Greatness of Arunachala

Sri Annamalai Swami

A few months later B spoke again about the greatness of Arunachala.

'This hill is not one which was formed at a certain time and which will be destroyed at another time. It is a swayambu lingam. The word lingam can be subdivided: ling (union) and gam (that which forms. This hill is not really on earth. All the heavenly bodies are attached to it. The name of that which is the source of both arising and subsiding is lingam.'

'The stories of the puranas say that God collects the dust of the feet of his devotees in a boc. Then, wrapping this dust in silk, he is said to do pooja to it. He does so to show that he is the devotee of his devotees. He says, "I praise him who praises me in this world."