The Hari-Hara run

Legend

Legend is that Doumaya Maharshi's son Vyakrapandan a great devotee of Lord Shiva had to be invited for Aswamedayagam. Lord Krishna engaged Bhima for this task while giving him 12 Shivlingams. Sri Krishna also directed Bhima to chant the names of Lord Vishnu while he meets Vyakrapadan. Hearing the chants of  'Govinda, Gopala', Vyakrapadan who disliked Vishnu devotees, chased Bhima. Bhima dropped the Lingams one by one on his way, and it is believed that they later became the twelve Shivalayams. The ottam ends at Thirunattalam which has a shrine for Shiva and Vishnu suggesting both are the manifestations of the same divinity.

Deity - Temples

Deity:- Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu

Temples Covered:-  The 12 Temples are

Thiruppanricode Mahadevar Temple
Thirunattalam Sankaranarayanan Temple
Sree Neelakanda Swamy Temple, Thiruvithamcode
Thiruvidaicode Mahadevar Temple
Thirumelancode Kaalakaalar Temple
Thiruparappu Mahadevar Temple
Thirumalai Mahadevar Temple
Thikkurichi Mahadevar Temple
Thirunanthikarai Mahadevar Temple
Ponmanai Thimbileshwarar Temple
Pannipagam Mahadevar Temple
Kalkulam Neelakandeswarar Temple

Climate

The weather during Shivaratri which falls during Feb-March is pleasant with temperatures in the hight twenties.

Auspicious Days

Shivratri is a major festival in the Shiva temples and the Shivalaya ottam is undertaken on this auspicious day

Best time to Travel

The Shivalaya ottam is done on the day of Maha Shivratri.

Darshan Info Clock Duration
The journey has to be done in 24 hours.

Yatra Preparations

Before the ottam, the devotees observe three days to one week of fast. Tender coconut and tender palmyra in the day time and tulsi-water at night are the only food items taken by the devotees during the fasting days.

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Area Covered

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Language spoken :- Tamil

Must Haves

The devotees usually wear saffron colour clothes and run with palm leaves in their hand. They also carry a small bag to collect ashes from the temples. The devotees chant the name of Lord Vishnu during the journey.

Health Awarness

If doing it in the traditional way, the ottam requires fasting as well as good physical fitness to cover the circuit by foot. Those with cardiac ailments, asthma etc should avoid the journey by foot and opt to travel by vehicles

 

Travel Method

The traditional ottam involves going to the twelve temples on foot in one day. Of late, people also visit these temples by vehicles.

Crowd Expected

The Shivalaya ottam is gaining popularity and thousands of devotees from all over the state of Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring state of Kerala participate in the temple visits.

Festivals

Shivratri is a major festival in the Shiva temples and the Shivalaya ottam is undertaken on this auspicious day