ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT BLOOD DONATION

 

ESSENTIAL  INFORMATION  ABOUT  BLOOD  DONATION

 

 

AGE	18 – 60 YEARS
WEIGHT	45 KG AND ABOVE
PERIOD	MAXIMUM ONCE IN THREE MONTHS (90 DAYS)
QUANTITY DRAWN	350 CC FOR SINGLE BAG  - upto 50 kg weight (will be used as whole blood)   450 CC FOR TRIPLE BAG – more than 50 kg weight (will be separated into various components and can save 3 lives by a single donation)
RECOVERY OF BLOOD	THE DONATED VOLUME OF BLOOD WILL BE RECOUPED WITHIN 24 HOURS
HEMOGLOBIN	SPOT TEST WILL BE DONE   ELIGIBILITY LEVEL : MORE THAN 12.5 gm
BLOOD PRESSURE	NORMAL AT THE TIME OF DONATION
TIME TAKEN	ONLY 15 MINUTES FOR THE ENTIRE PROCESS (FROM REGISTRATION TO WALKING OUT)
SYRINGES	ONLY DISPOSABLE SETS OF NEEDLES &  BAGS ARE USED FOR EACH AND EVERY DONOR   NO CHANCE OF ANY INFECTION
CARE  & AFTER CARE	REGISTRATION AND COUNSELLING   THOROUGH MEDICAL CHECK UP BEFORE DONATION   CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION   REFRESHMENTS AFTER DONATION   BLOOD GROUP CARDS WITHIN 15 DAYS
POST DONATION	SCREENING OF BLOOD THOROUGHLY   ANY VIRUS FOUND IN TESTING THEN CONCERNED DONORS WILL  BE INFORMED
BENEFITS	ONE CAN KNOW ABOUT THEIR HEALTH STATUS   ADVICE FOR THE NON ELIGIBLE DONORS   YOU CAN KNOW YOUR BLOOD GROUP   YOU WILL BE INFORMED IF THERE IS ANY VIRUS FOUND WHILE SCREENING BLOOD – DIRECTLY AND PERSONALLY

 

Ø  READ THE PRE DONATION LITERATURE THOROUGHLY

 

Ø  DISCLOSE THE FACTS TO THE DOCOTRS AT THE TIME OF MEDICAL CHECK UP

 

Ø  DO NOT DONATE BLOOD WITH EMPTY STOMACH OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER MEALS.

 

Ø  CONSUME SUFFICIENT WATER AFTER BLOOD DONATION

 

Ø  AVOID ALCOHAL CONSUMPTION A DAY BEFORE DONATION – A GAP OF 24 HOURS IS ADVISABLE.

 

 

 

 

 

Evolution from 'Why Me?' to 'Why Not Me?'- A Touching Life of Preethi Srinivasan..A Saga in search of Soul Free

Today we had the Inner Wheel -District 323 -District Conference and something made me not to miss it in the last minute.  I was determined that I will plan to attend and I went with only expectation to catch up with my Inner Wheel friends and also from other clubs in the District.  I have not realized that I would come across another Positive Siddharth...this time a beautiful woman called Preethi.

As she was wheeled into the Conference hall, her care giver and mother sat next to her silently.  We did not give much attention to her,  until she was called on to the stage and she was wheeled on to the dais and got a mic fixed to her dress to start to speak.   
Amidst the business as usual session,  her speech came as a wind of warmth, making our eyes misty, and thoughts stopped for a second. Eyes glued on her and ears wanted to hear her more.  Couple of times, many of us stood in to give our standing ovation to the woman who was in front of us.  She is one and only Preeti Srinivasan from Tiruvannamalai.

Her life goes on in her beautiful words...she was the only daughter adored and carefully brought up by her doting parents.  She had a wonderful childhood, jumping into the swimming pool at the age of 3 and running towards sports ambitions from the age of 4.  She was a swimmer, a cricketer and above all a very bubbly loving child of her parents and her life was in the path that is right as per the yardsticks of the society that we live in.  Her dreams of studying in United States, wanting to make it big in sports and make her parents proud was all part of her life until a freaky accident that tore her life into pieces in a split second.  

The tone of her voice did not shiver when she spoke about the trauma and troubles that came behind her in life after that one unfortunate moment.   Everything came to stand still.  She had a life damaging spinal cord injury that made her life upside down. Without any medical insurance for spinal cord injury, no rehabilitation center for entire breadth of this large Nation, with no civic responsibility caring for accessing positively abled people to commute, access required areas like post offices, banks and book stalls, living in India with such challenge became painful.   Thankfully her parents stood by her.  She was worried when she mentioned that not many in our country are fortunate enough to even afford a wheel chair and are let to die and are encouraged to commit suicide for they are burden to themselves, their families, on finances and to this society. 

Instead of making life easy for people like Preethi, our country still remains insensitive to the basic needs of physically challenged brethren.   Imagine for a day when you cannot move on your own, imagine a day where you cannot use your hands fully, imagine a day when the very air your breathe is making you battle for life....that imagination itself is a nightmare to all of us. 

Run for Inclusion, Inclusion Summit and many more such messages don't reach out governments to make effective transformation in our society.  We don't care or bother unless, something similar hits us.  With the stress filled world., life is just full of uncertainties and we don't get sensitive unless it hurts us personally.  Till such time, it is some one's sad story to hear,  mostly even not listen attentively, and ignore and forget the next day and move on with our lives regular chores.    People like Preethi are left to fight their own battles.  Until they fight, they yell and they become crusaders, the so called normal beings don't even acknowledge the existence of such trauma and people who are craving for life amidst lesser blessings.  

For them getting the basic education is a challenge because our distance education universities don't have ramps to the class rooms.  Employment is a distant dream for not many employers believe that they can be productive, equally determined and capable.  Family and Children is almost ruled out in many lives, for every normal being wants a perfect person as life partner.  The only solace is when they find life partners with some form of similar challenge.  Health care is a very costly affair.  We don't have communities coming forward to help the needy in our next door.   Governments do not care about this minority section, who may never be able to walk to the election booths and cast their votes, so they are negligible to the democratic leaders.   How else can we make them live?

Let alone the bigger dreams that people like Preethi had in life, the very existence in day to day affairs is tough.  They are mostly forced to hide and let to die unless they have some constant support to move on with life and look beyond physical possibilities.   This happens multifold in our rural areas.  When urban world itself is insensitive, illiterate and farming based villages, with no health care facilities and hospitals to reach on time is further more at sad state of affairs.

After the session, me and my friend made it a point to go and give her a big bear hug.  Telling her loud that we loved her..we admired her courage, we thanked her mother and prayed for her long life with health and energy to take care of Preethi.  She will not leave our  memory and her requests for help didn't go in vain.   Funds from Inner Wheel Clubs poured in , which she promised to transform as wheel chairs for friends in rural areas who will be empowered to at least make a move, within their own homes first. 

What she needs more than funds, is to spread her message, make people understand the difficulties and help when you find some one around, run to help and react to accidents on time.  To me ALERT and its golden hour work sounded like god sent.  How many people were rushed to hospitals before they became totally disabled.  Preethi mentioned that there are many people who suffered spinal cord injury not during the accidents but after and it was shocking to hear, for the delay in medical help during accidents make things worse and fatal. 

With my life's own battles, I stopped saying that I am busy, sick or not available to any one and stopped fighting for little things in life, stopped cribbing for failures and started to raise every time I fell.   I learnt to get up and run again in life.  Now I wish I can do something really to the cause for which Siddharth and now Preethi and many others are fighting for.  Unless we fight, we will not get things changed in our system.  For that the basic step is awareness.  Creating sensitivity in our society and people to react, proactively act to support and not just be mere spectators.  Only then dreams of Preethi and Siddharth will come true

To know more about Preethi, please visit her website : http://www.soulfree.org/

I will soon post the picture I have taken with her today, till then, please see the one from Internet.

For more about her

http://www.thebetterindia.com/8961/captain-19-womens-cricket-team-woman-now-deals-disability-inspires-others/

Home Office ? Are you Kidding me? Work from home does not mean no work!!! Give me a Break Guys!

I met an aunt today after long  many years and she was asking me about my office, work hours and said she would kill me if I say I am busy at work.  We are working for what we are paid and she is right.  But the expression she gave me when I said that I have an home office was totally undigested.   She sounded that work from home means no work getting done.  Probably after spending decades running to office every morning, the concept of home office is a not the zing thing for her.  And equally not to many of the people who still think work from home..is a paid holiday.   Give me a break guys!

There are two sides to a coin always.  The few positive sides of being in a virtual world of technology, connected from anywhere remotely is also huge and equally are the negatives of our lives in this environment.

The Biggest advantages of having a home office and also have a corporate that support the work from home culture are:

1.  Save on the travel time - commuting during peak hours of the day.

2.  Stay connected at different time zones.   Be it  IST, EST, GMT or what ever...You are there for the clients

3.  Reduce operational costs for Corporates by not consuming a full office, with parking, electricity, phone usage, transportation and security costs involved.  

4. Ensure safety of women working in odd shifts and giving them flexibility as diversity employees

5. Enhanced productivity that comes with alertness of being online for the full business hours

6.  Less distraction and cafeteria chat timings and giving more time to work.

7. Better work life balance with giving more time to work and personal things

8.  Staying virtually connected 24*7 helps in regular team collaborations, meetings, conference calls and there is no difference in the way we work

9.  People who work remotely are more engaged, focus on health and have lower stress levels

10.  More alert to work requirements, productivity, flexibility and availability increases at work force

The other side of the coin, where the pitfalls make work from home equally painful are:

1. Need continuous attention and keep increased watch on alerts for calls, meetings and deadlines making it stressful

2.  Distractions in case the home office is not isolated from the main living spaces and visitors

3.  Feeling of isolation when looking for business solutions that need brain storming and expert guidance

4.  Lack of people around to share moments of anxiety, team collaboration and participation

5. People who cannot draw thick line between personal and professional priorities have difficulty to separate work from home

6. Working hours are usually longer with very few or no breaks to refresh and work productivity

7.  Work place developments that are usually heard through grape vine is not available in home office

8. Danger of losing the visibility at work place by less presence in groups and office get together

9.  Work from home needs loads of self-discipline, proactive work atmosphere and learning to handle distractions and self-pity of being lone and working long

10.  People usually think that those working from home, are either jobless or lost their jobs and hanging at home, creating a embarrassment for families still living in running to work culture

However, like every situation that throws at us several advantages and disadvantages, Modern Home Offices are also still evolving with its own dimensions.  When people are high willed, strong determination with integrity and good professional values, working from anywhere doesn't really matter, as long as business outcomes are the same, client value is delivered, milestones are met and deadlines are not extended.   

Making your professional lives shine is all in the game of how you handle your visibility, performance, attitude, team work, stretching that extra mile and doing one bit more than others to prove your value adds to the growth of you and your organization.   

Appraisals are not what your managers decide for you and what companies give to you.  It is what you give to yourself for the money you are getting paid.  It is what you feel at the end of an hard working day fulfilling your obligations, responsibilities and duties both as a professional and also as a individual makes you what you are.   

Numbers, Money, Promotions, Awards or any other form of recognition is just another aspect in our lives.  Self-Satisfaction of doing your best, feeling the pride of achievement and sense of belonging-ness to your team, your company and your family is what makes you successful.  As long as these basic things are in place, it really doesn't matter, where you work from...Be it a multi-storeyed tech park, or an isolated factory shed, or from the couches of your home....what matters is business and its outcomes at large!

Happy Home Officing! 

 

Courtesy: Internet

 

 

Hindu Women Performing Final Rites of Parents and Relatives- Why this is still a taboo in our society?

22 long years slipped into the history since a 15 year old girl took the courage to carry the funeral pyre in her hands to full-fill her father's last wish,  to be brave to do what all a son would do, to be emotionally strong to tell it to her relatives and neighbors on her decision and to convince her family to allow her to break the norms of Hindu Rituals and formalities during a person's final journey. 

That day she did not know what is being a change agent is;  she was not aware that the memory of the winter morning when she took the dip in the river after lighting the pyre fire would stay in her memory for ever;  she did not expect that what she did that day would be the news of the town and would be remember for years to come.   The young girl did not know if it is right or wrong.  She did as what her father murmured in the last hour of his life.  She embraced the act with courage to stand strong and do what even men would tremble to do.   Tears were locked behind the eyelids...words were few to share; hunger and anger both came no where.   She walked in front of the final journey carrying her deceased father, whose face still looked like a smile in his sleep. 

Hundreds of men and women followed to see the event that was unfolding; which never happened before nor would happen again in near future.   As the girl went around 3 times with the pot of water, tapped trice to final break it to pieces before the camphor and wood covered her dad's remains, she remained absolutely silent and calm.  Her uncles and friends who were with her advised her not to look back once the pyre fire was lit....after walking 10 feet, she forced herself and looked back, just to see the pyre fire engulfing up above  and that memory remained fresh for her life time.  Yes, that's the end of a wonderful father who was just cremated by her beloved daughter whom he raised almost like a son!

Now, the question is 'Does Hindu Religion allow or disallow girls / women from performing the final rites?'  No where in the Vedas - there is a description of women being disallowed to perform such acts, but mostly it is written time and again that men are to follow certain rituals and it is their responsibility to do the final rites.   It also states that when male heirs perform the last rites, parents soul will reach the gates of the heaven!  For those who don't have sons; a son-in-law , a male grand child or a close male relative performs these rites.  For them, they may not be understanding the person, have lived with them, would not have experienced the ups and down and then why the hell they should do this alone and girl children be abandoned from doing this pious act.

Once way I look at this, is that emotional aspects of a women.  When men perform these rites as their duty,  very soon they will come out of it.  But when it is women who involved in this,  this will be in their memory throughout their lives...and time is only the healer in both the cases.  What time it takes for a man compared to women to come out of such memories is questionable.  What has religion, caste or rituals got to do with human emotions that are so different between women and men.

Every tradition is changed as the times changes,  people's mind-sets and perceptions change.  Life-style changes,  world become a smaller stage to play, people are now welcoming any changes that suit their conveniences.  Every tradition had its birth based on people's necessity and this is not immune to this paradigm.  

There are certain rituals that are not followed when women perform these rites, like wearing the scared thread to do the mantras reading,  tonsuring of  the head, staying indoors all the 10-16 days till the ceremonies are completed etc.  Which again is an alignment to the way it can be done.   Systems are created to the convenience of man kind and they keep changing as needed. But like any change that will have its own resistance, it takes long time for the same to be accepted by the larger sections of the society.  

When this very Hindu society could abolish Sati, and allow widow re-marriages and today with the increasing onset of fight against dowry harassment, illegal sex, alarming rise of divorces, women are more and more aware of their rights and responsibilities.  Women are today prepared to do what ever they feel is right.  As long as it is not imposed on them in the name of formality, women today are ready to go above their emotional limitations towards what their hearts say is right and what their thoughts guide them to do. 

After 20 years since the 15 year old lit the pyre fire, this is one aspect that is still not largely accepted as a permissible ritual in the society. Many women have come forward and are joining the funeral possessions and not limiting themselves till the gates of their homes.  However, this is one aspect that is not widely debated, not openly accepted and not many women have the courage to do what their brothers and fathers do.   Girl children need to be brave, demand this as their right., stand up and be brave to do what their loved one's wish for than leave these responsibilities to some person who is just related by blood and caste and have no real emotions for the deceased.  It is time for a new call of duty which we women can definitely do

Now,  the 15 year girl old in the society is the writer of this post.  Yes,  on 10th Jan 1992, I braved to follow my heart,  full-fill my dad's last wish,  felt it right to do it as my responsibility and felt relieved for my family and friends did not object but stood by me and walked with me to the cremation ground and strangely I did not cry till I saw the ashes on the 3rd day.....probably I don't have that kind of courage now as a woman, but that's how our father raised us, all his three girls, equally in par with boys...We learnt to handle any thing and everything in life.  My mom stood as the biggest strength ever since he disappeared on that winter morning on 9th Jan , leaving behind his dream for us to achieve, his blessings that silently shower on us all the time., his foot prints that we don't miss to walk in and his aspirations and goodness that guide us unlimited.  

Miss you Dad.  Years may go, but your thoughts will be always there to aspire, your dreams for us to achieve more, Gone too soon, but never forgotten.  

Love You-   Umasree Sampath Kumar aka Umasree Raghunath .
With S. Yamini Krishnan and Jayanthi .S. Vimal

 

Visit to Nanganallur Vishwaroopa Adhivayadhihara Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple (Hanuman Temple in Nanganallur, Chennai)

Vishwaroopa Anjaneya Swamy in Nanganallur is said to be an abode of health, a healer.   

My Experiences

As child visiting Chennai, I was taken to Nanganallur, where a huge rock was in a big sculpturing mode, with the legs and the body completed in mid 80's.  I learnt that God Anjaneya is getting molded out of a single rock and the Lord is going to be a magnificiant 32 feet bringing in new meaning and destination of spiritual significance to Nanganallur which was already flooded by temples and a great heritage.  

 

Ramani Anna who was pioneer in sculpturing the Lord

As today, the world around celebrate the New Year and also the Birthday of Hanuman as Hanuman Jayanthi, I wasnt sure I could visit the temple for the queue was too long and heard that temple was thronged by the devotees from 1 am and it took 3 hours of waiting to catch a glimpse of the Lord on the New Year eve.  As we went to Ayyapan temple at 8.30 pm for a quick darshan, I wanted to see the Lord atleast from outside, but most fortunately we got to get into the temple just before the closing hours of 9 pm and had a wonderful darshan.  After the State Government took over the temple last year,  things have pretty much changed. However, the power of the Lord only sustained and brought in great peace to his devotees.  Today, the Hanuman Temple was decorated in a most colorful way and the whole place looked up with the festival colors, lights and sounds of en-chantings of 'Sri Ram, Jaya Ram, Jeya Jeya Ram' in the air.

Truly a happiness to see the most decorated temple with a very organized way of handling huge crowds and excellent support of the Trust, Police and Devotees.   What a decoration of flowers, lamps and the ever awesome food prasadams given to all devotees till the closing of the temple hours.  It is just a scene to be seen, a feeling of closeness with the Lord to be felt and vibrations of the place to be experienced.  There can be no better way to begin the New Year. and I am truly blessed I got this opportunity to be there today.   And I am also glad that writing about this temple as the first post of this year is a blessing. 

 About the Temple


Sri Maruthi Bhakta Samaj with high spiritual inclinations dreamt of bringing in this temple to its existence and probably they would not have dreamt the kind of reach, glory and priligrimage status the temple enjoys today.   With the blessings of Paramacharya and Sri Raghavendra, the 32 foot idol was entrenched in 1989...followed by a divine kumbabishekam in 1995. 

Slowly but steadily the fame and power of Lord Anjaneya in Nanganallur spread far and wide.   Devotees believed that God bestows good health and prosperity on all his devotees.   The idol of 32 feet is special and a feast to our eyes, power to our mind, and provides a divine vibrations rejuvenating our physical energies as well. 

The adjacent abode of Lord Rama with Lakshmana, Sita Mata and Sri Anjaneya is also a treat to our eyes.  Lord Krishna with consorts Satyabama and Rukmini is also indoctrined in this temple to Lord's left.   Lord Ganesh,  Lord Nagarajar, Sri Raghavendra are also in the temple.   Another not much known fact is that Lord Ayyappa Temple is just behind Anjaneyar temple...and this is  the only place in the world., where 2 powerful bachelor gods bless the devotees facing back to back each other.   It is widely believed that visiting both these temples on 9 Saturdays will heal any kind of trauma from life. 

The temple is also known for tying Rakhsa (Red thread ) blessed at the feet of the Lord and people wear this thread for 6 weeks and follow religious way and it is strongly  believed that what ever is wished will happen during this period and devotees are blessed with prosperity, health and happiness.

The temple never had a Hundi (Money Collection Box) till the temple was taken over by the Endowments Department of the State Government in July 2013.   Prasads are a big crowd puller of this temple even after the taken over.   Ney Deepam (Ghee Lamp) in front of the lord is always filled with offerings from the devotees.  The Huge Vada Malas following various types of Sevas is a delight to be seen. 

 मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं
जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठ ।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं
श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ।Mano-Javam Maaruta-Tulya-Vegam
Jite[a-I]ndriyam Buddhi-Mataam Varissttha |
Vaata-Atmajam Vaanara-Yuutha-Mukhyam
Shriiraama-Duutam Sharannam Prapadye |

Meaning:
(I take Refuge in Sri Hanuman)
1: Who is Swift as Mind and Fast as Wind,
2: Who is the Master of the Senses and Honoured for His Excellent Intelligence, Learning and Wisdom,
3: Who is Son of the Wind God and Chief among the Monkeys,
4: To that Messenger of Sri Rama, I take Refuge.

Location and Directions

The temple is located 5 kms from Chennai Airport, 2 kms from Palavanthangal /Nanganallur Railway Station and around 2.5 kms from GST road.   The temple has become a very popular tourist place and also a piligrimage destination. 

Temple Contact Address :

No : 1, 8th street Ram Nagar,

Nanganallur,

Chennai - 600 061.

Temple Contact Numbers : 22671410, 22671420

Temple Timing : 

Morning - 5.00am to 12.00pm

Evening - 4.30pm to 9.00pm

“ Hanuman Kalpa Vriksho me, Hanuman mama kaama dhuk
Chintaamansthi Hanuman ko Vichara, kuto bhayam ?’
( When Lord Hanuman is there for me (us) like a wish yielding ‘kalpa vriksha, and like the boon giving Chintamani, to fulfill my ( our ) desires where is the cause for worry and fear ? )  

Moments!

As we fly high with moments of pride

And having God as our only perfect Guide

Wishing moments of joy at peak of things

Adoring flying with rapid flaming wings

Intellect, humbleness and endless ecstasy

With the moments that are too enough to be

Dawn upon me the rapid flaming wings

To cherish at soul the delights nature brings

Without the fear of tomorrow or mortality

Binding my heart with a richness of integrity

The mind is running in its peak sovereignty

Enjoying the mind, body and soul unity

In such a moment of supreme thinking

I am my own creator of being a radical king

Moments those gracefully uplift my soul

And cherish my life as an adorable whole

Cherishing the glorious permanence

Of meditations in thoughtful presence

Realizations dawn on the core life’s essence

With God, peace and calm immanence

In this moment of calm boundless atmosphere

Where inner peace chases away every fear

Every bit of me is tightened as a timeless whole

Uplifting my energies, my thoughts and soul

Things that made the every moment dear

Wiping away the unwrapped silent tear

Letting the passing clouds spiritually clear

As all moments last in an eternal Year

Yes, what make life are the moments

Moments of pride, joy and also laments

Gracefully being your own self

Rejoicing towards another year in belief

Moments and only moments that make what you are!

That teaches you, guide you and take you afar!

My Experiences with Arunchaleshwara - Girivalam in Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai...a place that became close to me after my marriage..for my husband was born in this temple town and I had loads of relatives living there and the story of my inlaws first meeting in this town during our grandfather A.K.Sekar's shooting in the Arunachala hills some 50 years ago.  My few visits to Tiruvannamalai was for the family functions and quick visits to the magnificiant temple of Lord Arunchaleshwar and Godess Unnamalaiaar, was all that I had in my life till yesterday.  

Today my connectivity to this place and the god is totally changed.  As we were relaxing after a busy Sunday afternoon, I asked my husband if we can go to Tiruvannamalai Girivalam as the full moon is just peeping in, the first day of the Marghalzi month and also auspicious time as he is on the mandala puja to Sabarimala.   He readily agreed to my surprise. We requested my mom to take care of my daughter and got onto our bike and zoomed off to the CMBT bus stand..where we took the first bus available at 8.30 pm...and then started to talk about the memories of our place..we dozed off as the breeze of the winter night started to smile on our faces...We woke up at 2 am when the bus reached T.V.Malai...after a small cup of hot coffee...we started to walk.

From the place we embarked..15 kilometers ahead of us...first time I did not doubt my fitness.  Small treks and runs were different.  This is something got to do with me and my mind.. heart and  devotion...my physical strength verses mental ability... above all the blind faith in the possibilities ahead.   We reached the Rajagopuram after offering prayers at Rettapillayar (Twin Ganesha's) temple and stood for a minute in silence to enjoy the moment of a good beginning.  

As we walked 50 meters, we got our first stop at the temple of Indra Lingam ( on the East)...this is the first of the Asthalingams that are around the Arunachala hills.  Every few meters, we found a small temple., a nandhi statue or a pond gracefully greeting us at the mid of the night.  The resonances of the Om Arunachala mantra in the air, and the chill winds touching us gracefully and the full moon guiding us as our friendly guide, we could not ask for more.

It was sheer faith that made us walk, like it did to millions of devotees who throng the route of Girivalam - a 14 kilometers path around the hills of Arunachala every full moon night month after month.  To me, its winning over my own self.  My own limitations and it was like heading towards a finishing line..this time at the feet of the temple that I admired for its grand architecture, faith and magnificiant technicalities of the temple towers.  

You have to see it to believe it.  The sculptures are sheer artistic excellence and shows the brilliant creativity of our ancient era.  The structures remain as a testimony to our engineering abilities of an era that did not have any technology that we witness today.  However, they are far superior in the terms of creativity, sustainability, attracting and monitoring earth's movements and astrophysics that never became a debate with the dates written from times immemorial.

As we moved across the next 7 temples specially said to be created by the god's themselves, I could not stop pondering from the depth of knowledge and the sheer brillinace of our ancestors who made accurate predictions of the times, directions and zodiac significances.  We cannot rule out this at all, as in real terms of its sheer mathematics and science everywhere...in terms of calculations of the temple structures, directions of the dieties, the placing of the ponds and the visual treat of the mountains and the dancing of the sunrises and full moon shines...it pushed me into a trance of happiness and inner self-realization 

8 Lingams Around Girivalam Path:

 

Lingam	Direction	Moon Sign	Distance from the starting point
Indra Lingam	East	Vrishabha, Tula (Taurus, Libra)	50 m
Agni Lingam	South East	Simmam (Leo)	1.5 Km
Yama Lingam	South	Viruchigam (Scorpio)	3 Km
Niruthi Lingam	South West	Mesham (Aries)	6 KM
Varuna Lingam	West	Makaram, Kumbam (Capricorn, Aquarius)	8 KM
Vayu Lingam	North West	Kadagam (Cancer)	9.5 KM
Kubera Lingam	North	Dhanush, Meenam (Sagittarius, Pisces)	11 KM
Eesanya Lingam	North East	Mithunam, Kanni (Gemini, Virgo)	13 Km

    

As we reached 10 kms mark, I gave a hi-fi to my husband feeling elated like a child...and then the next 5 kilometers was bit tiring but the strain of the joints and the feet did not hinder our spirits.  As we kept chanting the slokas and songs, we found the strength to move on.  All that we did was to stop at 2 places for a quick 2 minute power breaks to hydrate ourselves with lemonade in the midst of winter night...not forgetting the lessons of the marathons and runs I witnessed.   

The best was my awe at the Irrukki Pillayar temple, this small temple has no diety but a small passage that we have to crawl through and Raghu did attempt it as I was excitedly waiting for him to come out and wondering what if he gets stuck in the narrow passage...but when he made it, he was full of excitement and contentment.   

 

Our only aim was to complete the girivalam before sun rise..and Hurray! we made it...in 3.5 hours and reached the place where we started by 5.45 am.  We decided to go for the darshan and God was graceful to give us a very satisfactory darshan without much of waiting...Monday morning, Margahazhi month beginning...full moon day..felt like a blessing.  

I am religious and have strong faith in god, but I never believed in doing anything superficial to please the Gods..But with this Girivalam, I understood, its not to please the gods, but to please one's innerself and consciousness. It is just like reinventing your ownself.  The herbal and ecological balance of the nature, of the mountains,  the gravitational energies of the full moon, the spirit of the heart and the faith in yourself will make everything possible in this world.  And probably that is what makes this place a sure come back one for many who experience this.

At 8 am we finished the temples visit and had a good breakfast and took the bus back to the city and to our routines quickly...and Raghu went off to office as soon as we reached Chennai and I slept off till my day began at the Eastern Timezone...this time with no fears or dreams, but with just a strong inner peace.

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To know more about the Tiruvannamalai Girivalam, please read on:

About Girivalam: (14 km)

• The circumambulation of Arunachala is known as Giri Pradakshina in Sanskrit and Giri Valam in Tamil. Performing pradakshina of Arunachala is considered to be beneficial in all ways. Typically, pradakshina is done in bare feet, with the Hill on the right. Sri Ramana Maharshi once explained the meaning of the word pradakshina and how it should be done by a devotee: "The letter "Pra" stands for removal of all kinds of sins; "da" stands for fulfilling the desires; "kshi" stands for freedom from future births; "na" stands for giving deliverance through jnana. If by way of Pradakshina you walk one step it gives happiness in this world, two steps, it gives happiness in heaven, three steps, it gives bliss of Satyaloka which can be attained. One should go round either in mouna (silence) or dhyana (meditation) or japa (repetition of Lord's name) or sankeertana (bhajan) and thereby think of God all the time.
• Throughout the year, pilgrims engage in a practise called giri valam (circumambulation of Annamalaiyar temple and Annamalai hill 14 km in circumference), considered to be a simple and effective form of yoga. The circumambulation is started from the temple with barefoot and is considered a sacred act.The central government of India asked the Tamil Nadu government through the supreme court to direct the path of girivalam under the provision of the proposed Tamil Nadu Heritage Conservation Act. There are 8 small shrines of lingams located in the 14 km circumference of the hill, each one associated with the 12 moon signs. These are collectively termed as Ashtalingam (meaning 8 lingams) and is considered one of the rituals of worship during the girivalam (circumambulation of the hill).

 

The Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai is a very ancient temple in Tamil Nadu. It is said to be around thousand years old and patronised by the great saints and poets of Tamil Nadu. The prominent among them are Appar, Sambamdar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar and Arunagirinathar. This has great reputation among all Shiva devotees since Arunachalaeswar is prayed here in the form of fire, fire being one of the five elements that composed this universe. The other four elements of the panchaboothas are vayu, akash, jalam and earth.This beautiful temple is located at the foot of the Annamalai hills that falls under the Tiruvannamalai district about eighty kilometers away from Vellore town by road.
This temple city can also be reached from Chennai the capital of Tamil Nadu that is around 185 kilometres by road. It is believed that Shiva is also in the form of a hill and hence it is called as Annamalai hill. Anna means all powerful in Tamil and malai means hills. Since this god is considered very powerful thus it is compared to the mountain that cannot be moved and strong. This god being believed to be part of the hill, hence it is also called as Annamalayar among its devotees.
Arunachaleswarar temple has six prakarams around the temple. Every full moon day of the month Girivalam is undertaken by the pilgrims. Lakhs of devotees participate every month in this healthy ritual. This word Girivalam is the origin of the tamil word giri meaning hill and valam means coming around. Hence coming around the hill is called as Girivalam in Tamil.

To come one full round (Girivalam) the road round the hill, it is around 14 kilometres. And people both young and old religiously go round on the full moon day. It is said to bring in abundant peace or calmness for the mental well being and also refreshing for the physical fitness.

This abode of Arunachaleswarar, the Annamalai hills at Tiruvannamalai has varied interpretations over the years. It is believed this hills took different forms at different period of time and age. During the Kirthayugam it was in the form of fire. The next Threthayugam it took the form of emerald, known as manikkam in Tamil. In the course of Dweparayugam it existed in the form of gold. Now in Kaliyuagam it has taken the state of rocky hill.

At Arunachaleswarar temple there are eight lingams known as Ashtalingam. They are positioned at different locations and facing various directions. Each lingam signifying different directions of the earth. These lingams are named as Indralingam, Agnilingam, Yamalingam, Niruthilingam, Varunalingam, Vayulingam, Kuberalingam and Esanyalingam.

Each lingam addresses different aspects of man’s life and they bless the devotees with different types of benefits. It is believed to be installed by various gods. Also these lingams have a dominant navagraha and praying to each lingam brings forth various benefits that is being bestowed by that navagraha on the devotees who prays to that particular lingam to achieve the desired results.

The first lingam on the Girivalam is the Indra lingam and this lingam has east as its cardinal direction. It is said to be installed by lord Indran the celestial king. The dominant navagraha of this lingam are the sun and sukiran. Worshipping this lingam blesses the devotees with long life coupled with prosperity in abundance.

The second lingam on the Girivalam is the Agni lingam. This faces the south east direction. The uniqueness of this lingam is that it is the only lingam that is placed on the right side of the path on which one goes Girivalam on the full moon night every month. Praying to this lingam helps one to keep away sickness and to maintain good health. The dominant navagraha of this lingam is Chandran. It also helps the ardent devotees to counter the problems that they come across in the life’s journey. This lingam is located near the lotus tank.

The third lingam on the Girivalam is the Yama lingam. This lingam signifies the south direction. It is said to be installed by the god of death Yama. The dominant graham of this lingam is Sevvai. It has a holy tank known as Simma theertham. Worshipping this Yama lingam relieves the devotees of their financial constraints.

The fourth lingam on the Girivalam is the Niruthi lingam. The cardinal direction is South East. The dominant graham of this lingam is the Ragu. This was installed by the king of the giants. This lingam also has a holy tank called as Sani theertha. Devotees worshipping this Niruthi lingam are freed of their problems.

The fifth lingam on the Girivalam is the Varuna lingam. This lingam signifies the west direction. This lingam is installed by the Varuna god who is the creator of rain on this earth. The dominant graham of this lingam is the Sani. There is a holy tank named as Varuna theertham. Devotees worshipping this lingam are protected from all critical illness. This Varunalingam also takes care to elevate their social development.

The sixth lingam on the Girivalam is the Vayu lingam. This lingam is placed facing the north west direction. Vayu lingam is installed by the god of air himself known as Vayu baghavan. The graham that is dominant is the Kedhu. Offering prayers to this Vayu lingam gives strength to fight all heart ailments, stomach problems, lung problems and general illness.

The seventh lingam on the Girivalam is the Kuperalingam. This faces the northern direction. The dominant graham is the Guru. And the Kuperan or the god of wealth has installed this lingam. Offering prayers to this lingam regularly helps the devotees to achieve prosperity.

The last lingam on the Girivalam is the Esanya lingam. And this lingam faces the north east direction. The god that installed this lingam is the Esanyan. The graham that dominates this lingam is the Budhan. Praying to this lingam gives peace of mind to devotees and develops a positive attitude in them to achieve success in all their pursuits.

Tips to follow while going Girivalam

1. It is advised that devotees go Girivalam only barefooted.
2. Always view the top of the giri all through their Girivalam.
3. Preferably Girivalam should be undertaken only during full moon nights or else in normal nights.
4. To chant during Girivalam the namam of Om Arunachala.