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.
Arunachalam Temple Darshan Tickets Online Booking 2025
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.
What are the important Dates of the Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam
| Event | Date | Day | Timing (Pournami Start–End) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January Pournami | January 13–14, 2025 | Monday–Tuesday | 4:32 AM (Jan 13) – 3:42 AM (Jan 14) | Full moon |
| February Pournami | February 11–12, 2025 | Tuesday–Wednesday | 6:56 PM (Feb 11) – 7:23 PM (Feb 12) | Auspicious for meditation |
| March Pournami | March 13–14, 2025 | Thursday–Friday | 10:36 AM (Mar 13) – 12:24 PM (Mar 14) | Ideal for spiritual growth |
| Maha Shivaratri | March 1, 2025 (est.) | Saturday | All day and night | Great Night of Shiva |
| April Pournami | April 12–13, 2025 | Saturday–Sunday | 3:22 AM (Apr 12) – 5:52 AM (Apr 13) | Popular for weekend pilgrims |
| Chaitra Purnima | April 12–13, 2025 | Saturday–Sunday | 3:22 AM (Apr 12) – 5:52 AM (Apr 13) | First Tamil month’s full moon |
| May Pournami | May 11–12, 2025 | Sunday–Monday | 7:09 PM (May 11) – 9:13 PM (May 12) | Warmer weather |
| June Pournami | June 10–11, 2025 | Tuesday–Wednesday | 10:55 AM (Jun 10) – 12:29 PM (Jun 11) | Suitable for early morning walks to avoid heat. |
| July Pournami | July 10–11, 2025 | Thursday–Friday | 1:04 AM (Jul 10) – 1:48 AM (Jul 11) | Monsoon season |
| August Pournami | August 8–9, 2025 | Friday–Saturday | 1:41 PM (Aug 8) – 1:23 PM (Aug 9) | Busy due to weekend |
| September Pournami | September 7, 2025 | Sunday | Not specified (evening–night typical) | Quieter month |
| October Pournami | October 6–7, 2025 | Monday–Tuesday | Not specified (evening–night typical) | Pre-Navratri period |
| November Pournami | November 4–5, 2025 | Tuesday–Wednesday | Not specified (evening–night typical) | Leads up to Karthigai Deepam |
| Karthigai Deepam | December 4, 2025 | Thursday | All day; flame lit at sunset (~6:00 PM) | Massive festival. |
| December Pournami | December 4–5, 2025 | Thursday–Friday | Not specified (evening–night typical) | Coincides with Karthigai Deepam |
What is the route of this
it has a 14 kilometer walk,
Starting PointYou can start at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, the main temple at the hill’s base. It’s easy to find, and many people begin here. The temple opens at 5:00 AM, so early morning is a good time to start.
The PathThe route is a circle around the hill, going clockwise. It takes about 3 to 5 hours to walk. The path is mostly flat and paved, so it’s not too hard. You’ll see signs and small shrines to guide you. The road is called Girivalam Path, and it’s well-known to locals.
Key StopsThere are eight special Shiva Lingams (sacred stones) along the way. Each has a small temple:
- Indra Lingam – For strength and leadership.
- Agni Lingam – For energy and courage.
- Yama Lingam – For health and long life.
- Niruthi Lingam – For protection from evil.
- Varuna Lingam – For peace and wisdom.
- Vayu Lingam – For fresh air and freedom.
- Kubera Lingam – For wealth and success.
- Eesanya Lingam – For spiritual growth.
Room Details and Hygiene
The room is about 200 meters from the temple, and you can see the temple view from the building. It’s a two-floor building with rooms, and ours is a deluxe room. Here’s how it looks—very hygienic, with a clean washroom. Since we’re leaving tonight, we won’t spend much time in the room. washroom—it’s very clean and hygienic. The room is right opposite the Arunachalam temple on the main road. Let’s freshen up and start the Arunachalam Giri Pradakshina (circumambulation of the hill).
Starting the Giri Pradakshina
For Giri Pradakshina, it’s best to do it in the morning or evening to avoid the afternoon heat. It’s currently around 11 AM, so let’s see how long it takes to complete the circumambulation. There are eight lingams along the route, including two special ones—Surya Lingam and Chandra Lingam.
The Giri Pradakshina starts from the Rajagopuram opposite the temple. We’ll break a coconut here and begin. If you’ve done the Giri Pradakshina, please share your experience in the comment box. The first lingam is on the left side, and we’ll proceed from the temple’s gopuram. It might take about four hours—let’s see how long it actually takes.
Exploring the Lingams on the Route
There are eight lingams in total, with the second one being Agni Lingam, which is on the right side, slightly inward. After that, every kilometer or so, you’ll find a lingam. There are also many temples along the route. You’ll mostly walk on the road, and maps along the way show where each lingam is located and how far it is. The next lingam after Agni Lingam is Yama Lingam, which is on the left side. Most lingams are on the left, except for Agni Lingam, which is on the right. Along the way, you’ll see deer and peacocks—look, they’re visible on the right side, and some peacocks are deeper inside. Let me know in the comments if you spot them!
Progress of Giri Pradakshina
So far, we’ve covered about 7 kilometers, and we’ve reached Varuna Lingam. From here, we have another 7 kilometers to complete the Giri Pradakshina. It can be a bit challenging to walk, but let’s continue.
The next lingam is Vayu Lingam, also on the left side. After that, we’ll reach Chandra Lingam, which is part of the eight lingams and is also on the left. Every lingam except Agni Lingam is on the left side. After Chandra Lingam, we’ll reach Kubera Lingam, also on the left.
Moksha Margam and Completion of Giri Pradakshina
After Kubera Lingam, you can go to the famous Moksha Margam (Path to Liberation) in Arunachalam. It’s believed that passing through this path grants moksha (liberation). The Giri Pradakshina is almost complete, and it should finish in about half an hour. So far, it’s taken gone to you around three hours. Let’s see how much longer it takes.
Important Links :-
Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam 2025 Information
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.
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