Beyond The Horizon

Tag: god

  • Pazhamudircholai: The Best 5 Minutes of My Pilgrimage

    Pazhamudircholai: The Best 5 Minutes of My Pilgrimage

    By the time I made my way to Pazhamudircholai, my Arupadai Veedu pilgrimage was already filled with unforgettable experiences.

    But little did I know that some of my most meaningful moments were still waiting for me.

    The journey to Pazhamudircholai was not an easy one.

    When we arrived near the area, the roads were heavily congested. The crowd was enormous, and traffic had come to a standstill near Kallalagar Temple and 18 Padi Karuppanaswamy Temple.

    We soon realised that driving up to Pazhamudircholai was not going to be possible.

    So, I made a decision. I would walk. Barefoot.

    The journey that followed tested me both physically and mentally.

    Around 8 kilometres in total. Part of it through the forest. Part of it along the road.

    The sun was blazing above, and there were moments when I questioned whether I should continue.

    But something inside me kept moving forward.

    Step by step. Prayer by prayer.

    Looking back now, I realise that some journeys teach us more than the destination ever could.

    Eventually, I reached Pazhamudircholai.

    Despite the crowds outside, there was something peaceful about being there.

    Nature surrounded the temple.

    Monkeys moved freely through the area, and I even spent some time feeding them.

    There was a beautiful connection between faith and nature that made the place feel special.

    I also visited Noopura Gangai.

    There were so many devotees waiting to collect the sacred water that I couldn’t spend much time there, but it was still a blessing to visit.

    As the day continued, I made my way for darshan.

    By then, it was nearing closing time.

    And perhaps that was part of Murugan’s plan.

    The crowds inside had reduced significantly.

    For the first time that day, everything felt calm.

    What happened next became one of the most memorable moments of my entire pilgrimage.

    I was able to sit directly in front of Lord Murugan.

    Not for a few seconds. Not for a quick glimpse.

    But for almost five minutes.

    Five minutes may not sound like much.

    But those five minutes felt timeless.

    I sat quietly. I prayed. I looked at him.

    And for those few moments, nothing else mattered.

    The long walk, The traffic, The heat, The challenges of the day.

    Everything disappeared, I felt connected, I felt his presence.

    I felt an energy that is difficult to put into words.

    Even now, when I think about Pazhamudircholai, I don’t first remember the forest, the crowd, or the walk.

    I remember those five minutes.

    The best five minutes of my pilgrimage.

    As I made my way back down, a gentle drizzle began to fall.

    After the heat and effort of the day, it felt like a blessing.

    Almost as if nature itself was reminding me that every challenge has its reward.

    Pazhamudircholai taught me something important.

    Sometimes the journey will be difficult, sometimes you’ll feel tired,Sometimes you’ll even feel like giving up.

    But when you trust the journey and keep moving forward, the destination becomes even more meaningful.

    And for me, the reward was five unforgettable minutes with Murugan.

    Muruga 🙏

    🔜 Part 5: Tirupparankunram – A Sacred Pause on My Pilgrimage

  • Part 3: Palani – More Than Just a Climb

    Part 3: Palani – More Than Just a Climb

    After the emotional experience at Swamimalai, my Arupadai Veedu pilgrimage continued to Palani.

    Among all the sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, Palani was one I had always wanted to visit. As I stood at the foot of the hill early that morning, I couldn’t help but think of Batu Caves in Malaysia. There was a familiar feeling, yet I knew this experience would be very different.

    It was around 7 a.m., and the temple was already crowded.

    I later learned it was a period similar to a mini Thaipusam celebration, and devotees were arriving in large numbers.

    As I looked up towards the temple, one thing crossed my mind.

    “Today, I will climb.”

    I was already experiencing some knee pain, and part of me wondered how the climb would go.

    But something interesting happened.

    With every step, I found myself chanting Murugan’s name.

    Step by step. Prayer by prayer.

    Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking about the pain.

    My focus shifted completely to the journey.

    The climb became more than a physical effort.

    It became part of the pilgrimage itself.

    By the time I reached the top, I felt tired, but at the same time, incredibly grateful.

    Then came the darshan. The crowd was intense.

    Devotees were constantly moving, and many people barely had a few seconds before being guided forward.

    I expected the same thing to happen to me.

    I thought I would get one quick glimpse of Lord Murugan and be asked to move on.

    But something happened that I will never forget.

    As I stood before Palani Andavar, everything seemed to slow down.

    I saw him in his Andi Kolam, simple yet powerful.

    People were moving around me, yet somehow nobody pushed me.

    Nobody rushed me.

    Nobody asked me to move forward immediately.

    For those few moments, it felt like there was only Murugan and me.

    I looked at him. I prayed. And tears filled my eyes.

    After waiting years to begin this pilgrimage, after the climb, after the journey, I was finally standing before him.

    I still get goosebumps when I think about that moment.

    It’s difficult to explain.

    Some experiences cannot be described with words.

    They can only be felt.

    When I eventually left the temple, I felt happy, peaceful, and deeply grateful.

    I offered my prayers.

    I thanked Murugan for allowing me to be there.

    And I left with something special, a small statue of Palani Andavar and a Vel that I still treasure today.

    Looking back, Palani was never just about climbing a hill.

    It was about faith.

    It was about perseverance.

    And it was a reminder that some moments happen exactly when they are meant to.

    Everything happens for a reason.

    And for me, Palani was one of those moments.

    Muruga🙏

    🔜 Pazhamudircholai: Where Faith Meets Nature

  • Part 2: Swamimalai: Where My Arupadai Veedu Journey Truly Began

    Part 2: Swamimalai: Where My Arupadai Veedu Journey Truly Began

    After arriving in Tamil Nadu and finally beginning my long-awaited Arupadai Veedu pilgrimage, my first stop was Swamimalai.

    I had heard about this sacred place from someone close to me, Sandhya. One story she shared always stayed with me, how Lord Murugan, as Swaminathaswamy, sat on his father Lord Shiva’s lap and explained the meaning of the sacred Pranava Mantra, “Om.” I found that story both fascinating and inspiring. The more I heard about Swamimalai, the more I wanted to visit this sacred temple for myself.

    As I made my way towards the temple that morning, I felt a sense of gratitude.

    After waiting three years for this pilgrimage, I was finally here.

    I remember pausing for a moment and thinking how blessed I was to set foot on this sacred land.

    The journey that had lived in my thoughts for so long had finally become reality.

    After entering the temple, I obtained a special darshan ticket and made my way inside.

    Even now, I can clearly remember what happened next.

    As I approached the sanctum, one of the priests called me and asked me to sit and pray.

    It was an unexpected moment.

    With so many devotees around, I never expected to be given the opportunity to sit quietly in front of Lord Murugan.

    As I sat there, I gazed upon Swaminathaswamy, beautifully adorned with garlands and sacred decorations.

    For a few moments, everything else faded away.

    There was no rush.

    There were no distractions.

    There was only me and Murugan.

    I had waited three years for this moment.

    Three years of hoping.

    Three years of planning.

    Three years of wondering if I would ever complete this pilgrimage.

    And now, I was finally here.

    As I prayed, tears slowly filled my eyes.

    I felt goosebumps.

    I felt an energy that is difficult to explain.

    To be honest, words cannot fully describe what I felt during that moment.

    Those who have experienced something similar may understand.

    It was not sadness.

    It was not excitement.

    It was something deeper.

    A feeling of gratitude.

    A feeling of fulfilment.

    A feeling that a dream had finally come true.

    Looking back, that moment remains one of the most memorable experiences of my entire pilgrimage.

    Not because of the temple’s architecture.

    Not because of the crowd.

    But because of what I felt while sitting there in prayer.

    Sometimes, we spend years waiting for something.

    And when it finally happens, we realise that every delay, every obstacle, and every challenge was part of the journey.

    As I left Swamimalai that day, I carried with me a peaceful heart and a grateful mind.

    My Arupadai Veedu pilgrimage had truly begun.

    The beginning of a pilgrimage, the fulfilment of a dream, and a moment I will never forget. 🙏✨

    🔜 Coming Next: Palani – More Than Just a Climb