2. This Photo Journal is dedicated to
• Mrs. Vimala Sreedharan, who encouraged my visit to
Maruthwã-mala, the holy hill. Her countless visits to the
‘ashram’ at the foot of the hill have all gone without her
once trekking to the hilltop. Her faith in Narayana Guru’s
wisdom took her back to the foot of the hill each time.
• To the elderly ones who might hold the desire to trek
Maruthwã-mala, but health and other limiting circumstances
might not permit the climb up this hill.
• And, to all those inspired by Narayana Guru’s remarkable
humanistic philosophy of oneness, to who this holy hill will
remain - the unconquered mountain of mystique.
3. Maruthwãmala area is marked with an arrow on the map of the Southern tip if the Indian
peninsula.
4. Traditionally, realistic paintings, charcoal
sketches and sculpture were the popular
methods to create iconography.
Sree Narayana Guru’s birth in the mid-19th
century AD coincided with inventions and
development of photography as a popular
new medium for picturisation.
Maruthwãmala is the last hill on the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. Just 6 Kms from
Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin). Image sourced from Google Maps.
5. A hill made of matter, mind, or both?
Maruthwã-mala
After years of austere penance and meditation in the
breezy rock-cave atop this hill, the dawn of Absolute
consciousnesses was experienced by Narayana Guru -
saint, poet and humanist philosopher (1856~1928).
Maruthwã-mala to Narayana Guru is like Bodhgaya to
Gautama Buddha.
6. The name ‘Maruthwã-mala’ originates from the Tamil
language. In ancient times the hill was known as
‘marunthu vazhum malai’ meaning - ‘the hill where
medicines thrive’.
The Last HillThe Last Hill
Indian mythology and legends attribute the hill to be a
part fallen off Sanjeevi, the mountain of medicinal
herbs, carried by Hanuman from the Himalayas to
Srilanka - medicines for healing the fatal wounds of
Lakshmana the brother of Rama, the hero of the
ancient Indian epic Ramayana.
7. Maruthwã-mala has been the spiritual abode
of the saints and seekers of Truth from
legendary to near recent times.
The hill is at the southern tip of the Indian
peninsula, surrounded by the Bay of Bengal
on the east, the Indian Ocean on the south
and the Arabian sea on the west.
The Last HillThe Last Hill
8. Maruthwãmala is the last hill on the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. Just 6 KM from
Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin).
9. On the approach road to the foot of Maruthwãmala. We see buildings at various levels on the
lower hillsides . These appear to be temples.
10. Maruthwãmala hill has a few buildings, including small shrines, on the lower levels.
11. Buildings and temples at various levels on the lower hillsides of Maruthwãmala. The trekking
trails are on the western and southern sides of the hill.
12. A close-up shot of buildings and temples at various levels on the lower hillsides of
Maruthwãmala.
13. A wandering mendicant. We initially met him at the foot of the hill and later on the peak. On
his first visit to destination Marutwa-mala, as one of the four holy hills of the South.
18. Initially the road is paved leading a to set of steps. At this point the trek appeared simple. Our
thinking was that there were steps - all the way up! The steps end in no time.
19. To the right of the trail, this seemed to be a small Hanuman temple. Now abandoned. This is
just a few meters up from ground zero.
20. Looking back. A small hillock at the foot of Maruthwa-mala. As the climb progresses this
hillock becomes smaller and an indicator of the viewing elevation.
22. From the foot of the hill two friendly dogs joined us as our guides. Uninvited, they took over
the responsibility of leading us up the hill, patiently waiting at each stop on the uphill trek.
26. The lower level cave, just a few meters above sea level. Narayana Guru and Chattampi
Swamikal have used this cave for meditation. The main cave is close to the peak of the hill.
27. A visitor in meditation in the lower level cave.
28. View of the entrance from inside the lower level cave.
30. Our guide dog reacts to more climbers who, she has sensed, are coming up the hill behind us.
She barks off, warning us of intruders into our trekking territory.
68. A zoomed in view of the Cape Comorin area on the South. The Vivekananda Rock and the
towering statue of Thiruvalluvar are visible in silhouettes. It is a hazy morning.
74. The downward entrance to the level of the cave floor. One has to climb down the hole to
reach the cave, which is open towards the side of Arabian Sea on the West.
75. Inside view of the cave where Narayana Guru spent long durations in meditation, leading up
to his enlightenment.
82. View of the world below. View from the main cave atop Maruthwãmala. No wonder
man’s differences on the ground had not relevance from this perspective!
83. At the peak of Maruthwãmala. The cave is just below this level. The flat rock
formation on the right serves as the roof of the cave right below.
84. At the peak of Maruthwãmala. One level above the cave. The flat rock formation in
the centre serves as the roof of the cave right below.
85. View to the Western Ghats in the background. This view is possible only from the peak of
Maruthwãmala as the trekking trails are all on the south-western side of the hill.
86. View from the peak of Maruthwãmala. The flags that we saw from down below.
87. A windmill farm in the valley below. This is the Eastern view of Tamil Nadu to the side of town
of Ambasamudram.