King Vajrangada, Ancient Pilgrims
Arunachala is immortal light. A column of fire that existed before time began, the light shone in order that all those lost in worldly forgetfulness might remember their true home. If saints and sages of every land throughout the ages have maintained that a meaningful life cannot be built on the transient things of this world—money, status, material possessions, worldly knowledge and sense pleasures—Arunachala stands as the embodiment of that which gives true and lasting life.
Arunachala is a lingam—a sign or symbol of the divine—and by tradition is the very form of Siva. But as an icon to the undying presence that undergirds all of reality, the original light of consciousness that illumines all that is seen and known, Arunachala is the paradigmatic symbol of the Self, the fire of wisdom that promises to burn away the veils of illusion and ignorance.
In the Beginning
Lord Siva as a form of light (tejolinga) comes from ancient times when Vishnu and Brahma quarrelled as to who was the greater. Lord Siva stepped in to settle the dispute, arranging a contest. Manifesting as a great column of fire, a voice from the flame challenged the two to find either the top or bottom of the pillar of light; the one that could do so would be deemed the greater. So, Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug down deep into the earth in search of the bottom while Brahma, taking the form of a swan, flew high up toward the stars, seeking its apex. Long centuries passed until Vishnu, stopping deep in the earth to sit in meditation, humbled himself and began to realise that the mighty pillar was the very light of Awareness Itself, its limits beyond any comprehension. Brahma all the while flew beyond the stars and, in his pride, devised a plan to deceive Lord Siva. Taking hold of a screw-pine flower (thazhambu) that had dropped down from above, he presented it to the Lord, claiming to have retrieved it from the top of the column. The Lord chastened Brahma for his deceit, decreeing that temples would not be dedicated in his name. But both Vishnu and Brahma had failed the test, and the two, now humbled, bowed before the Lord begging forgiveness. Meanwhile, as the pillar’s light shone with such splendour that all who beheld it were compelled to shield their eyes, Vishnu and Brahma entreated Mahadeva to cool his brightness so that celestial and earthly beings might be able to worship him by going in circumambulation of the pillar and thus be delivered from the darkness of illusion. The Lord heeded the request and gradually allowed the column to cool, becoming in successive yugas a lingam of diamond (in Treta yuga), of gold (in Dvapara yuga) and finally, a lingam of stone (in Kali yuga), the 2600-foot hill we see today.[1]
Veneration by Circumambulation
Pradakshina, the clockwise circumambulation of the Lord, is as old as Hindu dharma itself. Even before time began, a Puranic legend tells us of Lord Siva directing his two sons to go for pradakshina around the entire universe in order that they might gain wisdom. Subramanyam, the younger, dutifully took up the task and spent the next several decades circumambulating the manifest cosmos on his peacock. But Ganesh simply walked prayerfully around his Father, saying that the entirety of manifest reality is contained within Him.
The First Circumambulations of Arunachala
After the pillar of fire cooled into Arunachala mountain, Brahma and Vishnu covered their bodies in holy ash and performed the first pradakshina of Arunachala. Ashamed of their pride, they took up endless circumambulations, lasting fourteen thousand years.[2] In time, Indra and the thirty-three crore devas appeared and commenced their pradakshinas. Siddhas and saints in subtle form came and began perpetual circumambulation. It is said that for the benefit of humanity, even Lord Siva Himself began regular pradakshinas around the Holy Hill.
Parvati’s Tapas at Arunachala
Once Parvati crept up in jest behind the Lord and covered his eyes. But in the short duration of her prank, aeons passed on earth and countless millions perished in the absence of the Lord’s beneficent guardianship. To atone for her transgression, Parvati went to Tiruvannamalai for a period of penance and regular pradakshina. She came under the guidance of Sage Gautama Muni whose ashram lay near Pavalakunru at the foot of the Hill. She pursued tapas for long years until, one day, the demon Mahishasura suddenly appeared and, inadvertently disturbing the Divine Mother’s tapas, incurred her wrath. Uma took the form of the fierce warrior Durga and slayed the demon, cutting off his head. But when she found a Sivalinga around the deceased demon’s neck besmeared with blood, she understood that he had been a devotee of the Lord and she thus repented of having defiled the linga of the Lord and having vanquished his devotee.
Following Gautama’s instruction, Uma struck the hillside with her sword and, splitting open the earth, formed Khadga Tirtham where she bathed continuously until the Lord was propitiated. On Krittika nakshatra of Kartigai, Lord Siva appeared to her in the form of fire and offered her a boon for her tapas. She prayed to Him that she be forever merged in Him so she might never have to experience again the pain of separation. Her prayer duly granted, Ardhanariswara (the Lord with half female form) became Arunachala Siva, the union of Purusha and Prakruti.[3]
King Vajrangada, Ancient Pilgrims
[1] The universality of the Sivalingam and Lord Siva’s association with fire no doubt have their root in Arunachala’s illustrious past. G.V. Subbaramayya writes, “This is the original linga formation. Owing to this only, the system of worshipping Siva as ‘linga’ has come into vogue.” (Ramana Reminiscences, p. 50-1).
[2] Arunachala Purana §164-165.
[3] The west side of the Hill is Ambika and the east side, Lord Siva. (Arunachala: Holy Hill, p. xxx.)
