Arunachalesvara Temple

Annamalai is derived from a combination of two Tamil language words with "Anna" meaning "great" or "powerful" and "malai" meaning hill. Arunachala is derived from the Sanskrit words "Aruna" representing the rays of the Sun and "achala" meaning "unmoving". As Shiva is represented by the form of a large column of fire radiating from the hill, the names of the place came to represent the same. ==Mythology==

According to the Shiva Purana, Brahma (god of creation) and Vishnu (god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy. To settle the debate, Shiva took the form of jyotirlinga, a huge column of fire or light, stretching across the three worlds. Vishnu took the form of a boar and descended to locate the bottom of the column, while Brahma assumed the form of a swan to locate its top. Vishnu failed in his search and returned, honest about the outcome of his quest. Brahma chanced upon a thalampu flower in the midst of his ascent. According to Hindu mythology, Parvati once blindfolded Shiva, which led to the entire Earth being plunged in darkness. Shiva opened his third eye to shine light on the Earth. Realising her mistake, Parvati prayed for Shiva's forgiveness. Shiva directed her to go to Tiruvannamali and perform tapas at the ashram of sage Gautama. When Mahisasura disturbed her, she took the form of Durga, and killed the asura. Later, Shiva accepted her on the purnima day of the Tamil month of Karthigai. ==History==

hill with temple in the foreground|thumb The deities are described in the Shaiva text of Tevaram from the 7th century CE. Sekkilhar, the author of the Periya Puranam, wrote that Appar and Sambandar worshipped Annamalaiyar in the temple. The present masonry of the temple dates back to the 9th century to the reign of the Cholas. Inscriptions found in the temple record gifts such as land, and cows given to the temple by various Chola kings. Further inscriptions from the temple indicate that before the 9th century CE, the region was under the reign of the Pallava Kings, who ruled from Kanchipuram. The Hoysalas made the region around the temple as their capital in 1328 CE. There are 48 inscriptions from the Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 CE), two inscriptions from the Saluva Dynasty, and 55 inscriptions from the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE) of the Vijayanagara Empire, describing various gifts to the temple by their respective rulers. Inscriptions from the period of Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529 CE), indicates patronage to the temple. Most of the Vijayanagara inscriptions are written in Tamil, with some in Kannada and Sanskrit. The expansion of the temple and construction of the large gopuram at the eastern entrance began during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, and completed during the period of Sevappa Nayaka (1532–80 CE). In the mid 20th century CE, the temple and the town were popularised in the Western World by the work of Ramana Maharshi (1879 CE–1950 CE). The cave where Ramana meditated is on the lower slopes of the Annamalai hills, with the Sri Ramana Ashram located further down at the foothill. ==Religious significance==

The Arunachalesvara temple is one of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalams, which are five major Shiva temples, each representing a manifestation of a natural elements. The lingam in the shrine is referred to as the Agni Lingam, symbolising the element of fire (Agni) and representing the themes of duty, tapas (penance), self-sacrifice, and spiritual liberation. Sambandar, a 7th-century CE Tamil poet, venerated Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the first Tirumurai. Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also praised the deity in ten verses in the Tevaram, compiled as the fifth Thirumurai. As the temple is revered in the Tevaram, it is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples mentioned in the Tamil Saiva canon. Manikkavacakar, a 9th-century CE Tamil saint and poet, composed the Tiruvempavai at the temple, and described the deities as "Annamalai" and "Unnamulai". Arunagirinathar was a 15th-century CE Tamil poet born in Tiruvannamalai, who composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being Thiruppugazh. Aathara Thalams are various Shiva temples considered to correspond to the Tantric chakras of the human body. The Arunachalesvara Temple corresponds to the Manipooraga chakra, associated with the solar plexus (naabhi moolam). The place is also called a Mukthi Thalam (place of salvation), and saints like Ramana Maharishi, Seshadri Swamigal, Gugai Namashivayar, Yogi Ramsuratkumar attained salvation within the temple. ==Architecture==

, the tallest tower|alt=Gateway tower with multiple storeys Complex and towers The temple is situated at the foot of the Annamalai hills, spread over . The walls on the east and west measure in length, the south , and the north . It has gopurams (ornamental gateway towers), one on each side. The eastern tower, known as the Rajagopuram, is the tallest, and largest with a base measuring by . The Arunagirinathar mndapam is located to the right of the Kalayana Linga Sundara Eswara mandapam, and the Gopurathilayanar shrine is to the left of a flight of stone stairs that lead up to the Vallala gopuram. ==Worship and festivals==

The temple priests perform pujas (rituals) six times on a daily basis. These include the Kaalaippani at 5:30 a.m., Kaalai Vazhipaadu at 8:00 a.m., Nadunchama Vazhipaadu at 10:00 a.m., Maalaipani at 6:00 p.m., Irandaam Kaalai Pani at 8:00 p.m. and Iravuppani at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: Thirumanchanam (sacred bath), Alangaaram (decoration), Neivedhiyam (food offering) and Theepaarathanai (waving of lamps) for both Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. Special pujas are performed on Mondays (Soma varam) and Fridays (Sukra varam), and on Pradosha, Amavasya, Purnima, Chaturthi, and Kiruthigai. On the occasion, the image of Annamalaiyar is taken on a wooden chariot around the mountain. Inscriptions indicate that the festival was celebrated as early as the Chola period (from 850 CE to 1280 CE) and was expanded to ten days in the 20th century. Every full moon, thousands of pilgrims circumambulate the Annamalai hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers a distance of , and is referred as girivalam. According to Hindu legend, the circumambulation is considered as an atonement for one's sins, fulfils wishes and helps achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Various offerings are made in the temple tanks, shrines, pillared halls, springs and caves around the hill. On Chitra Pournami, five wooden temple cars are used for taking the gods on a procession. Thiruvoodal is celebrated during the first week of the Tamil month Thai every year. On the morning of Maatu Pongal, the Nandi is decorated with garlands made of fruits, vegetables and sweets. The deities of Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman are taken out of the temple to Thiruvoodal Street to enact the oodal (or love tiff) between the two in the evening. ==References==