Thiruvannamalai Temple

Tiruvannamalai (Thiruvannamalai ) is a world renowned temple town in TamilNadu which is synonym to deepam(fire). Here Shiva (Arunachaleswar) is worshipped in the form of fire. This temple city is located about 180 kilometres from Chennai or when accessed from Vellore it is around 80 kilometres by road.

It is believed that this temple on the foot hill of Annamalai hill came to be built around 750 A.D. period as per the details available from archeological sculptures. It is the biggest temple in India dedicated to Lord Shiva.

This Shiva – Parvathi Arunachaleswarar temple has a 66 metre high gopuram that comprises of 13 storeys or tiers.

Here Shiva is known as Annamalayar in the form of Lingam and Parvathi known as Apitakuchambal. This term Annamalayar is derived from the name of the hills Annamalai that means an inaccessible mountain.

This sthala has been inhabited by many great saints and poets who have sung many poems on Lord Shiva. Among the many saints Saint Ramana Maharishi is believed to have lived here for about fifty years till his death in the year 1950. The Ashram of this Saint is located on the hill Arunachala that is located on the western side of this town.

Tiruvannamalai has many meditation and research centres attributed to siddha medicine. Reputed siddha yogis have lived here to offer their services to cure many ailments for all the sick people who came seeking for treatment. This place also proves to be a apt place for a break with good yoga centres available here in plenty.

As in most hindu temples Lord Arunachala temple has the biggest walking path around the hill. Devotees are expected to go around the hill at least one time to reap the full benefit and the blessings of the lord. Going around the hill is also known as Girivalam or Giripradhakshana. At Tiruvannamalai it is great sanctity to go girivalam during every full moon day of a month or during the annual Tiruvannamalai deepam day.

Thiruvannamalai Maha Karthigai Deepam Festival Many festivals are celebrated at Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai through out the year. Among them Karthigai Deepam is the most significant festival that is celebrated with pomp and gaiety at Arunachalaeswar temple every year in the month of Karthikai that falls between 15th November and 15th December. This festival always follows few weeks after Diwali the festival of lights. This Karthikai Deepam is celebrated as a ten day festival and it widely known as Karthikai Brahmotsavam. The first day Karthika Deepam festival begins with the hosting of the flag signifying the commencement of the festival also known as Dwajaroghanam. In the morning and night Lord Arunachaleswarar will be taken out on the silver vahana for procession. The Panchamurthis are also taken out in the procession. The Panchamurthis are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandeswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Parvathi. These processions are carried out on different vahanas after the Deeparadhana is done at the kalyana mandapam. The second day Karthigai Deepam festival commences with the Lord Chandrasekhar coming in procession in the morning in the sun vahana and in the night Lord Periya Nayagar goes out on the Indira Vimanam the chariot of Lord Indira. The third day Karthika Deepam festival the ceremony begins at night with the Lord Periya nayagar coming in procession majestically on the Simha vahana, the chariot of lion. On the fourth day of Karthikai Deepam the Lord Periya Nayagar comes in the procession that starts at night on the kamadhenu vahanam. The auspicious tree Karpaviruksha is also on the side of the lord. This tree is believed to grant all the wishes that the devotees seek without fail. The fifth day Karthikai Deepam festival begins at night. This procession on the silver rishaba vahanam is very appealing and splendid to witness. Lord Periya nayagar goes on this vahana that is about 25 feet tall. A big umbrella with about 17 feet in diameter is carried along in the procession. The sixth day Karthigai Deepam festival commences with a night procession of Lord Periya Nayagar on the silver chariot that is beautifully crafted and simply imposing when it comes around the temple. The seventh day of Karthikai Deepam festival Lord Periya nayagar starts with the procession on the Maha ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road. This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged. The eight day Karthigai Deepam festival begins at night with the Lord Periya nayagar going out on procession on the huge horse vahana. The speciality of this horse is that all the four legs of this horse are in the air and they do not touch the ground. On the ninth day of Karthigai Deepam festival the devotees can witness Lord Periya nayagar going out procession on the Kailasa Vahanam. This ceremony is mostly conducted on the ninth night. The tenth day Karthigai Deepam festival starts at around four o clock in the early hours and the Bharani Deepam is lit at the temple. In the evening the Mahadeepam is lit on the top of the hill at around six o clock. This is a very important ceremony during the Karthikai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai. Arunachaleswarar is said to be visually represented in the form of agni on the hill top. There is a very mammoth gathering on this day at the Arunachaleswarar temple to witness this glorious and sacred event. The night ceremony starts with Lord Periya nayagar going out procession on the Rishaba vahanam that is made of gold. This is another spectacular event at Arunachaleswar temple at Tiruvannamalai. On the eleventh day Lord Arunachaleswarar goes in the boat and this is called Theppam, since it carried out in the tank. The twelveth day the Lord Arunachaleswarar goes procession round the hill, known as Girivalam or pradhiksahana. With this ceremony the Karthigai Deepam festival at Arunachaleswarar temple comes to a grand conclusion with the devotees taking back home some divine blessings and memories from this ancient holy city Tiruvannamalai.