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 5th 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
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.
I would like to thank god for making this trip successful.
"- - - Om Namah Shivaya - - -"
