Sri Arunachaleswar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

Sri Arunachaleswar Temple

Tiruvannamalai

That was one fine Saturday, I started my journey from my office to Koyambedu bus terminus (Chennai) post after having lunch at office. I was waiting for a bus to Thiruvannamalai for more than 20 mins, and meanwhile sipped a cup of tea. That day was also a sunny day too. Finally I end up with S.E.T.C bus towards Thiruvannamalai. I think my bus driver was bit tired, I reached thiruvannamalai after 4 and half hours of travel at 7 p.m. usually the journey  will take 3 and half hours from Chennai.

I had to hunt around the temple to find a good hotel. My suggestion you not to look for any rooms near to temple it is not worthy even if you find A/C rooms.  I took a room and refreshed.  It was already 7.45 pm.

I rushed toward the temple and entered into moolasthanam (place of main deity). I thought the crowd would be more and will not be able to get darshan soon but I was able to make it up on the third turn and viewed Lord Arunachaleshwarar and Goddess Unnamulai Amman. I was very happy and fully satisfied with the sight of the lord. I then bought 2 packets of puliogare sold in the temple shop and had peacefully. I was happy with the Darshan and my belly with prasadam.  You get good drinking water at temple premises near Kili Kopuram (Parrot tower) and they have maintained it well. Then came out around 9 pm and took some snaps.

 

About temple

Sri Arunachaleswarar temple is a one of most important temple dedicated for lord Siva. This is one of panchabootha sthala (Fire). Many devotees will do “Girivalam” (Around the holy hill by walk) mostly on a full moon day. The hill itself is Shiva Linga. This is a temple of great significance in South India. The very thought of this temple ensures total salvation to the soul. This is the place that would destroy the “I” arrogance. Mother Uma performed penance here going round the hill to claim the left part of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva granted His darshan to mother in the form of Light-Jyothi. This is the birth place of Saint Arunagiriar. Frustrated in life, when the Saint attempted to end himself, Lord Muruga protected him from death. Lord Muruga also made him a poet whose Tirupugazh hymns stand unmatched till today in the meter forms, syllables, melody and spiritual content singing the glory of Lord Muruga.

 Tiruvannamalai is the sacred place where Ligodhbava came into being first and followed in other Shiva Temples. The temple covers an area of 25 acres with 9 towers and 9 corridors-prakaras. The tower of the temple is the second tallest – 217 feet. The temple is always crowded with devotees as in Tirupathi. The temple was built in the 6th Century. The renovations of this ancient temple were done by Chera, Chola, Pandya and Vaisala kings at various periods. Tiruvannamalai was home to number of Siddhas in the past whose lineage continues even today. Their Holinesses Sri Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi and Visiri Samiyar attained salvation on this sacred soil. Girivalam: Lord Shiva gave His Half to Mother Parvathi on the Kruthika star day in the month of Karthikai-November-December. Therefore, Girivalam – going round the hill – is taken up by the devotees this day.
 

 It is said that great Rishis and enlightened souls were following this as a penance on Pradosha days and on the first day each Tamil month. This is followed by devotees now-a-days. It is said that Moon absorbs all energies from Sun on Poornima days and therefore, this day is considered important for Girivalam. Of the five Shaktis on which Earth stands – Space, Water, Air, Earth and Fire the Agni, Tiruvannamalai belongs to Agni. Tuesday is attributed to Agni. Girivalam is undertaken on this day. There will be special pujas in the temple. Worshipping the Lord on Sundays bring high positions to the devotee equal to a posting in His court, Mondays elevate the devotee to a position equal to Indira, Tuesdays ensure relief from debt burdens and poverty and continued prosperity in the births following, Wednesdays for academic excellence and final salvation, Thursdays wisdom equal to Maharshis, Fridays grace of Lord Vishnu and a place in His abode and Saturdays the benefit of worshipping all the 9 planets. Worshipping on New Moon day brings total mental peace. Observing a fasting for 48 days and performing the Girivalam blesses the couple with child boon.

 

 

Temple opens at:      

5.00 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m every day

 

Address

Sri Arunachaleswar Temple, Tiruvannamalai-606 601, Tiruvannamalai Dist. +91-4175 252 438.

 

Next day, I check-out my room at 8.00 am and planned to go Thirukkovilur temple, I walked towards bus stand, on the way I also visited Sri Bootha Perumal temple near bus stand, this is very small temple and dedicated to lord Vishnu. After I got dharshan I continued walking towards bus stand to catch Tirukkovilur bus. On the way a lady was selling Keppai koozh (Ragi porridge) on road side, I was so….. hungry and I also love this drink (south indian traditional liquid food.  Had a bowl of koozh with spicy side dishes like, salt & chili coated raw mangos, butter milk dried chillies, pickle,  dried turkey berry fried. It was so yummy. She charged me Rs. 10/- per bowl. That was equivalent to my breakfast.  But you still have many vegetarian restaurants for your refreshments.

Then I travelled to Thirukkovilur, it is about 34 kms away from Thiruvannamalai, there is a good frequency for he buses to visit this place.  It was  9.15 am when I reach Sri Thiruvikrama Swamy temple at Thirukkovilur. 

Will Continue...