Mahasivarathri Festival

 Mahashivaratri in Coimbatore Mahashivaratri, the night of divinity, is one of the holiest Hindu celebrations devoted to Lord Shiva. Sivaratri is identified as the fourteenth day of every lunar month, whereas Mahashivaratri falls in between February- March every year and is celebrated with high spiritual significance. The powerful position of the planet in the northern hemisphere is believed to exhibit an upsurge in the natural energy within human beings on the day of Mahashivaratri. Being home to numerous ancient temples the state of Tamil Nadu celebrates this occasion with utmost divinity and devotion.    Velliangiri Hill Temple , Coimbatore   This cave temple has a 6 feet wide Pancha Lingas with the main deity under the name of ‘Swayambhu Murti’ (self created Lord Shiva idol). The temple is also known as “South Kailayam” . Devotees can only visit the temple during the Tamil months of Panguni (Mid-March), Chithirai (Mid-April), and Vaikasi (Mid-February), since the climate is believed to be favourable during these months.  To reach this cave temple, devotees trek along the seven hills chanting the mantra of “Thennadudaya Sivane Potri” and “Om Namah Shivaya”. The seven hills emphasise the symbol of the seven fundamental chakras in the human body. The first hill is placed with a 11/2 km trek with steep steps placed amid dense flora and fauna. The herbal plants surrounding the hills bring aromatic scent with cool breeze and pleasant atmosphere to the trekkers. As you reach the beginning of the second hill, a white Ganesha Shrine is present. The second hill consists of slippery rocks, plains and a few steep steps. Along the trek, you can find the hill enveloped with tall bamboo trees and pepper plantations. A Holy Pond (Theertham) exists at the peak of the hill, where trekkers drink the holy water. The third hill begins with a large swamp known as "Kaithatti Sunai"—the clapping swamp, because it is believed that clapping our hands here will induce water to pour from the rock crevices. The fourth hill, Thiruneer Malai, is flat and pleasant to trek, offering worshippers with a chance to relax. There is also a Siddhar Samadhi on the hill, known as "Otter Samadhi." The fifth hill, named Beeman Kali Urundai Hill is also a plain- like hill surrounded by redwoods and flowering plants.  The sixth hill is a marsh known as "Aandi Sunai," where devotees bathe and carry home the white sand in the belief that it removes negative energy from their lives. The Swami Mudi Hill, the seventh hill to reach the  Velliangiri cave temple, is the most difficult one to trek. On this hill, there are three large rocks that provide a visual feast with a unique natural setting known as the Thorana Entrance, next to which naturally raised self – made Linga is present. On the eve of Mahashivaratri, six auspicious homams and poojas are conducted here including; the first kala pooja, second kala pooja, third kala pooja, fourth kala pooja, fifth kala pooja and sixth kala pooja. Throughout the eve, the devotees chant the ures and slogans of Sivapuranam, Thiruvasagam, Thevagam and Thirumathiram. Every year lakhs of people pay a visit to worship the Lord Velliangiri Aandavar during Mahashivaratri.   The occasion of Mahashivaratri is celebrated in a grandeur manner in the below mentioned temples including; Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram Thillai Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval Brihadeeswarar Temple,Tanjore