Sadhguru tells the story of Velliangiri – The Kailash of the South

“Why would a mountain become sacred? I am calling this Mountain (referring to the Velliangiri Mountains) sacred not because it’s hard to climb. For many, these Mountains became sacred because a long time ago, there was a young maiden in the southernmost tip of India, who aspired to hold Shiva’s hand as his wife. She started working towards making herself suitable to draw him, and she remained absolutely focused upon him. She set up a deadline, ‘If I am not married to him by sunrise on this day, I am going to leave my body.’ Shiva came to know of this and started hurrying down to South India. But all the other gods conspired. They thought, if he gets married here, he may not return. He may start living in South India. When Shiva was just a few kilometers from the place where the maiden was, the gods created a false sunrise by setting up a huge mound of camphor. When the light came up, Shiva who was so close, just 22 kilometers away, thought it was over and turned back. So the maiden left her body standing. Even today she stands as Kanyakumari. There is a shrine at the very tip of the Indian landmass which is the maiden’s shrine.
So Shiva turned back, despondent and frustrated with himself for not having made it in time. He started walking back and he needed a place to sit and work out his despondency. So he climbed up this Mountain and at the peak, he sat. It is a very strange kind of place because he was not sitting here in blissfulness, he was not sitting in meditation, he sat here in a certain kind of despondence and anger about himself. He stayed there for a considerable amount of time, and wherever Shiva stepped and spent a little bit of time, people called that place Kailash. So they called this the ‘Kailash of the South.’ It is a fortune that we are sitting here at the foothills of this Mountain.

“It’s not just mountains. This is a temple for us.”

This Mountain is known as the Seven Hills because if you climb, there are seven undulations which make you feel like you are going up seven hills. The last peak is totally wind-blown – nothing grows there except grass. There are just three very huge boulders which have formed a shelter between themselves which is like a little temple with a small lingam. It is an incredibly powerful place.
So many beings, the kind of men that Gods would be envious of because they lived with such grace and dignity, have walked this Mountain. These great beings let the whole Mountain imbibe what they knew, and it can never be lost. This is also a Mountain where my Guru walked and the place he chose to shed his body. So for me and everybody here, it’s not just mountains, this is a temple for us. There is a tremendous amount of information here and for me, everything about how to consecrate the Dhyanalinga, was from here.”

Shivapadam – Take a residence at the Velliangiri Foothills, at Shiva’s feet

Isha Foundation is offering individual residential accommodation for Isha meditators who wish to reside at the foothills of these sacred Mountains and imbibe the tremendous possibilities that they represent. This residential facility will provide a comfortable and personal space for seekers while creating a rare opportunity to focus on sadhana in a space graced by the Presence of the Dhyanalinga and an Enlightened Master.

Being at the foothills of Velliangiri is not very different from being at the feet of Shiva. The cascade of energy that this mountain bears is a privilege beyond compare.

- Sadhguru

Thenkailaya Yatra

To provide people with the opportunity to experience the life-transforming power and energy of these Mountains, the Thenkailaya Bhakthi Peravai – a non-profitable charitable trust created by devotees of the Velliangiri Mountains, organises the day-long Thenkailaya Yatra to the Seventh Hill. The yatra through the dense forests of these hills, makes one available to the mystical essence that pervades every rock and crevice of these sacred hills.