The Siva Temple Situated at the Foot of a Hill Here Is One of the Largest and Most Important Siva Shrines in the South

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The Siva Temple Situated at the Foot of a Hill Here Is One of the Largest and Most Important Siva Shrines in the South Tiruvannamalai The Siva temple situated at the foot of a hill here is one of the largest and most important Siva shrines in the South. Sri Arunachaleswara temple is dedicated to Tejo Lingam or Jyothi Lingam (the fire incarnation of God). Hence much significance is attached to Tiruvannamalai as one of the Pancha Bhutha Sthalas. The nine imposing gopurams of the temple are a magnificent sight. There is a thousand-pillared hall with intricate carvings. Pathala Lingeswara is enshrined here. There is another shrine for Lord Muruga, known as Kambathu Ilayanar. The holy tank is known as Sivaganga Theertham. One has to cross the Vallaala Maharaja gopuram and Kili gopuram to reach the sanctum. These towers are associated with the life of saint Arunagirinathar, who turned a devotee of Muruga. The Lord is said to have saved the saint when he jumped from a gopuram. Devi Parvati performed penance here to obtain the Vamabhaga or the left half of Siva. Once a contest arose between Vishnu and Brahma as to their relative superiority. A heated controversy ensued, and Siva appeared as a huge column of fire to prove that there was yet one power superior to them. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and flew up to discover the top of the flame and Vishnu became a Varaha (boar) and tore the earth with his tusk to discover the base of the flame. Both of them failed. This flame (Jyothi) turned into a Sthavara Lingam, which is believed to be the Arunachala Hill. In commemoration of the Jyothi, a huge beacon is lighted atop the hill every year on Karthigai Deepam day (Nov-Dec). Thousands of devotees visit the temple on this occasion and offer worship to Pancha Murthis. It is customary to go round the hills (a stretch of 14 km) prior to the worship of Sri Arunachaleswara. On Full Moon days, thousands of devotees participate in this form of worship, 1 / 3 Tiruvannamalai known as Giri Pradakshina, when one can have darshan of eight Lingams, Sri Ramana Ashram, Sri Seshadri Swamigal's samadhi and Yogi Suratkumar. Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram(3 km from the temple): The hill is considered as the symbol of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. The hermitage where the silent saint Sri Ramana Maharshi lived is half way of the hill. He exerted great spiritual power on those who came in search of him. Thousands of followers visit the world-famous Sri Ramana Ashram round the year to pursue profound themes of meditation. Access: Tiruvannamalai is 107 km from Kumbakonam and 185 km from Chennai. Vellore (about 2 hours 'journey from Tiruvannamalai): Here is a Siva shrine dedicated to Jalakanteswara inside a 13th century fort. Thiruvennainallur (20 km from Villupuram): Lord Siva is said to have stopped the marriage of Sundarar here and made him one of the three Saivite saints. Thiruvathigai (near Panrutti): This Siva shrine is one of the Ashta Veerattanams. The Lord is said to have burned Thripurams. With His blessings, Appar was cured of his stomach ailment and he became a Saivite saint. Thirukkovilur: The Vishnu shrine here is dedicated to Ulagalantha Perumal (Thrivikrama). The Alwars have sung in praise of the Lord in the celebrated Naalaayira Divya Prabandham. Map {mosmap lat=12.22845| lon='79.075783} 2 / 3 Tiruvannamalai 3 / 3.
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