Arunachaleswar Shiva Temple
The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai (Tiruvanamalai
is the Tamil word for the Sanskrit Arunachala), situated
at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest
(25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The
era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several
millennia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected
between the 10th and 16th centuries.
The
tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories.
The central temple enshrines images of Shiva as Lord Annamalai
and his consort as Unnamalai. Every year during the Hindu
month of Kartikai (November-December), the great Deepam festival
is held to celebrate Shiva's manifestation as the light of
Arunachala. For ten days the whole city of Tiruvanamalai
is alive with celebration, processions, dancing and singing.
On the final day of the festival, the eve of the full moon,
a huge beacon fire is lighted atop Arunachala hill in commemoration
of the fire left by Shiva. Many thousands of pilgrims flock
to this exciting festival from all over southern India. Arunachala Hill is considered a miraculous healing place,
especially for ailments of the lungs and barrenness in women.
The hill of Arunachala is also a symbol of spiritual knowledge
and several great sages have lived here, including Arunagirinathar,
the author of the Tiruppugal, and Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950).
In India there are three major categories of pilgrimage
temples dedicated to the god Shiva: the Jyotir Lingams; the
Svayambhu Lingams, and the Bhuta Lingams. Located in five
south Indian temples, the Bhuta Lingams are said to be places
where Shiva manifested himself as the natural elements. The
temples and their respective elements are Chidambaram: ether,
Sri Kalahasti: wind, Tiruvanaikka/Jambunath: water, Kanchipuram:
earth, and Tiruvanamalai: fire. Chidambaram is also associated
with the heart, Tiruvanaikka with the stomach, and Tiruvanamalai
with the chest.
—From the Sacred
Sites Web site, www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/tiruvanamalai.html
Use your browser's Back
Arrow to return to the Ananda Pilgrimages site.
