Nandin of Arunachala EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Jamaraja: I'm sorry, but nearly all forests in Arunachala are closed now. If situation will change I will be happy to restore this extraodinery cache

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Hidden : 3/7/2010
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Significant rock formation in the form of bull head

The Arunachala hill has been certified by geologists to be one of the oldest rock formations in the world. The Hill was created 3000 - 3500 milions years ago. Arunachala should have been thrown up by the earth under the stress of some violent volcanic eruption in the dim ages before even the coal-bearing strata were formed. This rocky mass of granite may be dated back to the earliest epoch of the history of our planet's crust, that epoch which long preceded the vast sedimentary formation in which fossil records of plants and animals have been preserved. It existed long before the gigantic saurians of the pre-historic world moved their ungainly forms through the primeval forests that covred our early earth. It was contemporaneous with the formation of the very crust of earth itself.

Thus testifying to its attributed ancientness in the puranas. Lord Siva, in order to humble the pride of gods Vishnu and Brahma, rose as a column of light, the top and bottom of which the two Gods went in search of. But in vain and hence humbled, they surrendered to Siva who, after blessing them, promised that He would abide as a hill in place of the column of light as also as a Linga representing fire at the base of the hill. The Arunachala hill is therefore supposed to be Lord Siva Himself and for this reason is believed to be more sacred than Mount Kailash which is only Siva’s abode.
Nandi Darshan
It is necessary that every Siva form has his own form of Nandin. Nandin is the bull, which Siva use as his vehicle and Nandin is also the nearest devotee of Siva. Arunachala has Nandin in a form of a rock formation upon of one hillock joined to main peak of Arunchala. This rock has distinct shape of bull head from both sides and it is one of many others wonders of this hill.
Access to the Nandin rock is very dificult. There is no way so you have to go throught high grass, thorny bushes steep rocks and many big stones. Thanks to a tree plantation was access better, but to get there and back took me two and half hours and after some time there will be new grass and trees. I wanted to find some better way when I was going down, so I followed some cleared strip which took me quite easily to the monsoon stream bed, but from there was really big problem to escape back to civilisation. Spoiler shows my way up and down and recomended way from Google Earth, check it first in Google Earth before starting the hunt.
You will need good shoes, long trousers and sleeves and if you have machete you will surely find the use for it. The Sun in South India is strong nearly always so don't forger some water and a cap or a scarf to cover your head.

For log you need fulfill this two points (and half )
a) on main coordinates you will find smaller rock close to then left Nandin nostril, check altitude there
b) estimate heigth of Nandin head from bottom of nose to the top from main coordinates
Send answers in meters for a) and b) to me via my profile

There is probably some new rule I cannot require attaching picture to the log but it will be highly appreciated if you attach picture which clearly prove you have been close to the Nandin rock, the best is you (or at least your GPS unit) and Nandin

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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