TIRUVANNAMALAI - GIRIVALAM- ANNAMALAIYAR TEMPLE

TIRUVANNAMALAI - the adobe of lord ANNAMALAIYAR

Tiruvannamalai, the pilgrimage where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Annamalaiyar is one of the oldest Shiva shrines in the world. Thiruvannamalai is a panchabootha shivastala where Lord Shiva prevails as fire and hence an Agni Stalam. The word Arunachalam is derived from the words “Aruna” which means red and “ Achala” which means immovable.

Arunachala-Thiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai Legend  

The Legend is that there was a controversy between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to prove their supremacy. Lord Shiva was asked to judge the greatness of the two gods. Lord Shiva appeared as a column of fire to stop the war between the gods and the challenge was to find the ends of the fire(lord Shiva.

Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug the earth to find the end of the flame and Bhrama took the form of a swan and flew upwards to see the ends of the flame. Since it was tedious to find the end of the flame, the two gods continued. At some point in time Vishnu accepting the defeat and returned while Brahma kept flying upwards and saw a ketaki flower (Thazamu in Tamil) falling from lord shiva’s head. Brahma asked the flowers, the distance to reach the top. They told him that they have been falling forever. Brahma realized that he would never reach the top and asked the ketaki flowers to lie that he had seen the beginning of the column. The flowers acting as a false witness declared that Brahma had seen the top of the flame. Chastened, Lord Vishnu accepted the supremacy of Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva spared lord Vishu for his honesty and declared that Lord Vishnu would be worshipped as much as the Shiva himself and that lying Brahma would never be worshipped and would never have temples on earth. The ketaki flowers never again decorated the head of Lord Shiva.

The place where Lord Shiva stood as a column of fire to break the ego is Thiruvannamalai (The Fire Mountain).

In another legend, It is also believed that Goddess Parvathi, wife of Shiva closed the eyes of Lord Shiva playfully with a flower garden on top of Mount. Kailash. It was only for a moment but still, the universe went into darkness for years. Parvathi and the other gods performed penance and then Lord Shiva appeared as a column of fire on the top of Annamalai mountain, returning light the universe. Then lord Shiva merged with Parvathi to form Ardhaareeshwarar.

It is believed that the hill was in the form of Agni (fire ) in Kirthayugam, Mannikkam ( Emerald) in threthayugam. Pon(gold ) in Dwaparayugam, and Rock in Kaliyugam.

Tiruvannamalai- Arunachala- in the form of Rock in Kaliyugam

Tiruvannamalai temple

The temple has four entrances with gopurams, with the eastern gopuram being the tallest and the main gopuram that is 11 storied and is 66 meters in height. The temple is the second-largest in India after Srirangam. There are ponds in and around the temple that were constructed to fulfill the water supplies of the temple. The main deity Lord Shiva is in the form of lingam which s believed to be agni lingam worshipped in the name of Annamalaiyar and the goddess Parvathi is worshipped in the name of Unnamalai Amman, there are also many more temples inside it. There is a huge Nandi which is the vaahana (vehicle) for Lord Shiva.
there are shrines for Lord Vinayagar, Lord Murugan along with his consorts Valli and deivayanai, Kalabhairavar and other shrines like pathala lingam. around the sanctum are the images of somaskandar, Lord Vishnu in the form of Venugopalaswamy(Krishna), Durga, Chandekeshwarar, Gajalakshmi, and Dakshinamoorthy are also found.

Main gopuram entrance during Girivalam Thiruvannamalai

The patala lingam temple is an underground temple and the great saint Ramana Maharshi is believed to have meditated here unmindful of insects and scorpions.

The thousand pillar hall that is believed to have constructed during the Vijayanagara Empire is also a notable structure.

It is also said that Tamil poet Maanikkavasagar composed Thiruvemaavi in this divine place of Thiruvannamalai.

The Great saint Ramana Maharshi, as a young boy, came in search of Lord Aruachaleshwara in Thiruvannamalai. There is an Asharam here in Thiruvannamalai named after the saint Ramana Maharshi and is popularly known as Ramana Maharshi Aashram or locally called Ramanaashramam.

Tiruvannamalai Girivalam- Circumambulation of the holy hill

Girivalam is a very important feast in Thiruvannamalai, which happens on every Pournami (full moon day) and on Karthigai deepam (that falls in October or November every year) in which the devotees circumambulate the Thiruvanamalai mountain and thus Lord Shiva himself. The circumambulation path is 14 km, it is believed that during full moon day the Siddars( great people who attained spiritual powers called siddhi) who live on this mountain and can be seen during this circumambulation if lucky enough.

Thiruvannamalai Girivalam route map

Main gopuram entrance during Girivalam Thiruvannamalai

Jothi during Girivalam near main entrance

Full moon day is considered as auspicious because the atmosphere is filled with a good breeze and thus we get peace and become healthier with a strong body.

it is also said that the rays of the moon fall on the medicinal herbs and energizes the herbs. The breeze that blows by after coming in contact with these miracle herbs is considered to possess numerous medical properties. this herbal therapy has been used to cure the mental and physical illness in the devotees who throng here with utmost devotion and surrendering themselves towards God.

On the circumambulation path there are eight Lingams called the Astha Lingams providing the orthogonal structure. They are Indra Lingam in the east, Agni Lingam in South-east, Yama Lingam in South, Niruthi Lingam south-west, Varuna Lingam in the west, Vayu Lingam in the north-west, Kubera Lingam north and the Eesanya Lingam in the north-east.

The Astha linga darshan is considered as the most important aspect of circumambulating the hill. Seeking the blessings of the Astha Lingams is 
sure to remove sins and let one lead a happy and peaceful life.

Festivals and main ceremonies that happen at Thiruvannamalai 

The festival Karthigai deepam is also very famous that falls in October or November (karthigai month of Tamil calendar). The hilltop is lit with a huge beacon lamp which symbolises Lord Shiva himself. the lamp on the hilltop is seen worshipped in the form of Agni Lingam by the devotees. This beautiful sight is seen from many villages around the hill. This festival is celebrated for ten days, with golden, silver, and huge wooden chariots that are taken as a procession around the town and the last day being very famous and special in which many of the poojas are performed and the Thiruvannamalai jothi is lit. Many tons of Ghee and meters of cotton cloth that is used to lit up the Lamp on the hilltop. many of the devotees from all over the world throng here to witness the spectacular view of the Thiruvannamalai jothi.

devotees assemble to take the sight of the almighty Lord Shiva in the form of Deepam ( Light) and chant prayers and mantras. the entire place will be filled with "Annamalaiyar Ku Arogara" sounds

It is said that there were nine entrances in the town Thiruvannamalai and that from any of these the mountain would be visible at a distance of about 10 to 15 km.

The Maha Shivaratri that usually falls in February or March (maasi month in the Tamil calendar) and the Shivaratri that fall on each month are very famous and special poojas are performed to the lord on such days.

Girivalams on the full moon days are also considered popular since many of the devotees come here to seek the blessings of the lord.

Ashrams around Tiruvannamalai

Sri Ramana Ashram
Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
Yogi RamSurathkumar Asram
Almarakugai Ashramam
Andha Ashramam
Annamalayar Forest Development Group
Arukalai Nambi Seva Sangam
Arunachala Agam Trust
Arunachalam Trust
Esanya Madam
Ganvashram Trust
Gothama Ashramam
Kanvashramam Trust
Karuneegar Sangam
Karunya Ashramam
Mathru Sri Saradha
Shanthi Malai Trust
Sri Aruna Educational Trust
Sri Lakshmi Logamatha Ashramam
Sri Selva Vinayakar Trust
Sri Thiruchy Maha Swamigal
Swami Hariniya karpanth Saraswathi
Thavathiru Vallalar R.Arulmani Adigal
Thenpulam Trust
Thukaram Swamigal
Tirades Humans Care Trust
Trial - Rural Welfare Arbhan Services Trust
Vallalar Koil

Others tourist places in and around Thiruvannamalai

Parvathamalai
Sathanur reservoir dam

Arunachala hill -Thiruvannamalai