Annamalayar Temple

Arunachala Shiva Arunachala Shiva Arunachala Shiva Arunachala...
Arunachala Shiva Arunachala Shiva Arunachala Shiva Arunachala...

One amongst Panchalingas in India.
#Arunachala Shiva Temple is one of the five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva as the manifestation of the five elements. This temple represents the Agni, it means we can experience inside the Garbagudi, lot of suffocation and heat.

Arunachalam Sri Annamalaiyar swamy is considered to be the most pure and natural incarnation of Lord Shiva and the entire place is filled with murals, monks, idols resembling the Hinduism and its history over centuries.

Givipradakshina is most Important to do here.
It's about nearly above 14kms distance which combines 8 lingas in 8 directions. Good time to do Giri Valaya Pradakshina is in Night time by walk without any footwear, even soxes. It takes to complete 5 hrs nearly.
8 lingas named as follows:
1. Indralingam
2. Agnilimgam
3. Yamalingam
4. Niruthilingam
5. Varunalingam
6. Vaayulingam
7. Kuberalingam
8. Esanyalingam

After Giri Valaya Pradakshina only please go for Darshan inside the temple. Without Giri Pradakshina, there is no use to visit Lord Arunachala Shiva. Because in the name itself the meaning of Arunachala is unmovable substance.

The uniqueness here is that not only the idol is prayed to but the entire mountain here is felt to have the presence of Lord Shiva.

Mountain here is called Arunachalam which Aruna (Red/fire) + Achalam (still/mountain). This legend came from a story where Lord shiva appears as a Wall of fire and asks Lord Vishnu and Brahma to find the start and end of him which they couldn’t and then they realize that there is not start and end.They ask him to stay there and that’s how the Arunachalam mountain came into existence.

Temple complex is mostly crowded but doesn’t take more than 2 hours during any time of the year except for the Karthika Maasam and the architecture here is mind blowing with huge doors and gopurams.

Pilgrims circumambulate the entire mountain barefoot which is around 14 km and takes around 4-5 hours to complete.

The Arunachalesvara Temple in Thiruvannamalai is an ancient and sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It’s renowned for its grand architecture, spiritual significance, and vibrant festivals. Devotees flock here for rituals, meditation, and the famous Girivalam (circumambulation of the sacred hill).

Most Lovable and Devotional Place. One who need Internal Energy and Positive Vibes please come and Feel it.

This temple is a very holy Sivakshetra besides being considered as a powerful moksha kshetra as well. This temple has 9 gopurams and 3 inner prakarams and 2 big Nandis. Besides presiding deities of Annamalai & Unnamulai Ambal, there are many other deities including a samadhi of Arunagirinathar. This temple town is considered to represent the element of Fire out of the Panchabhutas. Girivalam on Pournami day is considered auspicious dedication to Arunachala, another name of Ishwara. Devotees & Yogis throng this town & temple seeking salvation from Samsara throughout the year

Such a huge temple with tall gopurams. Totally 4 gopurams are there, East - Rajagopuram, North - Ammani amman gopuram, South - Thirumanjana gopuram.
During full moon day very much crowd, devotees are waiting in road side, it will take minimum 4 hrs for worship.
Both shivan & parvathi statues are small but not their power. Rest room facilities are good.
Walking through Girivalam road up to 2.5kms need to walk through main road only after that it was separated, drinking water & rest room facilities are available very much. Devotees are also can go by car, auto, bike.... After the end of Girivalam that road will directly leads to rajagopuram.

One of the Most beloved temples in TN of Lord Shiva by his devotees. Best maintenance, regulations, service and Devotees satisfaction, etc across years.
Mostly crowded after afternoon and Fully crowded on other festival days.
Every year I visit here with my family to get the blessings of Lord Mahadev.

This temple is a one of panchaputham temple and this is fire temple where we can see God in form of fire and the most important thing is porumami giri valam i am my friends have completed 2 month and will continue the same

Very old and powerful...no words to describe this marvelous..religious... beautiful architectural wonder.... just Visit- walk around the temple- darshanam- pray- sit and njoy the peace over there.

One of Pancha Bhoodha Sthalam viz., Agni Sthalam. We had very good dharshan. Very neatly maintained temple. Since it's school holiday season, there's heavy crowd, however they have made neat arrangement for speedy dharshan.

Tiruvannamalai is the last of fire and I have a personal connection to this temple for the past 15 years. The place and girivalam always gives me peace of mind and confidence.

Pancha Bootha sthalam (Fire form) where crores of devotees perform Girivalam on the full moon day. You are blessed as well as feel the vibrations of Yogis as felt by many. I still am trying to feel such resonance.

Very ancient temple with very big pragaram having nine koburam and two nandhis big and small. Two Holy ponds called Gangs Dheertham and Brammah dheettham are there. The temple is beneth the hill and during karthigai deepam the big deepam is lighted on the peak of the Hill. Seperate sannathi for Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman. Both are very beautiful and Spiritual. We can see all the nine koburam from one place and is highlights by yellow circle. I always like the dharshan in temple.

Blessed to be there. What a construction. What a spiritual experience. Awaited for 32 years to visit here. Government has to ensure to involve more in safety of devotees. Very much crowd on times. Full moon da is very special here.

Que moved slowly and finally I seen the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar god. It’s a fantastic Dharsan, seen the god very near. After that I sat inside the temple for 5 mins. Other gods inside the temple to see are lord Dakshinamoorthy, Lord Swarna Bhairavar, Lord Natarajar statue.

Then que automatically moved to see the lord Unnamalai and it goes out.

At 6.40Pm I completed my Dharsan inside the temple and came out.

Had a filter coffee (15 INR) and got energetic to start my Girivalam.

Girivalam should be started from Raja Gopuram.

Total distance of the Girivalam is 14 Kms and while walking there are many place to see.

Started my Girivalam by 7.17Pm in front of raja gopuram and stared moving. It’s full of rush all the roads are flooded by humans head.

From raja gopuram 100m taken right and 300m next gopuram seen from there we need to take left. On the way you can see vinayagar Tempe once 800m moved. After that taken left. I got astonished, because it’s a 200feet broad wide road. Full road people are walking from left side to right side. After one km, first temple is Agni Lingam, had a Dharsan and moved. Get tired so had apple juice (50INR) in a lasi shop.

Again started my walk on the right side seen Sri Ramana Maharshi Asharam. I went inside and sat for 5 mins. It’s cool. There we can see the item used by Ramana Maharshi are kept and that I started walking. Brought water bottle (20INR). Next visited Yama Lingam and my walking continues had a papaya fruit (10 INR)

My walking continues see Niruthi lingam, got tired taken rest from 5 mins and while walking I seen a surprise that a famous Place. Guess what is that place. It’s Nithyananda dhyanapeetam. It’s very big one. But I have not entered in because I am afraid that any camera is fitted inside the dhyanapeetam.

Next seen the Thiru near Annamalai temple. Why this name called is, it’s exactly in the center of the hills, from there we can see the deepam on the top of the hill on karthigal deepam festival. Then my walking continues seen Sai baba temple on the left side.

Before I again start walking I would like to tell. What I seen all the way while I am walking Girivalam. It’s 200Feet broad wide road, u only see the human head & there will be vacant space on both side of the road you can see full of shops like tiffin shop, sugar cane juice shop, tender coconut shop, bhaji shop, lasi shop, Valapoo vadai shop, toys shop, water bottle shop, ice cream shop (1buy + 1 free). One interested think is you can get one liter RO water for 5INR if you give one liter bottle. Many people sitting on the both side asking for Fund raising. But there are many police rounding and in every lingam stop there will be a police booth. On both sides there are many space and cement chair for sitting and take rest. Most important thing is for every 1000m one free rest room available. This is maintained by temple.

All the way you can see white light which will be brighter than sun and speaker fitted by temple and you can hear the chanting sound “Om Namah Shivaya”

Then start walking reached to Varuna Lingam, next had a Water melon fruit one piece (10 INR) to make my body energetic.

My walking continues and see the Vayu lingam and moved to next is Kubera lingam, to this opposite you can see the panchamugi dharsanam. After that seen a new one. Its Mooku Podi siddhar Peedam. Went inside and had the look, sat for 5 min rest.

Then moved we can see the Esani lingam after than you will enter in to the city limit and take left while walking you can see the bus stand, but on full moon day this bus stand will be closed  and no bus will come here all will be stopped outside the city limit itself.

By this time by leg got more pain not able to walk so taken rest on the side of the road, after 10 mins again start walking and see the Rettai Pillaiyar temple and at the end I see the Raja gopuram. At that time my face become smile and I got a boost that in next 5 mins I will reach the raja gopuram. At the end

It is truly a holy place to visit. The Lord Shiva(Annamalai) temple has Asia’s second heighest tower. Ramana Aashram, Seshadhri Aashram, Yogi Surath Kumar Aashram make this place truly for devotees.
All the people walking around the annamalai mountain seeing the full moon view. This is the famous walk with thinking and praying the lord. Healthy too.

Beautiful, amazing, and powerful temple. Devine Place, mesmerized.. and blessed🙏🙏🙏..

Nice god

Very peaceful and the entire town has a positive vibe. Quite a large temple and girivalam is ultimate. Wish the govt create a walkway for girivalam and keep it uncluttered.

This temple very famous Lord Shiva temple,
This temple architecture very beautiful,
This temple very famous giri pradakshina,
Thank you God 🙏🙏🙏

North entrance - mesmerising view