Thiruvannamalai Lord Annamalayaar Temple - My Most Favourite Temple

Date: 07.11.2007

In this post, I would like to give a brief account on my most favourite temple, which is, Lord Annamalayaar (or) Lord Arunachaleswarar temple at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, India. One particular thing on which I would like to write in detail is the circumambulation which is being done by innumberable devotees on every full moon night. I really don't understand why I have a special place in my heart for this particular temple. I believe that only The Omnipotent, Lord Annamalayaar can offer an explanation.

Hope that this temple doesn't need any explanation for people who hail from my home state (Tamil Nadu) but I would like give a brief account of this temple and the presiding deity for people hailing from other parts of India and the world.

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Siva. Here, He is referred by the name Annamalayaar (in Tamil) (or) Arunachalaeswarar (in Sanskrit). His Consort is Goddess Unnamulai. The temple is situated at the district of Thiruvannamalai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 185 km from Chennai. It is well-connected to all parts of Tamil Nadu and many parts of neighbouring states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by road. The temple has been constructed in a sprawling area of 27 acres. The 11-storeyed main temple tower, referred to as "Rajagopuram" in Tamil, is the second tallest temple tower in Asia. It is believed that, in this temple, Lord Siva represents one of the five elements of the universe, namely, The Fire. The other four being, land, sky, air and water.

Before proceeding further, I would like to quote one of the Tamil adages on this temple, which translates into English as:

"One attains oneness with God, if one is born at Thiruvaroor (in Tamil Nadu, which also enshrines a famous Siva temple); One attains oneness with God, if one joins the majority at Khasi; One attains oneness with God, the moment one thinks of Thiruvannamalai!!!"

Just infront of the temple there is a mountain. It is believed that Lord Siva has got transmogrified into this mountain. The summit of the mountain is approximately 2700 feet in altitude. The circumference of the mountain is approximately 14.5 km. On every full moon day, after the onset of full moon, innumerable devotees (approximately 6 lakhs), circumambulate the mountain by walk. This circumambulation is believed to consecrate the performer. It is also believed to do miracles in one's life. Thus far, with the Divine Mercy of Lord Annamalayaar, I have done that circumambulation nine times in my life. Ofcourse! Post every circumambulation, I was blessed with some discernible good fortune in my life.

On an average, it takes three and half hours to complete this circumambulation. I personally recommend that whoever does this circumambulation should refrain from uttering anything other than phrases/devotional hymns in praise of Lord Siva. I fervently believe that during the circumambulation, the body, the soul and the language of a person should be in phase with one another and should not concentrate on anyone/anything other than The Almighty.

On every full moon day, the Government of Tamil Nadu operates special buses from almost all parts of Tamil Nadu and also from some parts of neighbouring states to Thiruvannamalai. The fact is that on every full moon day, from the city of Chennai alone, approximately 450 special buses and about 30 special trains are being operated to Thiruvannamalai. On every full moon day, at Thiruvannamalai, even in the wee hours also one would be in a position to procure everything that one needs, which would otherwise be impossible.

Also, the path of circumbulation is well-equipped with dormitory halls for taking rest, clean toilets, street lights, sign boards, hotels, cafes etc for the convenience of devotees. The cleanliness of the path is also being maintained to a fairly good extent. Apart from that, in the path of circumambulation, many local inhabitants offer food (or) fruit juices (whichever they can afford to) to the devotees for free of cost.

Since I am not omniscient, I don't have much to write about the aforesaid sacred place.

Praise The Lord!