27 Steps Around Nandikeshwara

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Thiruvannamalai is a sacred city, one that offers a home not just to us but also to wandering monks, Siddhars and many other celestials. The dominant and ever imposing hill that overlooks this little town appears like a sage in deep meditation, unmoved by all the earthly activity around him. Just standing at the side of the road and staring up at him gives a feeling of awe and inspires one towards spiritualism, towards a feeling of communion with the divine, a feeling that is spread all across the road of Girivalam that leads around it.

It was at these times that I took 27 rounds of circum-ambulation around Nandi, and finally whispered my wish into His ear.

27 rounds around Nandi was a small walk through my life. Nandi sat in silent meditation, dhyanam - a state of eternal bliss. A state I wonder whether I would ever achieve. It would be such intoxication to sit permanently in front of the Lord, facing him, a constant conversation in silence with no disturbance from the outside world. Nandi, silent in Dhyanam was probably unaware that I made silent rounds around Him wishing every minute I was in His place.

27 rounds, flashed my life around me, as I watched myself walk around the temple alone, in the darkness looking at ancient walls, whisper into my ears that there is a lot more within those walls and I have just about started to scratch the surface. Each step forward, felt like I was leaving the world of misery behind. Each breath was an experience, fresh and pure into a realm of the divine untouched.

27 rounds were watched by Sadhus around the temple wondering who I was and what I was doing. Every step increased the stress on the sacred mantras as I walked, almost making this prayer resonate along the walls of this little shrine. With the great hill of Thiruvannamalai silhouetted behind me, the air felt pure and clean to breathe.

27 rounds around an ancient temple that has been renovated a million times over and was now disfigured bearing no resemblance to its original self. Yet a silent aura around it brings back the rhythm of drums in my ears and makes my feet dance to its tunes. It was a dark evening, no moon, but enough light to give a feel of the hill towering behind me, protecting me from all known dangers.

27 rounds, each round appeared like worship to the 27 forms of the Lord, of which I have just begun to discover Him slowly, one after the other. Pleasant forms, fierce forms, meditative and enigmatic, all rolled into one. Lord Shiva sits there on his throne, on his peetha, gentle, caring, warm, forever protecting and calm. Silence drapes the walls of the temple, each tassel laced by moths and spider webs, permanent residents of this small heavenly abode. How I wish I could have remained here forever.

27 rounds around Nandikeshwara, one for each day of the month. As I walked around praying for peace in each day, the cool air descended onto this shrine and the lights went out. Nandikeshwara, glowed in the lamp light, a soft calmness to his face, as if he heard every prayer that I recited along the way. Such a moment of peace, and communion with divinity was not easy to find.

Finally I stood in front of Nandi, holding up my hands on his horns, and looking at the divine form of the Lord through the window of his heart as I placed my other hand above His tail. Oh Nandi, I wish to be as lucky as you some day. To stare at the Lord forever, in complete dhyanam, complete consciousness, this is what I wish for.

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