NE SPIRITUAL BUREAU
COIMBATORE, DEC 16
In a sweeping spiritual outreach ahead of the Mahashivaratri celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore, the Adiyogi Rath Yatra will traverse Tamil Nadu, carrying the message and darshan of Adiyogi Shiva to lakhs of devotees. The two-month-long pilgrimage, beginning December 17, will cover nearly 30,000 kilometres, pass through more than 1,000 villages and visit the revered Paadal Petra Shiva Temples sung in the Thevaram hymns.
The initiative is being jointly organised by Then Kailaya Bhakti Peravai and several traditional Adheenams of Tamil Nadu, marking a significant coming together of Shaiva institutions and grassroots devotees.
Addressing the media at a press conference held at the Coimbatore Press Club, Adiyar Valluvan of Then Kailaya Bhakti Peravai said the yatra is aimed at spiritually uniting devotees in the run-up to Mahashivaratri, which will be celebrated in a grand manner at the Isha Yoga Center on February 15.
“As Mahashivaratri at the Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore will be celebrated on a large scale, the Adiyogi Rath Yatra invites the public to participate in the festivities and offers darshan of Adiyogi to devotees who may not be able to travel to Coimbatore. While the yatra has been conducted annually, this year it is being organised jointly with the traditional Adheenams of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
- Statewide pilgrimage to Paadal Petra Shiva temples ahead of Isha Mahashivaratri
- Four regional yatras to unite lakhs of devotees across Tamil Nadu
- Sacred journey blends rath yatra, foot pilgrimage and Shaiva tradition
The Adiyogi Rath Yatra will be flagged off simultaneously in four regions of Tamil Nadu, with each regional journey inaugurated by the Guru Mahasannidhanams of the respective Adheenams. Each ratham is specially designed to carry a seven-foot idol of Adiyogi Shiva, symbolising the presence of Kailasa moving through towns and villages.
The West Zone Adiyogi Rath Yatra will be inaugurated on December 17 in front of the Adiyogi statue in Coimbatore by Marudachala Adigalar of Perur Adheenam and Kumaragurubara Swamigal of Siravai Adheenam.
As the rathams pass through villages and temple towns, they are expected to receive a devotional welcome from local dignitaries, Shiva devotees and residents. Devotees will have the opportunity to offer deeparadhana, flowers, fruits and naivedyam to Adiyogi.
Running parallel to the Rath Yatra is the annual “Shiva Yatra,” a foot pilgrimage undertaken by Shivanga devotees. Participants from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka will pull chariots carrying the idol of Adiyogi Shiva, along with a separate chariot bearing the idols of the 63 Nayanmars, culminating their journey at Adiyogi in Coimbatore.
Then Kailaya Bhakti Peravai is a collective of Shiva devotees known as Shivangas, engaged in sustained spiritual and service-oriented activities. These include Uzhavara Pani (temple cleaning), Arupathu Moovar Velvi, recitation of Thevaram and Thiruvachagam, the Adiyogi Rath Yatra and the Shiva Yatra.
As the Adiyogi Rath Yatra rolls across sacred geographies and living traditions, it seeks to rekindle Shaiva devotion, connect ancient temple heritage with contemporary seekers, and spiritually unite Tamil Nadu in the lead-up to Mahashivaratri.
