Athri Hills, Alwarkurichi, Thirunelveli
Athiri
Malai (or Athiri Hills) is in Pothigai mountain range in the Western Ghats near
the village of Alwarkurichi, in Thirunelveli district. These hills are named
after Athiri Maharishi as he and his wife Anusuya Devi lived here. The trek
starts from the Kadana Dam and ends at a temple for Athiri Maharishi and
Anusuya Devi. It is believed that the mere brush of the breeze from these hills
cures one of a variety of common ailments. Athri hills are tucked in the north
eastern part of Kalakad Mundathurai Tiger Reserve. The Hills are clad in
evergreen forests right from the base to its higher reaches. This contrasts the
southern parts where low elevation starts with thorny scrubby jungles.
The gap
in the Athri hill range allows more moisture from the western side to enter the
region all year around which has resulted in dry evergreen forest even in the
lower elevation. The dry evergreen forest is considered to be rich in medicinal
plants, which has brought here many ‘siddhars’ (siddha medicine practitioners)
in search of plants for their practice. The access to these hills is still
through a bridle path which crosses the Kallar River and the lack of a good motorable
road so far has kept it away from the glare of tourists.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Athiri
Maharishi Temple
The
Athiri Maharishi temple lies in the middle of a dense forest and the present
day temple was built by the joint efforts of a retired bank officer and the
villagers of several tiny hamlets lying in and around the foothills of Athiri. The
temple doesn’t have any of the features that you see on a regular temple. It
looks just like a “Kudil” or a modest cottage of sages that has been
transformed to a temple. You can very well imagine Sage Athiri and his wife Anusuya
Devi resting here in their abode. There is also an idol for Korakkar Siddhar
and it is believed that he performed his penance here. The shrines of Lord Vinayaka
and Lord Murugan are placed in an open courtyard near the temple.
The
temple is located at a height of 1500 ft. height in the Athri Hills. It is also
believed that Sage Athri created the "Ganga River" for his ardent
disciple Korakkanathar in the form of a spring in these hills. Even today, we
see this perennial spring which bears water all through the year. At the center
of the spring stands a Ganga Devi idol, which was installed by the Athri
followers in his memory. Although the installation is estimated to be about
1,200 years old, other deities have been added over time. The villagers now
call it Murugan temple and the legend of Athri seems to be slowly fading away.
Also,
another deity, Karupusamy whose idol is about five km away from the site is
hardly remembered. In 2004, the quaint place close to the spring was replaced
by a concrete structure and also got consecrated with a pompous festival. “Thai
Ammavasai” (The New Moon Day in the Tamil month of Thai) is considered as the
most auspicious day to worship the deities of this temple: Sage Athiri, Anusuya
Devi, Ganga Devi, Korakkanathar Siddhar and Vana Durga.
It is
believed that the tree under which Korakkar, the disciple of Athiri Maharishi
meditated stands at a distance of 10-20 feet away from the hill even today. When
one meditates under in this tree, one is instantly transported to a divine
haven of peace and tranquility. Usually people visit this temple on weekends,
full moon and new moon day. During weekdays very few people visit the temple
and they generally start the trek at around 9:30 AM. Since the trek is in a
forest, forest officials maintain a record of all the persons visiting the
temple. Forest Officials allow people to enter the forest only between 9:00 AM
and 5:00 PM.
If you
plan to visit Athiri hills and if it is the first time, officials may advise
you to join other groups or persons who have been to the temple before as one
might lose their way in the forest. Hence if you are visiting the hills for the
first time, it is advisable to be there at around 9:00 AM as you can join other
groups. It will take 2 hours to reach the temple. There is a Siva temple in
Sivasailam village which is in the foothill of these mountains. The Nandi
statue needs to get a special mention as it looks very real.
Temple
in Sivasailam is a west faced temple and it is in straight line to the Athiri
Maharishi temple. Strangely, below this temple in a lime stone cave formation
lies a mosque which came into existence about 300 years ago. Today it attracts
2,000 people during Kanthuri festival. Recently a new mosque was added close to
it. All the devotees visit both holy shrines without any conflict.
Festivals
The
stream that flows here originated on the Full Moon Day of the Tamil month,
Aavani (August 15 – September 15). It is a belief that one will be blessed with
abundant wealth if one performs a pooja at this temple on the full moon day of
the Avani month. Hence, there prevails a stiff competition among devotees to
offer poojas on this day. Along with Chitra Pournami and Masi Shiva Rathri,
Aavani Pournami is also considered auspicious.
Chithirai
Pournami (new moon in the first month of the Tamil year) is the main festival
of this temple which draws 2,500 people who camp inside the forests for a
night. With mounting pressure from the forest department the camping has been
abandoned recently. Apart from this, on every full moon and new moon days about
200 to 300 people gather here.
Unexplained
Mysteries of the Athiri Hills
Rosewater Showers:
Every
year during the Tamil Month of Chithirai (April 15-May 15), a strange
unexplained natural phenomena is observed here. During the hot summer month,
there are showers of fragrant rosewater from the two Amirthavarthini
trees in front of the Athiri Maharishi Temple. It is believed by religious
scholars that 35 Siddhars reside in the forests of the Athiri Hills in various
forms and it is these Siddhars who are responsible for the soothing rosewater
showers.
It is
believed that the Siddhars worship Lord Shiva by raining rosewater on his
temple. Research by the officials of the forest department, says that the
reason for these showers are the tiny insects found on this tree. The insects
suck rosewater from the barks of the trees and shower it as rain.
No one
has ever found out the reason for this mysterious phenomenon to occur only on
the same few days every year (The last five days of the Tamil month Panguni and
the first five days of the Tamil month Chithirai). It also occurs only on two
specific trees located to the east and west of the temple. It is truly baffling
to try to explain how these tiny insects are able to shower huge amounts of
rosewater.
Purity of the Waters of Athiri Ganga:
The holy
water from the stream Athiri Ganga never becomes stale when it is taken back
home and left in one’s Pooja room even for years. However it has been noticed
that if one touches the holy water with an impure hand, it at once turns stale
and begins to breed maggots.
Trekking
This
temple is located in a reserved forest area that comes under the jurisdiction
of the “Kalakad – Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary”. The trek begins at the
foothills of the Hills from the Kadana Dam and culminates at the temple for
Athiri Maharishi and Anusuya Devi. It can be reached within two hours on foot.
The trail is picturesque with the magnificent Western Ghats in the background. The
trek is not very steep and even beginners can handle it easily. Apart from few
short stretches that are steep, the rest of the path is pretty straightforward.
Halfway
through the trek you have to cross the Athiri Ganga River. The water is so
crystal clear that you can see the pebbles and fishes in the stream. A rope is
tied to two trees on either bank. People can hold the rope to cross the river
without difficulty. As you go deeper into the forest the foliage becomes denser
and darker. You can spot huge number of butterflies and large red and black
centipedes crawling on the ground.
Useful
Tips
·
People can visit the
temple only between 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Forest officials note down the name
of everyone who visits the temple.
·
Navigating through the
forest paths can be tricky for first timers. So it is advisable to join other
groups or people who have visited earlier. Be there around 9.00 a.m. so you can
join other groups.
·
You cannot carry plastics,
cameras, liquor bottles with you as this area falls under Reserve Forest cover.
·
Devotees usually visit the
temple on auspicious days like full moon day and new moon day and on weekends.
·
Do not litter.
· Make sure to wear the
proper attire and footwear as you will have to walk through deep vegetation.
·
Also it is advisable to
include a basic first aid kit in your backpack in case of any injury.
·
Carry a powerful torch as
parts of the trek are covered by the dense canopy of the tall evergreen trees
and are dark.
Connectivity
If you
are coming from Thirunelveli, then you can reach Azhwarkuruchi through any bus
to Tenkasi, via Cheranmahadevi. Once you reach Azhwarkuruchi you can hire an auto
to take you to the Kadana River Dam, the starting point for your trek to Athiri
Maharishi temple. From Tenkasi or Ambasamudram, you can reach the Kadana Dam
through mini-buses that go on this route. From the town of Alangulam, you can
reach Azhwarkuruchi through Pottal-Pudhur by taking a left turn at Idaikal
Vilaku.
Alwarkurichi
is located at about 14 Kms from Ambasamudram, 24 Kms from Tenkasi, 11 Kms from
Papanasam, 24 Kms from Veeravanallur, 60 Kms from Thirunelveli, 130 Kms from
Thiruvananthapuram and 200 Kms from Madurai. Buses plying from Thirunelveli to
Tenkasi stop at Alwarkurichi. Nearest Railway stations are located at Tenkasi, Veeravanallur
and Ambasamudram. Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.