Devotees leave for lighting Vallalar flame at Hot village

Chennai, Aug 16: A little over 50 devotees of the city-based Gnanalaya Vallalar Kottam today left for annual yatra to light the holy Vallalar flame (deepam) atop the Hot village at Samoli in Gharwal district of Uttranchal in the Himalayan region.

Swamy Thirugnananantha, founder Kottam Chairman, who led the yatra told newspersons before boarding the Grand Trunk Express at the Chennai Central Railway that the Vallalar flame to be lit on August 21, atop the Hot village and situated 12,000 feet above the sea-level was called ''Tharagavan'' during the vedic period. Even now learned veda scholors live in this village, he added.

He said Rishis, who lived in Tharagavan were proud of their veda knowledge and Lord Siva descended in the form of a beggar to destroy their ego and gave darshan to them as ''Jothi Lingam.'' The mountain was also called ''Jothiarvathm,'' he said and claimed that it was the only place in the Himalayan region which had 23 varieties of ''Maha vilva'' trees.

He said devotees from all over the country, who participated in the yatra last year lit the flame and prayed for the well-being of humanity.

The Swamigal pointed out that soon after lighting the flame, the participants would be taken for a pilgrimage to Badrinath, Jothirmutt, Atirimaharishi Temple, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Kasi and other places.

He said the holy yatra would conclude on September one at Vadalur Gnanasabai in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

UNI