Sadhuragiri-Part 1

Sadhuragiri was a different experience.


Sadhuragiri:

Sadhuragiri is a mountain range near Watrap, otherwise known as Vattiraippu. It is reachable by bus/share-auto from Sri Villiputtur Railway station. Visitors coming from Chennai can board 2661 Pothigai Express and get down at Sri Villiputtur which is in the Sengottai-Madurai route. Thanipaarai would be roughly 28km away from the railway station. Climbing would be long and tedious for first timers and it would take minimum of 5 hours. Heart patients, aged-ladies please don’t climb uphill on foot. Dholi’s might be available to carry you uphill, but it would cost a lot. Excellent guides, luggage carriers are available who would assist you. There is no electricity, cell phone coverage, hotels, shops, and lodges so you need to stay in the temples or sheds. The people uphill are extremely friendly and helpful and they would never treat you as outsiders. Sadhuragiri is also known as Sivanmalai. It is believed to be formed from the 4 Vedas. Also Sadhuragiri appears square in shape and in Tamil ‘chathuram’ means square.



Sadhuragiri Mountains as seen from Satellite. Source: Wikimapia

Sthala Puranam:

At Mount Kailash, Sanyasi’s, Maharishi’s and the sages came to see Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. As all rishi’s worshipped them, one rishi in the name of Brihu didn’t worship Parvati and worshipped Lord Shiva alone. Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva the reason. Lord Shiva explained that those who don’t desire anything in life would worship him alone. Those who desire for things in this world would worship both of them. As the other sages worshipped both Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati, Brihu desired only to reach Lord Shiva, so he didn’t pay tributes to Goddess Parvati. After hearing this Goddess Parvati curses Brihu and as a result Brihu loses his flesh because he has lost Shakti, as Goddess Parvati represents Shakti. Goddess Parvati then decides to attain the form of ‘Ardanari’ as all the devotees would then remember her more. She goes to worship Lord Shiva in Sadhuragiri Mountains. The lingam, which she worshipped, is known as Santhana Maha Lingam. There is also another lingam in the forest named Periya Maha Lingam. Apart from these, other deities like Pilavatik Karuppar Sami, Erattai Lingam, Vana Durgai, and Pillaiyar are also found in the hills.



Sadhuragiri Siddhars.

Siddhars:

It is believed that Siddhars still live in Thavasi Paarai and other parts of Sadhuragiri Hill.

There are 18 siddhars in total.

1. Sri Patanjai Siddhar
2. Sri Agastiar Siddhar
3. Sri Kamalamuni Siddhar
4. Sri Thirumoolar Siddhar
5. Sri Kuthambai Siddhar
6. Sri Korakkar Siddhar
7. Sri Thanvandri Siddhar
8. Sri Sundarnandar Siddhar
9. Sri Konganer Siddhar
10. Sri Saatamuni Siddhar
11. Sri Vanmeegar Siddhar
12. Sri Ramadevar Siddhar
13. Sri Sivakkiar Siddhar
14. Sri Nandeeswarar Siddhar
15. Sri Edaikadar Siddhar
16. Sri Machamuni Siddhar
17. Sri Karuvoorar Siddhar
18. Sri Bogar Siddhar

Tips and Precautions:

1. Don’t carry lots of luggage. Backpack would be ideal.
2. Carry sufficient water, sweets and biscuits. Ravalgon, glucose would be a good choice.
3. Chappals should be sufficient.
4. Carry umbrella, raincoats and sweaters.
5. Always go in groups and stick together and don’t venture alone anywhere.
6. Take glucose without water and that should provide you strength. Too much of water would load up your body resulting in tiredness.
7. Women are advised not to climb alone. Let considerable amount of known men accompany women folks.
8. Sticks, knife can be carried for safety. Carry extra batteries for mobile phones and flashlights. Mobiles won't work here, but I advise you to carry chargers or extra batteries if you plan to visit places around Sri Villiputtur. Carrying a GPS is a good option as it is guided by Satellite, you are never out of range. Try for a Garmin brand Itrex model. You can measure elevation, speed etc. Plus you have got maps too! Awesome stuff! I want you to try out.

Trip Plan:

1. You can contact me for mobile numbers of guides/automen/luggage carriers and they would do the needful. From Chennai Egmore, board 2661 Pothigai Express to Sri Villiputtur. The train should reach before 8AM.
2. Buy Tiffin/breakfast in a hotel. You have two options; you can have it in the hotel or carry it to Thaanipaarai and have it there.
3. Board an auto to Thanipaarai from Sri Villiputtur railway station.
4. The guide would carry approximately 25kg of luggage. Start walking up to Thanipaarai.
5. Take bath and have lunch at Thanipaarai. Amazing sceneries await you.
6. Start climbing from Thanipaarai. You might be crossing some small ponds with knee-height water. Here and there you might find monkeys and dogs. Be careful and be on alert for Elephants, Bears and other wild animals. Since the entire mountain range is in a forest take extreme care. Avoid climbing or getting down the hill at nights.
7. Take rest every 500 meters.
8. While climbing on the left, you will come across a place called Korakkar cave. Be careful, as the rock would be slightly slippery. There isn’t any danger for life, but you would land up getting bruised. Take extreme care while climbing Athi ootru, Vazhukku Parai.
9. You should be able to reach the top within 6 hours.
10. On top in Santhana Mahalingam temple pooja is performed at morning 3’o clock. At Sundara Mahalingam temple the daily pooja starts by 6’o clock in the morning. The ardha jama poojas are done simultaneously and temples are closed before 6’o clock. On new moon days the poojas would become at noon and end in the evening. On full moon days, poojas are done from midnight till 6’o clock in the morning. There is another lingam called Periya Mahalingam. It would take an hour and half from Santana Maha Lingam temple.

The auto driver would arrange everything for you. Mobile number of the guide is9944415471. His name is Raja.