Our journey that began at the foot of the Sathuragiri mountain continues even after the Sundaramahalingar’s temple at the top of the mountain to the entire length and width of the mountian. Anyone who has got strength in mind and body can easily travel along a mountain today. All the arrangements for it are done.
But in the olden days when it was a dense forest there was a chance that any body newly travelling may be lost. To prevent such situations only these kind of route notes must been written. I guess that Korakkar might have shared all these details for the benefit of his followers and disciples.
Previously we have reached till the Athiri maharshi’s ashram and we shall continue our journey from there. If we travel towards the east from the ashram for a while we will get the path of koanavaasal. After crossing that if we climb for some more distance we find the Pasumidhi rock and to the east of that rock we may find a single stone similar to the shape of Lord Ganesha. Pray to it and travel in the east side for 24 minutes, then on the south side of the path, we can see the Machamuni’s ashram at a distance an arrow can travel.
By walking towards the south of the Machamuni's ashram after a short distance, we may face a 'vellai punal murungai' tree, towards its left we can find a even-surfaced rock. On the south side of the rock, we find a stream running and from there, a kaavi is seen at a distance an arrow can travel. Below to it, a creeper of wildmelon will be spreaded. If we walk towards the south of that creeper, we will find a kuruvari aloevera. If we walk straight north from there for certain distance we will find a way on the east side. If we climb that elevated place, we find a region of even-surfaced ground. From there if we walk for 24 minutes towards and see south we can find his ashram says Korakkar.
The interesting fact is that Korakkar did not stay in his ashram. In the northern side of the ashram there is a river and if we go along it and see towards the south, in the slope of the mountain we can see his cave. To the east of it, at the center of the river we will find a kundaa* where the kanjaa* has been made. To the east of it there is a pond which never dries. What a wondering route map!!
In our journey so far we have seen Athiri maharshi’s ashram, Machumuni’s ashram and the Siththars like Korakkar have spotted places exclusively meant for them. They might have stayed in these ashrams with their disciples. All of them might be the people of their generation or the ashram might be maintained by the disciples came in their line which is the question to be researched.
This journey where we move forward by keeping the short distances, directions, rocks, streams, rivers as hints has got much other information also.
In next post we shall explore and reach to Sundara Mahalingam’s temple.
*murungai - drum-stick
*kundam (kundaa) - hollow in the ground (for the sacred fires)
*kanjaa - the leaves and the seed of the Indian hemp
Original - www.siththarkal.com
