Arunachaleswarar Temple – Detailed History
Overview
The Arunachaleswarar Temple, also known as Annamalaiyar Temple, is one of the most
sacred Shiva temples in India. Located in the town of Tiruvannamalai, it is dedicated to Lord
Arunachaleswarar
and Goddess Unnamulai Amman.
The temple is associated with the Agni (Fire) element among the five sacred Pancha Bhoota
Sthalams (temples
representing the five elements of nature).
Mythological History
According to Hindu scriptures:
Once, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu argue over who was superior. Lord Shiva appeared as
an infinite pillar of fire
stretching beyond heaven and earth.
Brahma flew upward as a swan to find the top, while Vishnu took the form of a boar and
searched downward for the base. Neither could find the end of the fiery column. Shiva then
revealed
Himself as the Supreme Being.
This infinite column of fire is believed to have manifested as Arunachala Hill, the sacred
hill behind the temple.
Early Chola Period (9th–11th Century)
The earliest stone structures were built by the
powerful Chola Dynasty rulers.
Important contributions include:
- · Construction of the main sanctum.
- · Expansion of temple walls.
- · Endowments for daily worship and festivals.
Many inscriptions from the Chola
era remain preserved within the temple complex.
Pandya Period (12th–13th
Century)
The Pandya Dynasty expanded the
temple and increased land grants for its maintenance.
Vijayanagara Empire
(14th–16th Century)
The temple reached its greatest
architectural glory under the Vijayanagara Empire.
The most notable patron was
Krishnadevaraya. Major additions included: à
- · Massive temple walls.
- · Large mandapams (halls).
- · Tanks and corridors.
- · Expansion of festival infrastructure.
Nayak Period
The Nayak rulers continued the
development of the temple after the decline of Vijayanagara rule.
Temple Architecture Key Facts
·
Temple area: approximately 25 acres.
- · One of the largest temple complexes in India.
- · Four massive gateway towers (Gopurams).
- · Nine towers in total.
Rajagopuram The eastern Rajagopuram is:
·
About 217 feet (66 meters) high.
·
11 stores tall.
·
One of the tallest temple towers in India.
Thousand Pillar Hall
- A magnificent hall showcasing Vijayanagara architecture with intricate carvings and sculptures.
- Spiritual Importance
- Pancha Bhoota Sthalam
- Arunachaleswarar represents the Fire Element (Agni) among:
- Ekambareswarar Temple – Earth
- Jambukeswarar Temple – Water
- Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple – Air
- Nataraja Temple – Space
- Arunachaleswarar Temple – Fire
Ramana Maharshi Connection
Ramana Maharshi considered
Arunachala Hill to be Shiva Himself and spent most of his life in
Tiruvannamalai.
Nearby sacred sites include:
- · Sri Ramanasramam
- · Virupaksha Cave
- · Skandashram
Girivalam (Giri Pradakshina)
One of the most important
spiritual practices is Girivalam, walking around Arunachala Hill.
·
Distance: approximately 14 km.
·
Performed barefoot by many devotees.
·
Especially popular on every full-moon night
(Pournami).
·
Millions participate annually.
It is believed that completing
Girivalam with devotion removes sins and brings spiritual progress.
Karthigai Deepam Festival
The temple's most famous festival
is:
Karthigai Deepam à
·
Celebrated during November–December.
·
A giant cauldron containing thousands of liters
of ghee is lit on top of Arunachala Hill.
·
The flame can be seen for many kilometers.
·
Lakhs of devotees visit Tiruvannamalai during
the festival.
The lighting of the beacon symbolizes Shiva's original manifestation as the infinite pillar of
fire.
Interesting Facts
1) Arunachala
Hill itself is worshipped as Shiva.
2) The
temple has more than 100 inscriptions from different dynasties.
3) It
is among the most visited Shiva temples in South India.
4) The sacred hill is estimated by geologists to be one of the oldest mountain formations in
India.
5) The
temple has been an important center of Shaivism for over 1,000 years.
October to February: Pleasant
weather.
Full Moon Days: For Girivalam.
Karthigai Deepam Festival: For
the grand spiritual experience, though crowds are extremely large.
For devotees, Tiruvannamalai is
unique because both the temple and the hill are considered manifestations of
Lord Shiva, making it one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in India.
How to reach
If you are planning to visit
Arunachaleswarar Temple, here are the main travel options:
🚆 By Train
Tiruvannamalai has its own
railway station.
Popular train connections are
available from:
Chennai, Katpadi , Villupuram ,
Bengaluru (selected trains)
The railway station is about 3–4
km from the temple. Autos and taxis are readily available.
🚌 By Bus
Frequent government and private
buses operate from:
Chennai (190 km) , Bengaluru (210
km) , Vellore, Puducherry, Salem
The main bus stand is about 1 km
from the temple.
🚗 By Car
From Hosur à Distance: ~210 km,
Travel Time: 4.5–5.5 hours
Route:
Hosur → Krishnagiri → Tirupattur
→ Chengam → Tiruvannamalai
From Bengaluru à Distance: ~210 km,
Travel Time: 4.5–5 hours
From Chennai à Distance: ~190 km,
Travel Time: 4–5 hours
Parking facilities are available
around the temple area.
✈️ By
Air
Nearest airports:
Chennai International Airport –
~190 km
Kempegowda International Airport
– ~220 km
From the airport, you can take a
taxi, bus, or train to Tiruvannamalai.
🙏 Temple Visit Tips
Temple opening hours are
typically around 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM (subject to festival changes).
For Girivalam, start early in the
morning or after sunset to avoid the heat.
Full Moon (Pournami) days attract
very large crowds.
If you are driving from Hosur, many devotees combine the trip
with visits to:
- Sri
Ramanasramam
- Virupaksha Cave
- Skandashram
Since you are usually traveling from the Hosur/Bengaluru side, a Friday night departure or
early Saturday morning drive is convenient for a 2-day Tiruvannamalai pilgrimage including
temple darshan, Girivalam, and Ramana Ashram visits.
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