It occupies a special place in the Saivite realm and is regarded as one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams (one of the five grand temples associated with the five basic elements) – associated with the element Fire; the other four being Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (sky), Kanchi Ekambareswara (earth) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).
It is said that the Saivite saint poet Manikkavasagar composed the Tiruvempaavai while at Thiruvannamalai.
History
The earliest known record of the temple is in the works of the poet Nakkirar of the third Tamil Sangam period. This dates the temple's origins back at least 2000 years. At that time, the temple might have been a simple wooden structure. The present masonry structure and gopurams (temple towers) date back approximately 1200 years. This has been determined from an inscription in the structure that was made during the reign of Chola kings who ruled in the ninth century.
Architecture
The temple spreads over 24 acres (97,000 m2). The 11 tiered East Rajagopuram towers to a height of 217 feet (66 m), while the fortified walls pierced with 4 gopura entrances offer a formidable look to this vast temple complex . The Pei Gopuram, Tirumanjana Gopuram and Ammanaiammal gopuram are the other three. The 1000 pillared hall and the temple tank were built by Krishna Devarayar of Vijayanagar. Each of the prakarams has a huge Nandi and several towers such as the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and Kili Gopuram.
Festivals
The celebration of the festival Karthikai Deepam marks the conclusion of the ten-day Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Karthikai. This event beats the Tirupathi Brahmotsavam in attracting number of devotees to the temple. On 1 December 2009 around 3 million people participated to celebrate the Maha Deepam in the city of Tiruvannamalai. [2] Four Brahmotsavams are celebrated every year, the most famous of which is the one celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthikai (November/December). This ten day event culminates on the day of Karthigai Deepam and on that evening, a huge lamp is lit in a cauldron with three tons of ghee at the top of the Annamalai hill.[3]
Every full moon night, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Shiva by circumambulating the Arunachala hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers a distance of about 15 km.[4].
On the yearly Chitra Pournami (full moon) night in the Tamil calendar year, lakhs of pilgrims come from across the world to worship Him. The height of the Arunachala hill is approximately 1600 feet. Five magnificent thears (chariots) with beautiful wooden carving, are special used for the procession.
Tiruvoodal(திருவூடல் திருவிழா) is another grand festival, that usually celebrated during the first week of Tamil month Thai (From 14 till 18 January) ever year, is a colourful and amazing event.[citation needed] On the day of maato pongal (15 and 16 January) in the morning Nandhi (chief of the Bhootha Ghanas and the Vahana (mount) of Lord Shiva) is beautifully decorated with the garlands specially made with variety of fruits, vegetables and sweets, while the Lord and his consort come out of the temple and perform the oodal ceremony in the evening. This particular event happens outside the Temple on the Tiruoodal street.
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Proper name: | Arulmigu Annamalaiyar Thirukoil |
| Sanskrit transliteration: | Arunachaleswara |
| Tamil: | திருஅண்ணாமலையார் திருக்கோயில் |
| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Tamil Nadu |
| District: | Tiruvannamalai district |
| Locale: | Thiruvannamalai |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Primary deity: | Annamalaiyar (Shiva) and Consort: Unnamalaiyaal (Apitakuchambaal -Parvati) |
| Architectural styles: | Kovil |
| History | |
| Date built: | 10 B.C. |
thiruvanamalai temple history in tamil
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