi Parai (Long Shot)

 Thavasi Cave Entrance

Personally what I felt during the trip is Sathuragiri is getting worst because of us; there is a well known sentence in Tamil ‘மனுஷ ஜென்மம் எங்க காலடி எடுத்து வெச்சாலும் அந்த இடம் விளங்காது!’ it is 100% true because people are not considering as holy trip instead thinking as ‘Tourist Place.’

Things to Remember:

• It is not advised to climb the hill, if you have any heart diseases or respiratory problems. 
• Please discuss with your family doctor before planning for this trip. 
• Please consider eco-friendly environment, already we made all possible damages to place where we are living, now only forest is remaining and it is our responsibility to save. 
• Please try to follow the basic rules in hills, don’t use plastics, if you are using then don’t throw it in forest after your use. 
• Don’t talk unnecessary things while climbing the hill instead try to tell ‘Om Namah Shivaya,’ lot of hurdles are available on the way, if you are not careful then it might pull you down. 
• Don't leave your wastes on the hill which includes human waste also , consider it as a holy place. 
• Be careful of your things, lot of monkey are there to rob your things, few human monkeys are also there if you carelessly kept your things and try to trace it again you won’t get it back.

 

Monkey drinking bottle water

NB: Sathuragiri is not the place to research; it is going to be a highly dangerous place for researchers who do not have spiritual mentality.

I would like to thank god for making this trip successful.

"- - - Om Namah Shivaya - - -"