Planet: Raghu (“Dragon’s Head” or “North Lunar Node”), Direction: South West
Nirudhi Lingam is set back from the road. It is about 1 km from Yama Lingam, after Pradakshina Road turns right and separates from Chengam Road.
On the sala gopura is a typical image for these lingams, this time showing Nirudhi worshiping Siva and Parvati.
Saran said that Nirudhi was the son of a local king that had great devotion for Siva.
Next to the lingam is this beautiful tank, still very much in use.
In the next stage of your life, now as an adult, you need to be straightforward and honest, to follow your dharma. Now the days of childhood and as a student are over, and you need to make the right start of your life. Worship of this lingam helps you do this.
Traditional meaning
Nirudhi Lingam helps with health, wealth and fame. Couples who want children are helped to get them.
Nirudhi is also said to be the king of the Asuras (demons), and he jointly rules the southern realm along with his friend, Yama. He is known to be the governor of the emotions and sentiments which create worldly desires in humans and enchain them to the cycle of birth and death. Nevertheless, by worshiping Nirudhi lingam in Arunachala, it is believed that he will actually help in getting renunciation or detachment which is the way to liberation.
How to get there:
The temple is located on the 4.5 kms west from Arunachaleshwarar temple.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9aaxkfZR3XKxoodi8
About Asta Lingams of Arunachala
The Asta Lingams of Arunachala, the eight special Siva lingams that encircle the holy hill, are old features, dating back hundreds of years. It is said that visiting and worshiping these lingams brings great spiritual benefit. For the millions of people who, each year during the full moon nights, perform Arunachala Girivalam (also called Pradakshina, spiritual circumambulation), praying at these Asta Lingams is a major element of their experience.
Each of these eight lingams has a presiding star and is named for a God or Rishi that worshiped Siva (from this very location, it is often said). Each has a specific spiritual attribute. Each can provide assistance with some kind of major life issue, or illness. You can find out a lot about them by Googling “asta lingam.”
Recently Carol and I were given a tour of these lingams by Saran, a local man who we think is the best of the Arunachala guides. He grew up living on the side of Arunachala, deeply loves this holy hill, and is steeped in local knowledge and traditions. He gave us a way of approaching the Asta Lingams that I don’t find on the web or in books. This is a deep local tradition about how to use worship and prayer at these sacred lingams for and in your life.
Below is a map of the Asta Lingams (double click to enlarge):
History of the Asta Lingams of Arunachala
The Giripradakshina route for Arunachala was set a few hundred years ago, by a Pandyan king, Vikkirama Pandya, I think a bit before 1200 CE. The creation of the Asta Lingams is shrouded by time and myth. Saran told us a story of their creation that we had never heard.
Saran said that the locations were set on a specific astrological day, based on positions of the planets known as the Navagrahas, the Nine Planets, around Arunachala. There is a belief that one’s life is controlled by the Nine Planets. Each of the lingams stands for one of these planets, all surrounding (and worshipping) the “ninth planet,” Arunachala itself. In your life you are said to pass through each of the Navagrahas to the next. Worship of the Asta Lingams helps you move through the planetary cycles of your life.
The placement was done by a famous siddhar of Tiruvannamalai, about 500 years ago. The story goes that all of the planets, to worship Lord Siva, came around Arunachala. The siddhar could feel the energy from the planets, and located each lingam where their energy was the greatest.
