PILGRIMAGE PART 1

Bala Chandran Gunasekaran and I began to draft the itinerary based on the many temples where fellow AVM members needed to perform their atonements or parikaram. Besides that we also included other temples along the route. The pinnacle of the journey would of course be the four day festival at Kallar Ashram.

But we knew pretty well that Agathiyar has the final say and he determines every single move of ours. True enough he brought certain changes in our itinerary.

We started our temple tour from Sri Rangam instead of Utchi Pillaiyaar as planned. We did not plan to visit Adhi Kumbeswarar, instead had listed Agasthiyampalli in our itinerary. But Agathiyar made us forgo Agasthiyampalli and showed his darshan at Adhi Kumbeswarar.

We did not plan to stay overnight at Madurai but move on to Palani for a halt traveling a long distance from Vadakku Poigainallur on the East Coast. But Goddess Madurai Meenachi wanted us to spend the night in her hometown instead. 

At the Departure Hall at KLIA 2, Malaysia

Travelling in India

Trichy - A view from Utchi Pilaiyaar Temple, Rock Fort.

Kasi Viswanathar Temple Thirupattur

Kasi Viswanathar Temple Thirupattur

Swamimalai

Samarasa Sudha Sanmarga Sangam, Swamimalai

Sri Agasthiyar Kumbamunivar Sannathi, Adhi Kumbeshwarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Arulmigu Korakar Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi Peedam, Vadakku Poigainallur

Vanmeegar at Ettukudi Arulmigu Supramania Swamy Temple

ANNADHANAM @ PALANI

As we drove into our hotel Amirtham Inn at Palani, we could not help but notice people staying in makeshift tents pitched on a vacant ground next to the hotel. On further inquiring from them, we were told that they were Nadodi or nomads from other places trying to sell their wares at Palani. 

AVM family immediately agreed to organize an annadhanam to feed them. On our way up to Palani, we realized that there was more than what the eye met. The nomads were grouped in three large groups along the way.

Back from our prayers at Palani, we stopped to enquire if a local restaurant could pack parcels of food for them. One restaurant agreed to prepare 70 pieces of dosa each wrapped in individual aluminium foils, to help retain heat and freshness. We placed them in three boxes and began distributing in these three locations.

It was very fulfilling to serve the poor after having the Lord's darshan too.