KANGUNDI INSELBERG LIVE SHIVLING- The Mystery behind #ClimbInCulture

Kangundi Shivling. After Swami Datta Padanand Ji’s announcement of 13th November 2025, that the Kangundi Inselberg was a Living Shivling, Masters Mahavatar Babaji and Guruji Naushir conveyed that Lord Shiva was inviting climbers, boulderers, trekkers and believers/ pilgrims to climb on Him, just like a father allows his off-springs to climb on himself while playing. Mahavatar Babaji and Guruji Naushir added that, Lord Shiva was extending this invitation to all His children (all humans) so that He could take away their/ our negativity. Mahavatar Babaji and Guruji Naushir have also asked all members of TadEkam (established by Guruji Naushir in honour of Babaji) to visit Kangundi and, look at how each face of the Shivling was different and to meditate looking at the Shivling.

Lord Hanuman in Kangundi Shivling. After a few days of this announcement in November 2025, Kangundi’s first tourist guide trained by TadEkam- Mohan Babu – saw Lord Hanuman in the Western Face (Basava Face) of the Kangundi Shivling. This sent a wave of excitement in the village, as never before had anyone observed this. The result- people of Kangundi are now more aware of their Living Shivling and the link between energies of Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman (Hanuman Ji is a Rudra avatar of Lord Shiva- born to assist Lord Rama; Shiva willed himself to be born as Hanuman through Vayu (Wind God) and Anjana to fulfill a divine purpose, making Hanuman a manifestation of Shiva’s power and devotion. For more information read https://nkbmeditation.org/blog/hanuman-as-an-avatar-of-Shiva)

Stricture of Masters- Tourism to Protect Culture, Not Culture to Attract Tourism. Since January 2025 when TadEkam first began sewa to bring tourism to Kuppam and Kangundi on the instructions of Mahavatar Babaji and Guruji Naushir, the terms of reference (pre-condition) set by both these Masters’ was: ‘Attract adventure tourism to protect and promote local culture’.

“Adventure tourism in Kangundi – Kuppam to protect and promote local culture” -Mahavatar Babaji & Guruji Naushir

#ClimbInCulture. Masters Mahavatar Babaji and Gurui Naushir exposed the truth behind their stricture of “Climbing in Culture” (#ClimbInCulture and #ClimbingInCulture) eight months later i.e., on 13th November 2025 when Swami Datta Padanand Ji announced in Kangundi that the Kangundi Inselberg was a LIVING SHIVLING. The further explanation by the two Masters that Lord Shiva is inviting all boulderers, climbers, rock-climbers, trekkers and devotees/ pilgrims to climb Him so that He can absorb our negativity put use of ‘Climb in Culture’ in the logo in the correct perspective. Incidentally, TadEkam had the logo of ‘Kangundi Bouldering’ released by Shri PS Munirathnam Garu on Mahashivratri Day 2025 i.e., eight month before. It would be apt to quote Mahavatar Babaji here; “Go with the flow (of the Universe).” This is also a favourite quote of Guruji Naushir, and of all sewaks of TadEkam.

Mystery of Lord Basava of Kangundi. A key feature of the local culture to protect and promote is the Kantara-like tradition of the Valmiki Tribe of Kangundi – Kuppam. The Valmiki Tribals are gifted with the ability to connect with Divine Powers of Lord Kota Basava- the guardian God of Kangundi Shivling. He is in the shape of a Holy Bull facing outwards towards the Temple’s door/ devotee unlike Lord Nandi who always faces Lord Shiva inside the temple. There is no other deity in His temple.

Lord Basava’s Blessings Through Valmiki Tribals Priests. After their prayers to the living Basava, the Valmiki Tribal priests get possessed by Divine Basava and walk in a trance wearing nailed wooden slippers till the Lord Kota Basava/ Basaveshwara Temple 500 meters away. Here His Devine Spirit leaves them and then, after the pooja, Lord Basava grants three blessings in form of three blessed lemons placed between His ears by the priests. Each lemon, due to the chanting of prayers and the ringing of bells, falls from His forehead into the waiting hands of the priests. The priests then hand over the lemon to the waiting devotee who silently prays to Lord Basava for his wish to be fulfilled.

Tribal Devotee Kannappa’s Story. A very popular historical story in Southern parts of India is Lord Shiva’s appreciation of the humble prayer rituals of tribal man Kannappa vis-a-vis the Brahminical rituals of a Brahmin devotee. As per this story, Kannappa would pray to Lord Shiva using animal meat and spit while the brahmin devotee would use beautiful flowers and milk. The brahmin got upset with how the tribal Kannappa would spoil the Shivling and prayed to Lord Shiva to stop Kannappa from ‘defiling’ His Shivling. Lord Shiva decided to test the quality of devotion of both and so one day, the Shivling started shedding tears of blood from one eye. The brahmin tried to stop the bloody tears by more flowers and milk. On the other hand, Kannappa decided to offer his eye to the Shivling. After Kannappa had replaced Lord Shiva’s bleeding eye with his own eye, Lord Shiva made His 2nd eye cry tears of blood. Seeing this, tribal Kannappa decided to offer his 2nd eye as well to Lord Shiva. But knowing he would not be able to see with both eyes carved out, he put one of his toes on the spot where he had to place the 2nd eyeball and began using his arrow to remove his 2nd eye as well. At this point Lord Shiva appeared and announced that the tribal Kannappa’s devotion to him- even if it appeared ‘dirty’- was more than that of the brahmin.

Relevance of Sculpture Atop Kangundi Shivling. That non-tribals during the reign of Chola/ Hoysala/ Vijayanagara Empires (likely Palegar Kambi Nayudu) had this sculpture engraved in the Swami Malleswara Temple is indicative of respect for tribal culture and traditions. Therefore, the centuries long continuity of Valmiki Tribal traditions in the Mahashivratri Pooja of Kangundi, Kuppam Tehsil, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, Bharat/ India.

Conclusion. Representatives of TadEkam attending Mahashivratri on 26 February 2025 prayed to Lord Basava and requested Him to help TadEkam complete their sewa of ‘Kangundi Bouldering’ before Mahashivratri of 2026. With Kangundi Boulding Festival and Kangundi Climbing Cup scheduled for 6-10 January 2026, Lord Basava has fulfilled this request.

Video on History of Kangundi. For history of Kangundi from before 10th century CE, watch video at link https://youtu.be/1r2ym7CIbJ8?si=8tVh0-uisD2SjXCO

Thank you Lord Basava, Mahavatar Babaji, Guruji Naushir, Swami Datta Padanand Ji, priests of Valmiki Tribe and people of Kangundi.