Velliangiri Mountains

The Velliangiri Mountains, (Tamil: வெள்ளியங்கிரி மலை) a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, are situated at the Western Ghats 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.

Besides, the Shiva Temple of Velliangiri, the presence of the Dhyanalinga is another reason why people throng to the Velliangiri Hills.

Story of Velliangiri

These mountains became sacred because a long time ago devote of him.There was a young maiden at the southernmost 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.Once he reached,villagers who didnt like their marraige said it was a bad day that day and asked shiva to go back to kailash and come back the next day before the sun rises. Shiva did that and before he could come back the next day,

he could not meet the deadline due to a false setup which was created by the villagers.They put lots of camphor and burnt them making it look like the sun had rose. He was close but since he felt the time crossed he sat there itself.She was angry and 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 reverberate 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^{[citation needed]}. "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.

Normally pilgrimage to a place is unlike trekking. Even today going for Kailash is not possible for many. So in this sense, Thenkailaya yatra has become significant and great possibility for one.

The places like Ottar Samadhi, Sadhguru Shri Brahma's Samadhi are supposedly found here.

Velliangiri Yatra or Thenkailaya Yatra

Thenkailaya Bhakthi Iyakkam [1] is a devotional (bhakthi) movement run by independent non-profitable charitable trust called Thenkailaya Bhakthi Peravai, created by devotees of Velliangiri mountain. They organise yatra, for those who contacted them.

The Siva Temple

Of all the mountain shrines in Kongunadu, the Siva temple of Velliangiri in the western boundary is considered to be the most famous. Known as Rajathagiri, Velliangiri, Dakshin Kailash or Bhoolok Kailash, this sacred spot, according to legend, is where Siva performed his cosmic dance on the request of his consort Umadevi^{[citation needed]}. The five faces of Lord Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadasiva, are seen as Panchagiri and as Panchalingas pertaining to the panchabhutas, in Velliangiri. The hill ranges have abundant natural resources, which include rare herbs. Lord Panchalingesa and his Consort Manonmani Amman alias Parvathi, bestow their grace on the devotees who throng here annually between February and May.

Festivals

A unique feature of Dakshina Kailash is the annadhanam organised by the Arya Vaisya jewellers for the past two centuries, for four days during Mahasivaratri. It is now carried out by the jeweller community and the Lala group.

Getting There

The Transport Corporation ply buses between Coimbatore (Gandhi Puram) and Poondi every day. Special bus services are available during festive occasions like Maha Shivrathri. Coimbatore is on the international circuit with flights connecting it to Singapore and Sharjah. On the domestic front it is well connected to Kozhikode, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi by both rail and road.

Experience

The season that are suitable for trecking this mountain is between March–May, And we have to be careful about Elephants near Bamboo Trees and fox.

Location

5 km from the foot hills or the Poondi temple. 30 km from the commercial center Coimbatore city and near Siruvani, Altitude: 6000 ft.

Staying

The restaurants at the foothills allow people to sleepover on the floor. Nearby upscale Tamara Resort is one other option. These are the option for people who want to start climbing very early. There is no accommodation to stay at the hills. To stay at the hill, one has to carry tents and sleeping bags as it gets very cold at night.

References

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