Arunachaleswarar Temple
Type
Hindu Temple
Deity
Lord Shiva
Pincode
606601
A vast Shiva temple at the foot of Arunachala hill, revered as the 'Agni' (fire) shrine among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams. Its towering gopuram is among the tallest in India, and the temple hosts Karthigai Deepam, when a giant flame is lit atop the hill and remains visible for miles.
History & Significance
Significance
Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai is the Agni (Fire) Pancha Bhoota Sthalam — one of five ancient Shiva temples representing the five elements. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Arunachaleswarar (the Lord of Arunachala) in the form of fire. The temple is at the base of the sacred Arunachala hill, which is itself considered a manifestation of Lord Shiva. The hill's circumambulation (girivalam) is one of the most important Shaivite rituals in South India.
History
The temple's origins extend into deep antiquity. The Arunachala Purana describes Lord Shiva manifesting as a column of fire (the Agni Lingam) to settle a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu about who was supreme. The column proved infinite — Brahma couldn't find its top and Vishnu couldn't find its bottom — establishing Shiva's supremacy. The present temple complex was largely built and expanded during the Chola, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara periods, with the towering gopurams added by the Vijayanagara kings and later local rulers.
The Agni Lingam legend: When Brahma and Vishnu argued over supremacy, Shiva appeared as an infinite column of fire (jyothi). Brahma turned into a swan and flew upward; Vishnu turned into a boar and dug downward — neither could find the end. Shiva revealed himself as Arunachala, the hill of fire, and declared that this fire-form was his true nature in the present age. The Karthigai Deepam festival re-enacts this legend with a massive beacon on the hilltop.
Architecture
The temple complex covers 25 acres and features four magnificent gopurams — the tallest is the eastern tower at 66 metres. The complex has nine enclosures and several large sacred tanks. The 1,000-pillared hall (the Kanaka Sabha) is a remarkable example of late Vijayanagara architecture. The Arunachaleswara Lingam in the sanctum is one of the pancha bhoota lingams — representing the element of fire.
Nearby Temples
Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.
