We can find the foot of the Sathuragiri mountain at a distance of 6 kilometres from the village Vathrayiruppu located in Virudhunagar district, TamilNadu. We can find many information about the structure of the mountain, the way of reaching it, way of climbing the mountain, places along the path and their greatness in the books of Agathiyar, Bogar, Korakkar, Kaalanginathar.
Kaalanginathar in one of his songs says that the structure of the Sathuragiri mountain will ever change in the way as he mentioned. As a result only we have decided to travel in the way he specified in this post.
The Sathuragiri was surrounded with four mountains as Indiragiri on the east, Varunagiri on the west, Kuberagiri on the north, Yamagiri on the south and at the centre Sivagiri, Vishnugiri, Brahmagiri, Siththagiri are the four mountains located. Sathuram means square in Tamil. This is the reason for the mountain to be named as Sathuragiri which was mentioned in the book, Sathuragiri thalapuranam*.
There are four ways to reach to the Sathuragiri mountain out of which three are difficult and the fourth one is the best way to reach. There is a small water channel running which joins along the river in the south direction. That place is named as thoanip paarai. Kaalanginathar says that it is simpler way to reach to the mountain. The name thoanip paarai has been changed as thaanipaarai as days went passed.
Now let us travel on the mountain. All the following information has been told by Korakkar.
In the thaanipaarai, along the path that runs in the north direction there is a temple of Karuppanna swamy, pray to him and start the journey with his permission says Korakkarar. From there in a short distance away, there is “Kuthirai Kuththi Paarai” and towards north Padivetti Paarai” are located. From there at a distance an arrow can travel, there is a jungle stream flowing. From there on walking for 12 minutes towards north, Kavundinya river will come.
By walking ten feet towards west from this river, we may find the aththi fountain. Athiri maharshi has did his yaagam* in the rock on the north side of this fountain and on the south direction his ashram is located says Korakkar.
I feel that by following the path narrated by the Siththars we can find many rare herbs. I request to share the information if someone have traveled in the directions as said by Korakkar.
Like solving a puzzle slowly there are so many precise informations, which helps even today to climb on this mountain. Korakkar who directed us to the ashram of Athiri maharshi’s ashram, also helps us to reach the Machamuni’s ashram and then to his ashram also. We shall see all those information in the next post.
*thalapuranam - mythological history of a sacred shrine
*yaagam - sacred fire meant for good things
Original - www.siththarkal.com
