Thevara Shivasthalam !! Thiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleshwara Temple !!

[Jambunathan Iyer]

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

Thiruvannamalai is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam  of Lord Shiva  also known as Mukthisthal, situated 180km away from Chennai and 80km from Katpadi.  Lord Arunachaleshwara symbolizes in the form of a huge fire in the hills of Thiruvannamalai.  This is one of the ‘Thevara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam’.  The ‘Nalvar’ – Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Thiru Gnana Sambadhar sung praising the glories of Lord Arunachaleshwara in their great lyrical works known as Thevaram and Thiruvasakam.  This is one of the ‘Mukthistal’ is capable to provide ‘Salvation’ from the cycles of birth and death.

The Presiding deity – Thiru Annamalayar/Sri Arunachaleshwarar - Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of Linga – Lord Arunachaleshwara represents the form of ‘Fire’ in the hills of Thiru Annamalai – One of the Pancha Bootha Sthalangal.   Goddess Parvati – Apitha

Kuchalambal/Unnamulai AmmaiTheertham – Brahma Theertham and Siva Gangai Theertham

Mangalasasanam – Appar, Sundarar, Manicka Vasakar and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar

Worshipped by -  Lord Surya, Lord Chandra, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Ashta Vasukkal.

Sannidhis –
Pathala Lingam,
Shiva Gangai Vinayakar,
Saint Arunagirinathar,
Lord Subramanya,
Lord Ganesha,
Lord Kalyana Sundareshwarar,
Kala Bhairavar,
Lord Nandikeshwara,
Brahma Lingam,
Vidhyadhareshwarar Lingam,
Naleshwara Lingam,

Festivals –
Chaitra Pournami, 
Vaikasi Utsavam,
Adi Pooram,
Navaratri Utsavam,
Karthikai Deepam,
Annabhishekam,
Kantha Shashti,
Vaikundha Ekadashi,
Arudara Darisanam,
Utharayana Punyakalam,
Thiruvoodal Utsavam,
Manalurpettai Theerthavari Utsavam,
Ratha Sapathami,
Masi Makam,
Maha Shivaratri,
Panguni Uthiram – Thirukalyanam. 

Karthikai Deepam is one of the spectacular events in the Tamil month Karthikai.  A huge fire is lit on the hill top of Thiru Annamalai witnessed by massive crowd. 

Girivalam is performed on all Pournami days and Karthikai Deepam Day.  Girivalam (Giri – Mountain, Valam – go round) is a marvelous practice of walking nearly 13 kms through the rough path ways at the bottom of the hill, the place where Yogis and Siddhars lived.  It brings a harmonious relationship between mind, body and soul. It is believed that whoever circumambulates the hill and Lord Arunachaleshwara (Girivalam/Giripradakshina) during the full moon days and Thiru Annamalai Deepam day treated as one of the most propitious act in order to acquire the perpetual positive vibes in them.

This is one of the oldest temples built by the Kings of Chola and Pandya dynasties during the period of 750 A.D.  The 217 ft. height of magnificent Rajagopuram situated on the east side was built by the King Krishnadevarayar in 15^th century.  King of Hoysalas was also made abundance of contributions to the temple in the form of Praharams and Sannidhis.  This temple is situated on the massive land of 25 acres consists of seven Praharams and nine Gopurams. Out of seven Praharams the first two of them were erected by the Kings of Pandya and the remaining was built by the Kings of Chola and others.  The splendid thousand pillared hall is one of the major attractions of this temple with a basement chamber enshrines Pathala Lingam.  During Ani – Thiruvathirai (Star) Thirumanjanam, the sacred bath for the Lord is performed here.

The sixth Praharam is the outer wall consists of majestic Rajagopuram built by King Krishnadevarayar, Thirumanjana Gopuram, Pei Gopuram and Ammani Ammal Gopuram.

 

 

The Presiding deity of this temple Lord Shiva – Annamalayar/ Arunachaleshwarar worshipped in the form of a Lingam with his consort Goddess Parvati – Apithakuchalambal.  This is one of the most promising places where saints and holy men were lived in this hill and worshipped Lord Shiva. This holy hill has long been associated with the Yogis and Siddhars like Sri Arunagirinathar, Sri Sheshadri Swamigal and Ramsurat Kumar etc..  During 20th century Sri Ramana Maharshi – who lived in this Mount Arunachala made this holy place as one of the ultimate spiritual destination.  Sri Ramana Maharshi lived here for fifty three years and attained ‘Samadhi’ in the year 1950.

This temple is closely associated with many mythologies.  Shiva Puranam describes the disagreement between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu.  At the divine command of Lord Shiva to prove the superiority among the two deities, they set off in search for the beginning and end of a huge Phallaum appeared before them.  Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and continued his search in the Sky and Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and plunged into Earth.  They continued their search for several years.  Finally, Lord Brahma took the false witness of ‘Thamzham Poo’ that was falling from the crown of the Phallum and Lord Vishnu returned with true statement.  Lord Shiva disliked the false statement of Lord Brahma and cursed him.  Lord Shiva transformed himself into a huge fire and appeared in the hills of Thiruvannamalai.  Soon after at the request of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Lingam at the foot hills.

In this temple, Lord Muruga saved the life of his zealous devotee Saint Arunagirinathar while he was trying to commit suicide jumping from the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram.  After that with the blessings of Lord Muruga, Saint Arunagirinathar became a renowned Tamil poet who composed and sung praising the glories of Lord in his sacred hymns ‘Thirupukazh’.   

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Source - Posted by Vishwanathan Uma at 10:24 AM No comments: 

N Jambunathan Iyer,  Rengarajapuram, Chennai

Mob: 9176159004