Trek to SkandaAshramam & Virupaksha Caves

 Trek to SkandaAshramam & Virupaksha Caves

On Second day started at morning 7 AM. We started the trek to Skanda Ashramam on barefoot. 

                               

The back gate from Ramana Ashramam opens at 7 AM and leads to SkandaAshramam.

The stone paved path with cool breeze had us refreshed.

There will be Master Sculptures selling their art pieces. Some even prepare one like a designer piece if one fancies.


There is a bit of strain in the initial path. After that its easy to continue.


Its a 2km distance to the SkandaAshramam. 



We reached the view point from which one can have the Aerial view of the Main temple. Viewing the 7 Gopurams from the top is the feast for Eyes and soul.


       



There will be lot of monkeys along the path trying to help themselves for food and water bottles in the hands of devotees.


We reached the SkandaAshramam and waiting to open the gates. They are opened promptly at 8 AM. 


on way to trek we encountered many foriegners with traditional dress and Indianized to the core. Ladies wearing mettalu(leg finger anklets traditionally weared by married women) and sarees. Had a chat with a devotee family from Argentinia.


Here in SkandaAshramam we could meditate for 30 minutes. Its very peaceful and soul full.

SkandaAshramam:


Ramana Mahashi's Mother Room

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi Meditated in this room for years

One more stall with stone sculptures on way to virupaksha cave.

                            Then we descended thorugh the steps to reach virupaksha cave.

                                                       

            Virupksha Cave: Here Ramana Maharshi meditated for 16 years in Meditation

 Here it is very hot inside and initial 1 minute we sweated a lot. But miraclously we could involve in meditation for long time here and lost the senses of the surroundings. Had a very nice experience here.




We visited another cave where Kavya Kanta Ganapathi stayed along with Ramana Maharshi and this is the place where he wrote on bits of paper the book "Who Am I". 



Ganapati Muni was born in Kalavarayai near Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh on 17 November 1878.

        

We descended though the steps and reached the Ammani Amman Gopuram around 11 AM.

Had a nice breakfast and reached the room for rest.

In the Afternoon we started for Tirukoilur to visit Vamana Avatar Temple(Ulaga Nandha Perumal) which is 45 kms from Arunachalam. 

                

This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams revered by Sri Vaishnavites.     

                 

     There are large temple Gopurams and the colorful Mandapam of Ammavaru is very wonderfull.


After spending some time here we returned to room and rested for the day.

Thus come the end of our 2nd and final day in Arunachalam.

Do comment your feelings. 

Next comes the blog of Golden Temple and the Majestic mesmerizing stone sculptures of Jalakenteswar temple in Vellore Fort.

Sivoham

Chiranjeevi.
Chiru.nvv@gmail.com

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