Sri Ramanashram
This is the main entrance to Sri Ramanasramam, the biggest ashram in Tiruvannamalai. An ashram is a place where spiritual teachers and their devotees live. This ashram is dedicated to the life and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. He ran away from home to go to the Holy Hill of Arunachala at age 16 in 1896, and never traveled more than a mile from the base of it for the rest of his life. Such was his devotion to it. He lived in various locations until settling at the site of this ashram in 1922. He died in 1950. It is beyond the scope of this eGuide to fully describe the life and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, who is one of the greatest sages of the 20th century. He is known world-wide as the grandfather of modern Advaita Vedanta, also called Non-dual Wisdom. He is the sage who is most closely associated with Arunachala. The ashram has a good bookstore and library with many works describing his life and teachings. There are many sacred places within the Ashram grounds. Take some time to visit.
Palli Tirtham Mandapam
This was once an manthapam (shelter for renunciates), used extensively during the early 20th century. For many years it was not maintained and started collapsing, but in 2017 it was totally rebuilt and made into the impressive combination mandipam and temple you see today. The temple that is part of this structure is dedicated to Ganapati (called “Maha Ganapati”).
Paali Tirtham
This is a tirtham, or sacred water tank. It was dug by the people of the Palli caste, now known as the Vanniyars. Like most tirthams, it is predominantly square in shape. The sides are reinforced and sealed with stones. Broad steps give pilgrims easy access to the water. This tirtham is called ‘Manakkula’, which means ‘marriage tank’. Newly married couples come here for blessings. Tirthams are used for bathing by sadhus and pilgrims so that they can be cleansed of all impurities, since they are considered to have sacred properties. People who did Giripradakshina in ancient times would often immerse themselves in tirthams such as this and proceed with Giripradakshina in wet, dirty clothes. This was supposed to enhance the blessings received. For a blessing, you can sprinkle a few drops of water from the tirtham on your head. Normally you would see people bathing in this and many other tirthams around Arunachala, but public access to tirthams in recent years has been restricted, so you may not be able to touch the water. Pay attention to fences and signs prohibiting access. Tirthams are part of the system of man-made water catchments to store water during the dry months.
