About Arunachalesvara Temple, Tamil Nadu
Arunachalesvara Temple (also called Annamalaiyar Temple) is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at the base of Arunachala Hills in the town of Tiruvannmalai in Tamil Nadu, India.
The temple complex covers 10 hectares and is one of the largest in India. It houses four gateway towers known as Gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 66 meters (217 ft), making it one of the tallest temple towers in India built by Sevappa Nayakkar (Nayakar dynasty).
The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the thousand-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagara Period. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola Dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagara rulers of the Sangama dynasty (1336–1485 CE), the Saluva Dynasty, and the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE).
STORY:-
Once lord Brahma reached the abode of lord Vishnu. He saw lord Vishnu resting on Shesh-nag. When Brahmaji saw that Vishnu did not get up to receive him, he became very angry. Verbal dual erupted between them. It became so severe that a battle was fought between them, which continued for a very long time all the deities arrived from heaven to watch the battle. They became very worried when they saw no sign of the battle coming to an end. They decided to go to lord shiv, to seek his help.
lord, Shiv then sent his one hundred ganas to pacify both of them. He too went there. When lord shiv reached there, he saw that Brahmaji and Vishnuji were about to use their deadly weapons – Maheshwar and Pashupat.
Fearing the destruction, which these deadly weapons might have caused, lord shiv manifested himself in the form of ‘Analstamba’ (pillar of fire ) between them. Brahmaji and Vishnuji had already released their weapons – Maheshwar and Pashupat. Both the weapons fell into that pillar of fire and got destroyed.
Brahmaji and Vishnuji were very surprised to see the pillar of fire, which was so enormous that it reached the sky and penetrated the earth. Vishnuji transformed himself into a boar and went to the ‘petal’ (nether world) to find the base of that ‘pillar of fire’. But he was unsuccessful in his attempt.
Similarly, Brahma ji transformed himself into a swan and flew up in the sky to find its limit. While going through the aerial route he met a withered ‘Ketaki’ flower, which had still some freshness and fragrance left in it. Lord Shiv smiled at the futile attempts of Shri Brahma ji and Vishnuji.
Lord Shiv opened his third eye
Brahmaji then sought the help of Ketaki Flower to give false witness. Both of them went to lord shiv and told him that he had seen the limit of that pillar of fire. Ketaki Flower gave a witness. Vishnuji accepted the superiority of Brahmaji. Lord Shiv opened his third eye and from it manifested ‘Bhairav’. He ordered Bhairav to kill Brahmaji. Bhairav severed the fifth head of lord Brahma with his sword. Brahmaji became very terrified. He was trembling in fear. Lord Vishnu felt pity on his condition and requested lord shiv to forgive him.
Lord Shiv then stopped Bhairav but told Brahma. “you spoke untruth with a desire to become worshipable. It is my curse that you will not be worshipped by anybody. You will possess only four heads.”Brahmaji begged his forgiveness. Lord Shiv feels pity for Brahmaji. Gave him the boon of being the presiding deity of all the Yagya. Similarly, the Ketaki flower is also prohibited from being used during worship. And that is how the pillar of fire or what we know as the ling came to be the symbolic representation of the lord and prayers are offered to it.
WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS
The Arunachalesvarar Temple welcomes visitors from 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and again from 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM . The morning aarti takes place at 6:00 AM and the evening aarti takes place at 9:00 PM.
The Arunachalesvarar Temple priests perform the Pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaivaite Brahmin caste. The temple rituals are performed by pandit six times a day –
| Ushatkalam | 5:30 AM |
| Kalashanti | 8:00 AM |
| Uchikalam | 10:00 AM |
| Sayarakshai | 6:00 PM |
| Irandamkalam | 8:00 PM |
| Arddha Jamam | 10:00 PM |
Each ritual comprises 4 steps –
- Abhishekam ( sacred bath )
- Alankaram ( decoration )
- Naivedyam ( food offering )
- Deepa arad-hanai ( waving of lamps )
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. There are weekly rituals like Somavaram and Sukravaram, fortnightly rituals like Pradosham, and monthly festivals like Amavasai (new moon day), Kruttika, Purnima (full moon day), and Chaturthi.
Places to visit near Arunachalesvara Temple
1. Arunachala Hills
2. Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
3. Virupaksha Cave
4. Sri Ramanasraman
5. Skandashramam
6. Pachaiamman Temple
7. Gingee Fort
How to reach Arunachalesvara Temple
BY AIR – The nearest airport to the temple is Chennai International Airport, which is well-connected to cities in India and Abroad. From the airport, you can book a taxi or a bus and reach the temple which is approx. 180 kms.
BY TRAIN – Thiruvannamalai has its railway station, which is well connected to the major cities of South India, and the station is only 2 km away from the temple.
BY ROAD – Thiruvannamalai is well connected by roads to various cities like Mangalore, Bangalore, Puducherry, Chennai, and many more. With a network of 8 major connected roads, including the highways.
BY BUS – Thiruvannamalai is well connected by road, and state-run buses by TNSTC as well as private bus operators offer regular services from nearby cities and towns.
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