ja_mageia

Steep rock walls rise above from center of the city.  The cliffs around the mountain dwarf nearby buildings.  Two massive humps resemble a wide back and head.  Atop the head sits the famous pilgrimage destination of Trichy, short for Tiruchirappalli.  This temple sits central on the head and forms a magnificent crown. The trail leading to temple’s sanctum resembles the great sweeping trunk of Lord Ganesh.

Another day broke and surprisingly, the sun was out to greet us.  We were in Palani, a small town in South India and set to visit another temple of Lord Murugan.  The town of Palani is known well, both for the temple and for the challenging climb to reach it.  Pilgrims visiting here must battle steep and rocky stairs cut into the mountainside. With the sun beating down, we realized this morning would be tougher than we initially thought.  Swami remarked, that though the mountains of the north were thousands of miles away, we would be seeing another steep ascent. 

After spending a day and a half battling treacherous and flooded roads, the monsoon clouds seemed to break up in a very timely fashion.  It was just after dusk when we arrived at the Murugan temple in Thiruchendur.  Waves from the Indian Ocean were swelling and crashing on the sands below.  This was the fourth of six of Murugan’s abodes which Babaji had directed the group to visit.  Great blessings and even more surprises were again in store for everyone. Swamiji and Amma excitedly entered the seaside temple carrying everyone in their heart. 

More rain greeted us as we steped into the foggy morning.  Barefoot, we walked through a massive red stone archway.  Above this gate, a tower rose towards the clouds and displayed many traditional images and figures.  Walking in the mud, we were all silent, in preparation to visit the “Gate-keeper” of the Divine Mother.