History

Pavazhakundru is a sacred site of worship in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, India, which holds Devi’s energy in the form of a small hillock. It is also the location of Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s enlightenment.

His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda describes the sacred hillock in His own words:

“On pournami (full moon) day… It is Subramanya’s enlightenment day also. As per the tradition, this is the day Subramanya appeared, so it is considered to be the birthday of Subramanya. He appeared from the third eye of Mahādeva.

On this very day, in the evening, I went to Arunācala hill. At the foothills of Arunācala, there is a hillock called Kumaran Kundram. It was locally called Pavazhakundru or Coral rock. This is the rock on which I was sitting. It is a very beautiful place, a very powerful place, where Devi herself became enlightened! It is the place where Devi Parvati did tapas (penance) and became enlightened, so there is still an Ardhanareeshwara (deity representing union of Shiva and Parvati) temple there. The place has a strong connection with the spiritual energy.

As usual, I went and sat on one rock. It was just casual… usually I would sit here, there, here, there. Somehow, that day, I sat on one rock – which has become a teerthakshetra (pilgrimage spot) now for all our devotees and disciples! Whenever I found the time, I will go and spend time in that space, in that area, because Devi became enlightened there.  My Guru Vibhutānanda Puri always used to say, ‘This is Devi’s energy space, Devi’s energy field.’  So I always used to go and sit there.”

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

The hillock is an extension of the Arunachala Hill, the hill considered to be the physical form of Mahadeva, Shiva Himself, and the sacred hill is known as an incubator for Avatars to land on planet earth.

Pavazhakundru was where Paramahamsa Nithyananda’s first ashram was built with dedication and love by one of His Gurus, an elderly female sanyasi (Hindu monk) named Mataji Vibhudananda Puri, lovingly called Kuppammal. This ashram was called Adhi Nithyananda Peetham.

His Divine Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda describes:

“I didn’t have a clear future defined for me by my Gurus.  They were already old. They know and I know they will not be alive when I grow up.  One of my Gurus, Vibhudananda Puri, I have seen, she will go house to house, door to door, for building the first ashram she built for me.  Door to door, house to house!  Actually, she had some of her followers; means, to whom she has given Sri Vidya initiation.  She was an elderly sannyasini [female Hindu monk]. So, whoever got healed by her Vaak Siddhi, she will go to them and ask them to keep a handful of rice.  She will keep that for a few months and then sell it and collect the money and build an ashram for me, my first ashram.  I asked her, ‘Why are you doing this in this old age?’  She said, ‘No, no, I will not be here for a long time.  So, when I go, you will need shelter.  I know you will bring thousands, but I should leave at least one shelter for you.’  Exactly the same spot where I became enlightened, where I got the enlightenment experience, just near that rock she built the first ashram for me.  She said, ‘I cannot do much, but I will do at least this one small roof.’  I said, ‘What will I do with this roof?  I don’t even have a latrine, bathroom there!’  She was laughing!  ‘Alright, whatever I can do, I will do.’  I tell you, she gave me a million times more than any property or ashram.  Now it is more of sentimental value.”

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

The official statement made by Matha Vibhutananda Puri on the date that is written in the letter “May 24, 1994” when she initiated him into the Arunachala Lineage.

It translates to…

I Brahma Yogini Vibuthai, who has attained the elevated state by the grace of Maha. Lu. Lu. Sri Sri Sri La Sri Panchamukha Yogi Brahmarishi Isakki Maha Munivar, hereby formally adopt my loving Rajashekaran, son of Lokanayaki and Arunachalam in this year, on the 10th day of the Tamil month – Vaikasi, on the Vishaka star, on Full Moon day – Tuesday, as my only disciple and initiate him with the title Brahmasukhi. Truly, Vibhuthai alias Kuppammal Brahma Yogini, Disciple of Isakki Munivar 25.04.1994

Vibhutananda Puri and Paramahamsa Nithyananda with a backdrop of Arunachala.

The Arunachala Lineage is a single guru and disciple lineage that traces back to Idaikar himself, the first ever Incarnation of Sadashiva who lived in the foothills of the divine hill Arunachala. That lineage comes down through the years and ends with Isakki Swamigal whose disciple was Matha Vibhutananda Puri,. In 1994, Vibhutananda Puri Initiated Paramahamsa Nithyananda into sanyas and officially recognized that he is her disciple and the one who is next in the lineage. Isakki Swamigal, Matha Vibhutananda Puri and Swamiji seated in the place of “Panchamugam”, over the years showing the descending lineage. They also have the items passed on to them upon initiation into the lineage.

Enlightenment Experience

In 1989, this sacred hillock was where Paramahamsa Nithyananda had His first enlightenment experience. It was a full moon day, He had a profound realisation of His Self. He was 12 years old at the time.

In His words:

“I had my first spiritual experience at the age of twelve. Let me describe the incident to you. I was sitting on a rock called Pavazhakundru – the Holy Rock – on the Arunachala Hill, and meditating. I was meditating for a long time that day. I was looking into myself to see where thoughts were coming from. I was actually playing with this technique, when a strange experience happened. It was on Buddha Purnima day – full moon day – in the month of Vaikasi – May-June – as per the Tamil calendar, and evening sunset period.

In the midst of this meditation, I felt something opening up within Me; something was getting crushed, something else was getting created. It was like a vessel inside getting broken and a door opening, both together at the same time. It was a feeling of creation and destruction at the same time; and a very pleasurable feeling.

Even with my eyes closed, I could see all around. I did not need my eyes to be open to see. Not just that, I had a 360-degree vision with my eyes closed. With equal clarity, I could see the hill in front, the temple behind, the rock below, the stars above, the trees to the left, part of the hill to the right, all these were in my visionary field, without having to open my eyes!

At that moment, I awakened to the realization that I was one with the whole of Existence and everything was I! It was as if this tree in front of me became my bone and this thatch above became my nerves!”

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

This place is regarded as a sacred spot, where devotees and disciples of Paramahamsa Nithyananda offer puja to the hillock every day. A trishul stands at the spot, marking it as a place of worship.

Legal Ownership

The place where this hillock is located is legally owned by Paramahamsa Nithyananda and His organisation. It is called Sadashiva Shila – the hillock is a deity of Mahasadashiva Himself. These are the documents showing this: