south kailash (THENKAILAYAM) or velliangiri mountain
The Velliangiri Mountains, (Tamil: வெள்ளியங்கிரி மலை) a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere, are situated at the western border of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Known as the "Thenkailayam (Tamil: தென்கயிலை) - Kailash of the South", these mountains are held and revered on par with spiritually most powerful place on the planet - Mount Kailash, the legendary abode of Shiva. On the top of the Velliangiri Mountains, Shiva is worshipped as Swayambu, one who is self-created and in this form, he graces the devotees. In the past, many Siddhas, Siddhar and Sages have practiced severe austerities Asceticism, Tapas and attained Self-realization on these mountains.
Besides, the Shiva Temple of Velliangiri, the presence of the Dhyanalinga is another reason why people throng to the Velliangiri Hills
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Story of Velliangiri
These mountains for many in this Hinduism Tamil culture Indian culture tradition, became sacred because a long time ago, there was a young maiden at the southern-most point of the Indian peninsular who aspired to hold Shiva's hand as a wife.
Her devotion and austerities crossed all levels of sanity and she remained absolutely focused upon him every moment.
This stirred Shiva's compassion and love. So he started making his journey to South India. She set up this deadline: "If I am not married to him by sunrise on this day, I am going to leave my body."
Shiva came to know of this and was hurrying down but he could not meet the deadline due to false setup was created by a few who does not like his marriage. He was close but since he felt the time crossed he sat there itself. So she left her body standing. Even today she stands there as Kanyakumari. There is a shrine on the very tip of this landmass which is known as Kanyakumari or the 'Maiden's Shrine.'
Shiva felt very disappointed with himself that he could not make it on time. He started walking back and needed a place to sit and work out his despondency. So he climbed up this mountain and at the peak of this mountain he sat. Wherever Shiva spent a little time, people call that place 'Kailash' due to the mountains imbibe his presence and reverbrate it eternally. So they called the Velliangiri Mountains the 'Kailash of the South'. The mountain peak is 6000 ft above the sea level, and its chillness, wind force, cloudy mist, and the steepness gives hard climbing for a devotee
Sacredness of these Mountains - The Seven Hills
Kailash is considered as Shiva himself. "Many many great masters of all tradition deposited their wisdom and energy in this peak made it as a spiritual library of the world" says Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation and the Isha Yoga Centre. Shiva is known as Swayambhu, the source of the creator. Any one who experiences the source of creation, there is nothing more in this planet for him to experience. Only because of this, Kailash pilgrimage has been kept as highest than any other pilgrimage.Normally pilgrimage to a place is unlike trekking, considered as a spiritual tool to subdue one's ego and enhance one's perception and life experience. That is why great masters offered this tool to humanity with the process of preparation to imbibe the sanctity of the place in to one's life.
Even today going for Kailash is not possible for many. When one powerful sthana is reverbrated in the same dimension, which is easily accessible for people who are born in this land it is really a great boon. So in this sense, Thenkailaya yatra has become significant and great possibility for one
Apart from Shiva, many many great beings bestowed their energy and wisdom in Velliangiri peak makes the mountain more significant for one to pilgrimage. The places like Pambatti Siddhar Gugai (cave), Ottar Samadhi, Sadhguru Shri Brahma's Samadhi and many many more Saints and Sages, Yogis and Siddhas made this mountain more powerful for one to imbibe this great dimension in his life.
The seven mountains reverbrates the seven basic Chakras of human body shows its sacredness. So any one who pilgrimages to these powerful sthana with proper preparation and guidance can receive all the 7 basic dimensions of life.
Velliangiri Yatra or Thenkailaya Yatra
Yatra is a tool of devotion, to enrich and enhance our life with new dimension. That is why in this tradition, pilgrimages were created and offered to people by great Sages and Saints.The Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyakkam guiding the devotees as how to prepare, how to receive so that they can get benefit of what they come for. It organises yatra , for those who contacted them, in order to make them experience the glimpse of the magnificent mountains where many many masters pour their grace and wisdom.
Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyakkam is a bhakthi or devotional movement run by independent non-profitable charitable trust called Thenkailaya Bhakthi Peravai, created by devotees of Velliangiri mountain. The iyakkam creates awareness among public and Velliangiri devotees, about the sacredness of Velliangiri mountains, and make them to opt for yatra instead of trek or of tour. Apart from creating the awareness about the path of devotion , the iyakkam plans to work and mobilise support from all sects of people in order to create basic facilities such as information stalls, medical aid centres, sanitation facilities, etc.
The Iyakkam also plans to mobilise general public, devotees along with corporate sector in order to preserve the sanctity of the place and cleanliness (by removing plasitics thrown from the forest) by organizing Sivanadiyar sevaks.
The Thenkailaya Yatra, the 2-day program with one night stay in the dense forests of the hills gives an exposure about the natural world, along with the spiritual dimension to a participant by various sessions in order to experience the mountains.
The poondi temple , the adivaram and Dhyanalinga (Isha Foundation) on both sides of the foot hills reflects the sacredness. The best season to go for pilgrimage is from Jan 14th to May 31 (Tamil month: Thai 1st to Vaikasi 31st). However, one devotee has to bring winter clothes and torch light since the hill always famous for its chillness and people will go to the trek mostly in night.
Also it is very much necessary for one to pack his food and snacks but natural water resources are available at Pambatti Chunai (at the end of second hill), Kai Thatti Chunai (at the end of third hill) and Andi Chunai (sixth hill). The iyakkam welcomes support from all individuals and corporate sectors in order to create facilities for the devotees who opt pilgrimage during the season.
A spiritual person should use all the tools , all the four wheels, body, mind, emotion, energy to enhance their perception and experience the unlimitted.
“A pilgrimage is not an achievement but an opportunity to subdue the sense of who you are and an access to the beyond” - Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev