Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
The Arunachaleswarar Temple, also called the Annamalaiyar Temple, stands at the foot of the sacred Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai. Shiva is worshipped here as the Agni Lingam, the lingam of fire, and the temple is counted as one of the five great elements shrines (Pancha Bhoota Sthalams), representing fire. By tradition, Shiva first appeared here as a pillar of fire during a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu, and the hill itself is treated as a form of Shiva. The temple has tall gopurams and wide courtyards, and it is the heart of the town's pilgrimage.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Lord Arunachaleswarar, the Agni Lingam
- Walk through the tall gopurams and the large stone courtyards
- See the view of the sacred Arunachala hill from the temple
- Ask about the golden chariot (Thanga Ther) that is taken out on special occasions
Ideal for
- Shiva devotees completing the five elements (Pancha Bhoota) temples
- Pilgrims beginning or ending the Girivalam walk
- Families and elders making a temple pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu
Good to know
- Sources give the temple as open from about 5 or 6 am to 12:30 pm and from about 3:30 pm to 9 pm, with a midday break, so check locally
- There is no strict dress code, but modest, traditional clothes are recommended
- The Karthigai Deepam festival draws very large crowds, so plan well ahead if visiting then
- Footwear is left outside, so carry socks or plan for hot floors in summer
- The temple is large, so allow about 1.5 to 2 hours
Spiritual significance
Arunachaleswarar is the temple of Shiva as fire, set under a hill that devotees treat as Shiva himself. For many pilgrims, a visit here, and the walk around the hill, is one of the most important experiences in Tamil Nadu.
Why it matters
- The fire (Agni) lingam: one of the five elements shrines of Shiva
- A sacred hill: Arunachala is worshipped as a form of Shiva
- A living festival tradition: the Karthigai Deepam draws huge crowds every year