THIRUVANNAMALAI

                                                            Sthala Mahimai

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Sri Lakshmi Narayana Kubera Perumal Sannidhi is situated in Girivala paadhai, Kubera Nagar, approximately 1000 metres North of the Lord Arunachaleswara Temple, Thiruvannamalai. It is where thousands of devotees get a Darshan of Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

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An air of mysticism surrounds one's soul once he sets his feet in Thiruvannamalai. This is a place where serenity sings a silent tune imposing itself strongly on all who embarked on a spiritual journey there.

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History:

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Thiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage town and home to the Annamalaiyar and Unnamalaiyaal located at the foot of the Annamalai Hill. Shiva over here is enshrined within the sanctum of the temple as Arunachaleshwara and Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Unnamulai Amman or Apeethakuchambal. This Temple is one of the great Shiva Temples in Tamil Nadu.

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Once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over an argument of their supremacy tried to find the beginning and the end of the column of fire assumed by Lord Shiva thereby submitting to His cosmic pervasiveness. The column of fire (Lord Shiva) is said to have then taken a form of a hill to be ever present to the longing eyes of the devotees.

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A most noteworthy aspect of the legend is that Goddess Parvati is claimed to have occupied the right half of the Lord's body here. Hence the form of Ardhanareeshwara.

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This Shiva Temple was built between the 9th and the 10th centuries by the Chola kings of the Tamil empire. The earliest known record of the temple is in the works of the poet Nakkirar of the third Tamil Sangam period.

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Thiruvannamalai is Tejo Sthalam among the Pancha Bootha Sthalangal representing the fire element along with Chidambaram (Akasa sthalam - Space), Sri Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air), Thiruvanaikoil (Appu sthalam - Water) and Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth). Also, this sacred place is also known as the "Manipooraga Sthalam", which is one among six Athara Sthalams.

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Thiruvannamalai is so sacred that even Gods, and celestials offered their prayers. Tradition has it that Sun, Moon, Eight Vasus, Brahma, Vishnu and so on have worshipped here.

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Thiruvannamalai has the honour of providing an abode for saints such as Arunagirinathar, Vitpatchathevar, Gugai Namachivayar, Guru Namachivayar, Deivasigamani, Arunachala Desikar, Mahan Seshadri Swamigal, Bagawan Ramana Maharishi, Sri Yogi Ram Surathkumar and the like.

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Architecture:

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The Temple is famous for its massive Gopurams. The 11 tiered East Rajagopuram towers to a height of 217 feet, while the fortified walls pierced with 4 gopura entrances offer a formidable look to this vast temple complex .

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The Pei Gopuram, Tirumanjana Gopuram and Ammanaiammal Gopuram are the other three. The 1000 pillared hall and the temple tank were built by Krishna Deva Rayarar of Vijayanagar. Each of the prakarams has a huge Nandi and several towers such as the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and Kili Gopuram.

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Festivals:

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Four Brahmotsavams are celebrated every year, the most famous of which is the one celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov/Dec). The ten day event culminates on the day of Karthigai Deepam. On that evening, a huge lamp is lit in a cauldron with three tons of ghee at the top of the Annamalai Hill.

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Every full moon night, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Shiva by circumambulating the Arunachala Hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers a distance of about 14 km.On the yearly Chitra Powrnami (full moon) night in the Tamil calendar year,hundreds and thousands of pilgrims from across the world visit the sacred town.