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.
🔜 Coming Next: Palani – More Than Just a Climb
Beyond The Horizon 