Tiruvannamalai - History

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Tiruvannamalai - History

In ancient times, the term "Annamalai" meant an inaccessible mountain. The word "Thiru" was prefixed to signify its greatness, and coupled with the two terms, it is called Thiruvannamalai. Maha-Visnu and Brahma puffed up with arrogance sought to perceive the end and beginning of Siva. Visnu took the form of a boar and started searching Siva's terminal, while Brahma assumed the form of a Swan and commenced seeking the head of Siva. Siva, stood in the form of light - Fire just to snub their vanity. Thiruvannamalai, is the sthala Where the Lord Siva took the form of Fire, This anecdote has been praised by Thiru gnanasambanda by a psalm. Because Lord Siva assumed the Form of fire to be out of reach for Vishnu and Brahma here , the place took the name Annamalai. "Annal', is a Special name for Siva. That is the reason Gnanasambnda Speaks of the greatness as the "shadow of Annal ". The Fire-light form assumed by Annal became the mountain of this Sthala.

Hence this mountain came to be known as Annal Malai, slowly corrupted to Annamalai. That which cannot be approached, the inaccessible mountain, is Annamalai. Because the Lord Siva took the inaccessible form of Fire, neither the crest nor the root could be approached, it got the sacred name Annamalai. This term Annamalai, was called Arunachala, Arunagiri in sanskrit. Aruna means crimson colour. Arunachalam means the red Mountain (achala means immovable). As Siva Stood in the form of Fire it became a Fire Mountain. A mountain of Fire is red in Colour. This Thiruvannamalai sthala is also known by the names Arunagiri, Annamalai, Arunachalam, Arunai, Sonagiri and Sonachalam. Arunai is only the corrupt form of the name Arunagiri , Arunamalai and Arunachalam. All these names signify only one thing - the Fire Mountain. True to the convention of calling this sthala by various names stressing the prime name Fire mountain, to this day the Mountain of this sthala is clothed in a crimson light like Fire at daw,when the sun rises in the East.

Grandeur of This Sthala

This Tiruvannamalai is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in India, on a sprawling 24 acre temple campus, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every full moon. The hill here is considered to be a manifestation of Siva. The Earth is composed of Five elements. Earth ,Water ,Fire, Air, Ether are these five elements.They are also known as prithivi, Appu, Thejo, Vayu and Akasa. Tholkappiar in his composition (1589) has categorically stated some thousand years ago tha this world is composed of these five elements . The physical body of the throbbing life is also intermingled by these five elements. Our ancients, having understood the essence of the five elements, have caused temples to be erected for each elements. They Are known as the Sacred spots of the five Elements.

Earth (land) - prithivi - Thiruvarur, Kancheepuram

Water - Appu - Thiruvannakikka

Fire - Theju - Thiruvannamalai

Air - Vayu - Thirukkalathi

Ether - Akasa - Chidambaram

Thillai Kalambakam beautifully Expresses about this five sthalas of elements. Of the sthalas of five elements, Thiruvannamalai is the Teju Sthala : and stands foremost in bestowing grace. To be born in Thiruvarur, to die in Kasi, to see Thillai, to think about Thiruvannamalai bestows liberation; hence this sthala naturally stands supreme. oneshould reach a place to see, and to die, but to think one need not move an inch. One can think from the place and think of Annamalai. Beacuse this place bestows libration, this has securedthe names Muktipuri and Sivologam. The Mukti sthala - Thiruvannamalai is supreme through three aspects, Deity, Sthala, and Tirtha (holy water). Located (holy water). Located 42 miles (67 kms) from villipuram, this Mukthi sthala spreads through an expense of 24 acres containing the temple of Annamalaiyar with towers piercing the sky.

This shrine is Famous not only in South india but throughout India. Its fame is immeasurable. It is the utterence of Saint Thirunavukarasar that one's sins will be washed off by a worship here. It was in this sthala of "Fire" that the shapeless Supreme assumed a cognisable Shape. Saint Manickavachagar has put forth this idea in one of his psalm as "i bow to the Formless and the Form. The mountain in this place is like a medical cure and hence is called "Malai Marunthu" (medicine mountain), As It got the name Arunachalam. Legends declare that those who pronounce the name of this sthala once, secure the bliss of repeating three crores of time the pancakshara (the Mantra of Five Words) and that not only those who visited and worshipped in this stala, but also their descendents upto 21 generations will get liberation. Brahma and Visnu filled with joy on seeing the Lord in the form of a Mountain addressed him supplicating how can they worship if he were to remain as a huge mountain and requested him to take the form of a sivalingam at the foot of the hill.

Lord Siva conceded to their request to becme a sivalinga and vanished within the hill. Immediately a Sivalinga appeared there. Overwhelmed with joy, Brahma and vishnu caused a temple to be erected through the divine sculptor Mayan. A prosperous city and three hundred holy pools sprang there. Besides the celestial Ganga and Kalpaka became Wells and trees. The Epics declare that Devas and Sages were born as men. Legend also reveals that while Nandikeswara was extrolling the greatness of this sthala to sage Markandeya, he explained that while all others sthalas can be deemed to be Body, this Arunachala is the Face with Lord siva as its eyes. He also told that the fame of this stala is unfathomable. Those who bathe in the Holy tanks like Indra Tirtham,circumambulate the hill, perform "Dhapas" (donate gifts). Worship Arunachala, witness the Deepa Darshana and meditate sincerely will be blessed with vast wealth and attain liberation.

Tiruvannamalai - History

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