Sri Arunachaleshwarar Namavali

Sri Arunachaleshwarar Namavali

INTRODUCTION

Arunachaleswara Temple, also called as Annamalaiyar Temple, is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva, located at Arunachala hill in the town of Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and Lord Shiva is worshipped as an element of fire in this temple. Shiva is worshiped as Arunachaleswara or Annamalaiyar, and he is worshipped in the form of Agni lingam. Mata Parvati is known as Unnamalai Amman. The importance of Annamalayar was mentioned in the famous text Tevaram.

The temple is one of the largest temples in India. The temple opens from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and celebrates several festivals. The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated in a grand manner in this temple. Girivalam is very famous among the devotees, and they will circumambulate the sacred arunachala hill especially during full moon days. Chitra Pournami festival is a famous festival for the devotees and thousands of devotees would make their girivalam during that day.

According to ancient puranas Mata Parvati, once playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. Due to her act, the entire universe was surrounded with full of darkness for several years. In order to maintain the universe to its normal form, Mata Parvati performed penance at the Arunachala hills, and Lord Shiva appeared before her and she merged with Lord Shiva.

According to another famous legend, when Vishnu and Brahma challenged that they are the superior gods among the other gods, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a flame, and challenged them to find his original form. Brahma took the form of a swan, and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu became the boar Varaha, and sought its base. Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find his original form, and while Vishnu accepted his defeat, Brahma had lied and told that he had seen Lord Shiva’s original form. Due to his act, Lord Shiva cursed Lord Brahma that he would never have any temples on the earth.

Sambandar, Appar and Manickavasagar praises the glory of the temple, and written about it in their sacred texts. The place is also called as Mukthi Sthalam and saints like Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharishi were lived in this Tiruvannamalai.

Let us chant the 108 divine names of Lord Arunachaleswarar, and let us be blessed.