Palamaram Ashram and Cave, on Aruanchala by karthigainathan

PALAMARAM ASHRAM AND CAVE ON ARUANCHALA

Exploring Arunachala, Carol and I came across another cave, one under a rock that has a shrine and ashram built around it. We were told by the Arunachala Mountain Guide, Saran, who grew up near this spot, that this is called Palamaram Ashram and is ‘generations’ old and has been run by one family for these generations. Palamaram is the Tamil word for ‘jackfruit’ (but we did not see a jackfruit tree). The guru who was most recently active here, per Saran, was Palamaram Swamy, who was here for 40 years and for the last 15 years has been in the Himalayas. He said the Ashram is presently handled by Srinivasam.

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Guhai Namasivaya Temple by Karthigainathan

Guhai Namasivaya is known to have been born around the year AD 1548 in Karnataka to a pious Saiva couple. According to his somewhat hagiographical biography, his spiritual nature became evident at an early age: he was virtuous in his conduct, adept at his studies and evinced no attachment to worldly matters. Feeling a great longing to receive the grace of the Lord, he embarked at an early age upon a search that led him to Sivananda Desikar, a famous Guru who lived at Sri Sailam. He became a disciple of this Guru and began to serve him with fervent and selfless devotion.

Guhai Namasivaya Temple and cave

Samadhi of Guhai Namasivaya

samadhi

After saying these words, he descended into the samadhi pit and seated himself in the full-lotus position.

Samadhi of Guhai Namasivaya Puja items

Samadhi of Guhai Namasivaya

Over the centuries, many saints and sages have been drawn to Arunachala. The Saivite saints Manickavachagar, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar are four examples. In the fifteenth century, Guhai Namasivaya, Guru Namasivaya and Virupaksha Deva came from Karnatka and settled on Arunachala. Saint Namasivaya lived in one of Arunachala's caves which is still known by his name. Virupaksha Deva lived in an Om-shaped cave higher up on the Hill, and this cave too still bears his name. Located on the south-east slope of Arunachala, this was the cave that Sri Ramama maharhi lived in from 1899 to 1916.

Mandapam

Guhai Namasivaya mandapam

Guhai Namasivaya mandapam

Nandi mandapam

Nandi mandapam

Through the gate, the priest motions for us to enter.

Guhai Namasivaya mandapam

The open cave

Guhai Namasivaya cave

The open cave door beckons

And stairs leading up to a cave.

Guhai Namasivaya cave

Guhai Namasivaya

Guhai Namasivaya

Guhai Namasivaya is known to have been born around the year AD 1548 in Karnataka to a pious Saiva couple. According to his somewhat hagiographical biography, his spiritual nature became evident at an early age: he was virtuous in his conduct, adept at his studies and evinced no attachment to worldly matters. Feeling a great longing to receive the grace of the Lord, he embarked at an early age upon a search that led him to Sivananda Desikar, a famous Guru who lived at Sri Sailam. He became a disciple of this Guru and began to serve him with fervent and selfless devotion.

Guhai Namasivaya

The only known image of Guhai Namasivaya. It comes from a granite, bas-relief that is located in the rear of a mantapam that adjoins the cave where Guhai Namasivaya was interred.