LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: Sri Arunachaleswarar Temle is situated at thiruvannamalai. This holy temple at Tiruvannamalai lies at the foot of Arunachala hill and occupies a vast area of 25 acres of land. It is one of the Pancha (five) Bhutasthalas. Tiruvannamalai is the Thejo sthalam - Fire. HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE: Once there was a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu as to who was superior. Lord Shiva in order to put an end to this dispute appeared before them as fire in the shape of a glowing mountain. The two who were quarrelling did not realise who or what this 'mountain of fire' was. So they decided to search for the 'Aathi' (beginning) and the 'Antham' (end) of this 'Jothi' and whoever suc
ceeded first would be declared the superior god. Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upwards in search of the beginning and Lord Vishnu took the form of a 'Varaha' (wild boar) and went burrowing in the earth in order to find the end. Each after flying high and borrowing low failed in his attempt to find the beginning or the end. Brahma did not want to concede defeat. While coming down he saw a petal of 'Thalampoo' floating in the air. He asked the flower to be his witness that he had seen the beginning. The flower agreed to his request. They arrived together and found Lord Vishnu and told Him that Brahma had seen the top and this flower 'Thal
ampoo' was the witness. At this juncture the 'Jothi' transformed itself as Lord Shiva and admonished Brahma for telling lies and the 'Thalampoo' for bearing false witness. He also decreed that no temples would be dedicated for Lord Brahma and that 'Thalampoo' should never be offered in worship. Brahma and Vishnu realising their mistake prayed to Lord Shiva to remain there as a 'Jothi lingam'.DIVINESS OF THE TEMPLE: Devotees refer to this deity by various other names such as Sonachaleswara, Arunagiriswarar, Vedamurthi, Annamalaiyar, Bhaktavashankar, etc. It is recorded that there are as many as 360 thirthas and 400 lingams in the eight-mile circuit of this sacred hill. The Tiruvannamalai temple owes its grandeur to four lofty towers - the eastern one called Rajagopuram is the tallest and measures 217 feet, the western is called the Pey gopuram, the southern - Tirumanjana gopuram and Northern - Ammani Amma gopuram. It has five prakarams, and the walls are broad and high, r
esembling the rampart wall of a fort. In each of the prakara, there are tanks and many mini shrines.AUSPICIOUS DAYS: Traditional poojas start everyday at 7.30 AM followed by Kalasanthi at 9.30 AM. Uchikala poojai begins at 11.30AM. Sayarakshai Poojai starts at 5.30PM & the Ardhajama poojai at 9.30 PM. Special poojas are offered every Monday, Friday, Saturdays, on the first day of every Tamil month, Sukla Chaturthis, Sashti, Amavasya and Pournami.
