HOMENEW7

*The Glory of Arunachala*
Arunachalesvara Temple is a temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at the base of Arunachala hill in the town of Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the five temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas: this one is linked with the element of fire, or Agni. Here, Shiva is worshiped as Arunachalesvara or Annamalaiyar, with his idol referred to as Agni lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Unnamalai Amman.
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).
*Legends*
In Hindu mythology, Parvati, once closed the eyes of Shiva playfully in a flower garden at their abode atop Mount Kailas. Although it was only a moment for the gods, all light disappeared from the universe, and the earth was submerged in darkness for years. As atonement, Parvati performed penance along with other devotees of Shiva – He appeared as a column of fire at the top of Annamalai hills and returned the light to the world. He then merged with Parvati to form Ardhanareeshvara, the half-female, half-male form of Shiva.
Another legend is that once, while Vishnu and Brahma contested for superiority, Shiva appeared as a flame, and challenged them to find His source. Brahma took the form of a swan, and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu became the boar Varaha, and sought its base. The scene is called lingothbava, and is represented in the western wall at the sanctum of most Shiva temples. Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find the source. While Vishnu conceded his defeat, Brahma didn’t.
Unable to see the crown, Brahma saw a thazhambu flower ( kethaki in Sanskrit) which had decked Siva’s crown falling down. He asked the flower as to the distance of Siva’s crown whereby the flower replied that he had been falling for forty thousand years! Brahma, realizing that he would not be able to reach the crown asked the flower to act as a false witness.
The thazhambu flower lied and declared that Brahma had seen the crown. Shiva became angry at the deception and cursed that Brahma would have no temple on earth and that the thazhambu flower should not be used while praying to Lord Siva. The place where Lord Siva stood as a column of fire to eliminate the ego is Thiruvannamalai.Since Shiva manifested himself in the form of fire in this place, this name Arunachalam, meaning Red Hill came to be associated with Annamalai hill and the town.
Thiruvannamalai is the most sacred of the 275 temples of Lord Siva Temples which were praised by the hymns of Thevaram and are called “Thirumurai Thalangal”. Siva Puranam identifies four sacred places for obtaining salvation of which Thiruvannamalai is one among them. The significance of this place is that by mere remembrance of Lord Arunachaleswarar at this place gives salvation to all souls (Ninaithale Mukthi Tharum Thiruthalam). This temple is the “Manipooraka Sthalam”, which is one among six athara sthalams. Thiruvannamalai is so sacred that even Gods, and celestials offered their prayers. Tradition has it that Sun, Moon, Eight Vasus, Brahma, Vishnu and so on have worshipped here.
Thiruvannamalai has been the abode of many Siddhars and saints. The whole world learnt of this place during the 20th century, through the work of Ramana Maharishi (1879–1950 CE). The cave where Ramana meditated is on the lower slopes of the Arunachala hills, with the ashram further down at the foothills. The basement of the raised hall inside the temple has the Patala Lingam, where Ramana attained supreme awareness while ants devoured his flesh. The place is also called a Mukthi Sthalam, meaning place of salvation.
*Karthigai Deepam festival*
The temple celebrates dozens of festivals throughout the year. The most important of these lasts ten days during the Tamil month of Karthikai, in November and December, concluding with the celebration of Karthikai Deepam. A huge lamp is lit in a cauldron at the top of the Arunachala hills during the Deepam. To mark the occasion, the Utsava Murthies of Arunachalesvara is taken atop a wooden chariot around the mountain. Inscriptions indicate that the festival was celebrated as early as the Chola period (from 850 CE to 1280 CE) and was expanded to ten days in the twentieth century.
*Giri Pradakshina*
At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the top. But here at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its ‘giripradakshina’ (giri = mountain and pradakshina: Prada = giver of boons; Kshi = destroyer of Karma; Na = giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina = going around with centre kept to the right. In Tamil language, this process of going around, is called ‘giri valam’ (valam = right side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when circumambulating.
Every full moon, lakhs of devotees worship Arunachalesvara by pradakshina around the Arunachala hill barefoot covering a distance of 14 kms. According to Hindu legend, the walk removes sins, fulfils desires and helps achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Pradakshina is “All is within me.” The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and atma -pradakshina (i.e. turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self. Says the Ribhu Gita: “I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).’ [Ramana Maharshi, Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi].