The Arunachalam Temple in Tiruvannamalai is one of the five sacred temples of Lord Shiva who represents Fire one of the Panchaboota Lingas in Hindus. It is said that Lord Shiva appeared as the pillar of fire in order to dispel the darkness which engulfed everything/ everyone after a fond gesture by Lady Parvati.
Another more well-known story describes that when Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu tried to decide which of them was greater, Lord Shiva manifested of a luminous column of fire between them and offered Brahma the opportunity to find its base, which he never accomplished. Arunachalam Temple is somehow related to the root of light and creation in Hindu mythology as Vishnu in Varaha avatar tried to fathom the earth in his attempt but could not reach the end as Shiva’s form is measureless.
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Routes To Visit The Arunachalam
To reach Arunachala Shiva temple in Tiruvannamalai:
By Bus:
One can go to Tiruvannamalai town from Chennai, Madurai, Kanchipuram, Tirupathi, Puducherry and Vellore by bus.
By Train:
The other nearest railway station includes the Tindivanam junction, Jolarpettai junction and Villupuram junction. The code given to Tiruvannamalai station is TNM.
By Air:
Foreign visitors and tourist can arrive through the airports of Nearest major airports are Chennai and Madurai.
| Preferred Timings | Description |
|---|---|
| Early Morning | 4:00 AM is a preferred time to start the Giri Pradakshina. |
| Evening | 4:00 PM is another suitable time to begin the walk. |
| Late Night | 10:00 PM onwards is also recommended for starting the Pradakshina. |
Significance Of Arunachalam Temple
Hindus attach a lot of value to the Giripradakshinam, or the procession round the hill of Arunachala. People opine that as lord Arunachaleswara appeared on this mountain in its manifestation, the place all around the base of the mountain is holy. Besides Mount Kailasa, this kind of practice observed only in Tiruvannamalai in India .
Swami Ramana Maharshi, a holy man also among his devotees used to practice Giri Pradakshina around the Arunachala Hill as spiritual sannyasa. In fact, majority of the devotees, without much regard of the mystery behind the chant, have been blessed spiritually and inner peace upon saying, ‘OM Arunachaleswaraya namaha!’ during their Pradakshina.
Although Giri Pradakshina can be done at any day of the week, the preference is on the Full Moon day, called Pournami. Full Moon day average attracts 3 lakh (300,000) devotees while during Kartika Pournami it may vary from 1 to 1.6 million devotes signifying its divine significance and respect.
How To begin the Giri Pradakshina at Arunachalam in Tiruvannamalai
To begin the Giri Pradakshina at Arunachalam in Tiruvannamalai:
Start Point: The entire bike trail begins at the West Gopuram of Sri Arunachaleswarar temple complex.
Preparation: In return to the revered destination the primary Arunachala Temple must be visited before beginning. Take a coconut and a camphor light and that too all as a formality.
Procedure: Recite your Japamala (prayer beads) and the chant should be “OM ARUNACHALESWARAAYA NAMAHAA!” when you are walking around the shake; which is the sacred hill in the local culture. Suppliants recite this mantra in order to obtain boons, or for clarity of mind.
Distance: Total distance of the Giri Pradakshina route is about 15 kilometers. Intermittently, there are 8 small Shiva temples that depict eight cardinal points of the sacred mountain.
Completion: After performing the Pradakshina, you can come to the premises of the temple entry gate for darshan (viewing) of Sri Arunachaleswarar Swamy and Unnamalai Ammal gift the deity of Arunachaleshwar temple.
This Pradakshina around the Arunachala Hill is considered to be pious and holy, and the devotees make rounds in order to attain purity of the soul as well as blessings of Lord Shiva.
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FAQS
Q: Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam: What is it?
Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam is a ritual you may complete by circumambulating the sacred hill of Arunachala, it is a kind of Holy Hill which is highly revered by the Hindu population.
Q: After this, when is the next Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam in 2024?
The next Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam will be held on on January 24-25, 2024.
Q: Significance of Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam is?
According to the belief it cleanses the soul, lighten the hearts and also is offered to Lord Shiva.
Q: To which category of people, is Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam open?
Anyone who wants to offer his prayers and supplications, and aspire for spiritual virtues can participate in Pradakshinam.
Q: What should all the participants wear during the time of Pradakshinam?
Participants should wear lay clothes and be shoeless in order to produce a high level of spirituality.
Q: Is there a right or wrong time to do Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam?
There is no special time but many of the people of Tamil Nadu perform the/?=Arunachalam”>Pradakshinam during Pournami or during the Karthigai Deepam festival.
Q: For how many days does the Pradakshinam take?
It takes some time, although most of the walk lasts a couple of hours and this is a touring of the hill.
Q: Are there any preliminary actions that I have to take for being participated or involved?
It is best to leave during early morning or in the evening when the sun is not so keen and also to condition the mind for the whole exercise.