We were all at the bus stand by 3:50 AM and were discussing loudly about the bus to board. Suddenly we heard the driver in the bus next to us ask us 'Are you going to Parvathamalai?'. We answered yes and told we are looking out for the bus to Then-maathi-mangalam. He informed that it is his bus that will take us there, but the name board was not Then-maathi-mangalam, so were confused. Then we told that the bus is expected to start at 4 AM. The bus dirver told that it is this bus and started to rev up the engine.
We were sort of not sure and wanted to take a calculated risk and got in, since after the 4 AM bus, it was 6:30 AM bus only that would take us there. On getting in we started chatting about where to get down and how to go further. Again, the lady in the seat before looked behind and asked us 'Are you going to Parvathamalai?'. How do categorize too much of these coincidences? All of us were in no mood to even appreciate His Kindness, rather were too involved in getting to know the route. This lady informed us that she has a shop atop Parvathamalai...! She told that we shd get down in 'Koot Road' and take a bus to 'Then-maathi-mangalam' and then walk towards Parvathamalai. She also got down at Koot Road and took the next bus along with us to 'Then-maathi-mangalam'. She got down earlier at Kadaladi and told that she will 'up-there' before we reach her place.
We got down in 'Then-maathi-mangalam' at 5 AM. There was a Selva-Vinayagar temple and Amman temple across the road. We went to Vinayagar temple and PSL Narayanan lit a camphor. Then we saw a dark image suddenly waking up, it was our 'Bhairavar'. Initially I did not much notice it, later I understood that the Bhairavar was there to guide us up the Parvathamalai...! Yes, this Bhairavar came with us till 'Kadapparai Malai'...! I was amazed with His Planning. He knew about arrival about the place of landing and the time of landing and had This Bhairavar wait for us...!
We went to the Amman temple and prayed there too and started walking. Bhairavar was leading us and we reached Pachiamman Temple. We prayed to the Amman and The Ayyanars there. There was Poondi Mahan photo there, before which I stood emotionally and requested Him to guide us all through. I felt like a school boy taking up some task which is just impossible by me but could be done only with His Blessings...!
We started walking further and reached Veerabadhra Swamy temple. We prayed there and went to Renugambal temple nearby. There was also 'Saptha Kannigai-gal' nearby. I had a bath in the water that was flowing there. This has to be done to rejuvanate yourself. Meanwhile, the poojari at Veerabadra Swamy temple had prepared Noi-kanji for us. We had good amount of kanji with keerai vadai. We rested for sometime there and started walking.
Near Veerabadra Swamy temple is the Vana Durgai temple, which also we visited and prayed. The prayer was the same everywhere, to guide us throughout...! The steps start near the Vana Durgai temple. This goes for 1.78 KM. We had a happy walk with needed breaks inbetween. After the concrete steps is the rock path. This is like Sathuragiri. Then you reach the Kadapparai Malai. The name has come because of the kadapparai struck on the rocks like jumpers. Since the climb is steep you shd hold these kadapparai one after the other to climb up. We prayed to Lord Shiva represented by a Lingam here. There is also a Pillaiyar before you step up on the Kadapparai Malai steps. These Gods give you the needed impetus to climb up.
My friend PSL Narayanan was behind me, doing all the needed guidance. He asked me hold the kadapparai tight, after going up a few steps. Then he told me 'Ram, look to your right, then look to your left, see what God has created for us'. Yes, it was an amazing sight. One has to be there to experience it. I just did what PSL Narayanan told me. I did not allow my mind to work, it was all my Heart at work...! It was just enjoying being there...! It was singing, it was dancing within all against the protests of the mind, which was scaring about the 3000ft down...!
(To be continued...!)
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