Great rishis came to circumambulate the Holy Hill and many took up residence on the Mountain—Vasishta, Agastya, Brighu, Jaimini, Vyasa, Narada, Valmiki, Parasara, Durvasa, Patanjali and Kapila to mention a few. The trend continued in the more recent past with countless saints making pilgrimage to the Hill. Manikkavasagar, Jnanasambandar, Appar, Arunagirinathar, Virupakshadevar, Guhanamasivaya, Gurunamasivaya and Isanya Gnana Desikar all came and wrote hymns and verses in praise of the Hill, many of which are sung even in the present day.
By the late 19th century, with the advent of the modern era, the world had fallen fast asleep while Arunachala, the Unmoving Seat of Awareness sat alone in His consummate stillness, unremembered. However, the flame of devotion had been ignited in a young boy’s heart in the Tamil land and when he heard the mere mention of the name Arunachala from an uncle who had just returned from pilgrimage there, he made up his mind to journey there. In raptures at discovering that the legendary city was an actual place on earth, within less than a year, he struck out and made his own pilgrimage to Tiruvannamalai where he divested himself of all worldly possessions and took refuge at the feet of Annamalai, never to leave Him again.
By the time the young Venkataraman arrived in September 1896, Siva bhaktas had all but forgotten the traditional ceremonial circumambulation of the Holy Hill. But the young sage’s presence initiated a revival of devotion and year by year, pilgrims began to return in greater numbers.
Dispossessed, living as a sadhu, young Bhagavan began to explore the Mountain which had ‘stolen into his heart’ and drawn him ‘like a magnet’ to Tiruvannamalai. He ranged Its slopes, meditated on Its sublime form, hymned Its ageless past and savoured Its infinitely varying aspects. In time, followers gathered around him and the burgeoning young sage led them in the ancient, forgotten rite—circumambulating Holy Annamalai, singing the timeless glory of Siva’s own form.
Devotees then and since have proclaimed the glory of Arunachala through Bhagavan Sri Ramana, firm in the conviction that Ramana is none other than Arunachala Siva in human form.
