Arulmigu Sathuragiri Sundara Mahalingam Temple — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

A challenging trekking and Divine experience: We, a group of 6 people planned to visit the Sundara Mahalingam Temple on Sathuragiri hills and started our journey around 10.00PM by engaging a rented car. We left on the previous night of full moon day so that we can pray the God during full moon day. We have travelled through Madurai bypass via Thirumangalam, T Kallupatti and reached Krinshnan Koin at morning 5.00AM. There we found a small lodge to get refreshed and had a bath, the lodge attender charges Rs 50/- per head for giving us two rooms for one hour which was enough for us. Then after taking a hot tea, we started our journey towards Thaniparai which is the starting point of Sathuragiri hill. This place is around 25km away from Krishnan Koil and took 30 minutes travel time. We reached 7.00 AM at Thaniparai and had our breakfast in one of the small road side hotel. Many vendors are available for selling water bottles, snacks, fruits etc., Annadhanam is also offered here for the devotees since morning. We started climbing the hill exactly from 7.30AM, the entry fee is Rs 5/- per head. In the entrance, general security check is done on your luggage’s and they charged Rs 10/- for plastic water bottles and put a stamp on the bottle. After coming down, you can get back the amount after showing the plastic bottles. This is only to avoid people leaving the plastic bottles on the hill top. No plastic carry bags are allowed to take to the hill top. One can walk on bare foot or by wearing chappel or shoe, there is no restrictions. But it is advised to wear chapel or shoe for the first time visitors as the terrain is full of rough rocks. It is better to carry at least 2 lits of water per head with some snacks / biscuits / fruits to get energized in-between. Beware of monkeys while eating all along the route. A fit person can reach the top in 2 hrs and others in 3 to 4 hrs as per their stamina level. The distance of walking path is about 7.00Km as displayed in the information board. One can enjoy a good sceneries while climbing up with good natural breeze. Initially for about 1.20Km good paved path is available later it is only stone steps that too in very rough and slippery condition at most of the places. It is better to go in groups and hold hands of women and elders travelling with you. You can find Gorakkar cave on the way which is slightly apart from the climbing route and takes 15 minutes to visit this place. On the way you can find only some drinking water points and no other shops, so it is advised to carry whatever you want from base of the hill. After reaching hill top there are many shops selling pooja items, water, juice, snacks etc. There are some rest rooms available on top made with tin sheets, but it is better to avoid using them. We all had reached top by around 10.30 AM and directly went to Sundara Mahalingam Temple and had a good dharshan. The crowd was less in the morning hours and it is increased from 12.00 noon onwards. After that we went to Sandana Mahalingam Temple located on the opposite side. After this dharshan we went to the annadhanam hall and offered our small donation and things brought by us like rice, dal, vegetables etc., Later we had lunch in the annadhanam hall which is of hot rice, sambar, rasam, buttermilk and sweet payasam. The annadhanam is given to all the devotees irrespective of the number of visitors from morning till night. We took rest for about 30 minutes and started our downward journey from 1.30 PM, it is become very challenging to come down as the terrain is very steep and also due to the upcoming people. The aged people and ladies used to carry a hand stick for better stability while getting down. We managed to reach hill bottom by around 4.30PM and started our return journey. Overall it is a good experience mixed with great trekking and divine pilgrimage. At least once in a life time such travel is required to keep your mind and...

I would like to share what I read ..... STATLA PURANAM: Once at Kailash, Lord Siva and Parvathi were worshipped by several saints, ganas, siddhars and sanyasis. When everybody made pradakshinam to both one Maharishi called "Bringi" made pradakshinam to Lord Siva only, ignoring Parvathi. When Parvathi asked Lord Siva as to why Bringi Maharishi did not pay his tributes to her, Lord Siva explained that those who have left everything and think only about "Moksha House" will perform duties that way and at the end they will join me and those who wish to enjoy "Ishta Kamya Moksha" will worship her and enjoy everything in life. Since everybody wanted to enjoy "Ishta Kamya Moksha" in life they paid their tributes to both and this Bringi wanted only "Moksha", he paid tributes only to Lord Siva. On hearing this Parvathi Devi cursed Bringi Maharishi and he lost all flesh from his body since flesh is sakthi form. Bringi Maharishi was unable to stand without sakthi and fell down. On seeing this Lord Siva, to protect his devoted/realised disciple, threw a stick with which, the Maharishi walked away. On seeing this, Parvathi decided that if only she become "Ardha Nari " on left side of Siva, she will be able to achieve her goals and thought to do a pooja/thavam/penance to appease Lord Siva to grant her the position. Parvathi Devi left Lord Siva and went to find a suitable place and on reaching the hill she sat under the shades of "Kallala Tree" and started her meditation. The tree was near to "Sattanadha Muni Siddhar" cave. There was no rain for nearly 12 years in that place and on the presence of Goddess, the entire place flowered back with greenary. On seeing the Goddess, the Muni went and received her by paying tributes and enquired about her arrival at the place. On hearing the message, the Muni arranged everything and Parvathi Devi made a Prathishtanam of Linga with Sandalwood Paste. Goddess worshipped Lord Siva with flowers, mantras and meditation. On being appeased, Lord Siva appeared on his "Rishaba Vahana" and accepted the demand of Goddess. On their return Lord Siva proclaimed that since the Siva Lingam was worshipped by Parvathi Devi, it should be worshipped only by Maharishis only and those who wish for "Kamya Loka" should not do pooja to the lingam. And if they do so, they may stand to hate "Ishta Kamya Loka" and will become "Moksha Desired" person and ultimately join him. Lord Siva blessed everybody and went away. After that, Satta Natha Muni worshipped the "Santhana Lingam" and "Chanangi Muni" followed suit. It is also said in Siva Puranam that the four Vedas joined together and formed this mountain and that is why it is called Chathur(ved)agiri.

TEMPLES AT SATHURAGIRI

Sivanmalai is called as Chathura Giri, Chathurachalam, Siddhar Bhoomi, Mooligai Malai (Vanam) etc., is situated approximately 5 Kms from "Watrap" (otherwise called as "Vathirairuppu") near Srivilliputhur. It is approximately 100 Kms from Tirunelveli and 70 Kms from Madurai. As the name speaks, the mountain is mentioned as "South Kailash" (Thenkailayam), Bhoologa Kailayam as Lord Shiva and Parvathy have promised the Siddhars that they will stay here permanently and visit other places only from here. It is also said that it is the meeting place and head quarters of all the Siddhars, who still stay there in various places/caves in the mountain to worship Lord Siva and Parvathi. There are two temples in the hill Sri Sundara Mahalinga Swamy Temple and Sri Santhana Mahalinga Swamy Temple One more sanctum of Lord Siva is also there in the top of the hill which is called as "Periya Mahalingam" (Big Mahalingam). This is worshipped by Siddhars and only those who are destined to see it will be able to go there. Most dangerous place! The Akasha Ganga (river) which flows from above the Santhana Mahalingam temple, separates the two temples in to two sides of the banks. The distance between these two temple is hardly 15...

It's my pleasure and blessing to review Sathuragiri. We were visiting the temple more than 10 years. This time (April 2023) after a gap of three & half year we got an opportunity on a shivaratri day to visit and after confirming the morning entry time we reached to start by 7am at Thaaniparai entrance.

Just prior to COVID, the Tamilnadu Aranilaya Thurai has taken over control along with forest department and imposing entrance fee Rs. 10 for maintenance and restricted temple visit timings (entry 7am to 2pm)

Thaaniparai entrance: Open Car and bike parking available at Rs.50, many refreshment and other shops available here. Annathanam is served by some charitable trust just near the entrance and drinking water tank available at the gate queue.

The initial path (500m) till vinayagar temple is now renovated with stone block which is comfortable in the morning but very hot to walk after noon. Likewise after vinayagar temple the path (750m) is roughly concreted and left without softening or topping with stone block causing discomfort to devotees. Remaining path will be of mud and stone, few steps made of stones. By the way the forest stream will be crossed thrice.

Drinking water tank is available at regular intervals. The small vendor on the way provide refreshments, snacks at high price as they are bringing it with a help of labourers. The devotees also after consuming throwing garbage all way which is to be avoided, earlier the forest department won't allow even a plastic cover while entering the Thaaniparai gate.

The temple is now facilitated with solar power, new roofs, entrance arch and maintaining neatly compared to few years back. One bath tank facility noticed near the parking, seperate toilet near entrance but no other toilet facilities in the entire path. Mostly the devotees take bath in the streams on the way and near the main temple.

The darshan was good at Sundara Mahalingam and Santhana mahalingam with little crowd as it's week day and academic working day. Free annadhanam is good with rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal. You can also see kaliamman, Bairavar, aththiri maharishi, Pasukidai, korakkar kugai, rettai lingam, naval ooththu, vana durgai amman, palaavadi karuppusamy respectively.

While returning almost all who were not wearing foot wear faced difficulty with bare foot struggled a lot in the flaming path, took twice the actual timing to descend from the hill. The foot is fried in heat, difficult to walk and dehydrated due to heat.

At the end reached parking by 5pm, had a satisfied trip even though faced a tough time in return. The next trip will be planned soon.

Note: Taking photo prohibited at the temple premises if you are not wearing foot wear arrange accordingly to walk before noon or after 4pm to avoid foot burning due to heat, Keep your water bottles filled, avoid drinking artificially chilled products to prevent dehydration. Keep glucose, some fruits to energise. Avoid dumbing/throwing wastes, instead drop it at dust bin spots. Enjoy the trekking with care and responsibility. Be safe avoid venturing the untravelled path to risk, as wild animals were spotted.

The hill is sacred place filled with many Siddhargal invisible to us, so dont make noise, littering or dumping wastes. Also it's advisable to avoid disturbing or plugging trees, plants. Its experienced by many that you will be helped and guided by a people or animal beside you when you feel down or exhausted to reach the temple. Also there is belief you will be cured from disease or illness once you get blessings...