Tiruvannamalai - Peaceful paradise . Review on Tiruvannamalai

I used to ask myself, why there are many foreigner visit this small town in Tamilnadu, a statistical report says next to Mahabalipuram in Chennai this place attracts visitors from ourside India.Tiruvannamalai is been considered as a religious place for Hindus, though the major attraction for foreigner is Yoga

in the town. For the domestic people Arunachaleswarar temple in this town is one of the important place they every wanted to visit in their life. This place is also called Southern Kailash.

The legend beyond this temple is that, once upon a time when Vishnu and Brahman had issue

concluding who is powerful among them, the issue has been taken to Lord Siva for his justice. He said I will grow touching the sky on my head and going underground on my foot you both have to choose take each destination (feet and head), whoever reaches their destination first is the powerful person. Brahma

accepted the offer and said he will go towards the head as he can fly easily with Swan avatar, Vishnu accepted to touch the foot as he has already had varagam(Pig) avatar so it is easy for him to dig the ground.

The competition started between them and both were traveling towards their destinations for long time, years rolled and they could never reach the destination. While Brahma flying towards the head,

chancing upon a piece of "Thazhambu", a flower learnt from it that it had been floating down for thirty thousand years from Lord Siva's head. He seized upon this and claimed to Lord Siva that he had seen the other's top. Lord Siva realized the falsehood and pronounced that there would never be a temple

for Lord Brahma in this world.

He also interdicted the use of the flower Thazhambu in his worship.Lord Siva appeared as a flame an outcome of the angry caused by the lie from Brahma. After the other Gods of Hindus requested him to be clam as it affect the entire galaxy he clam down settling as a hill in this town called Tiruvannamalai which is a form of Thiru – Respectful, Anna – Greatest, Malai – Hill. This hill has been worshiped by people as Lord Siva. Every full moon day about 2Lakhs people are visiting Tiruvannamalai and walking around the 14 kms

of hill rounding path by foot even without a foot wear.

This incident is been celebrated every year

by Hindus all over India

as Karthikai Deepam festival. The festival falls 10 consecutive days in

November and December months of English calendar. The temple in Tiruvannamalai

is one of the World largest Hindu temples covering 24acres of land mostly

covered with granite flooring. The temple as nine numbers of fully completed

Gopuram(entrance towers) with the Main entrance as high has the tallest Hindu

temple in the world. The entire temple has been developed in various time

period by many kings and emperors. The Sannathi (place for worship) is build

before 2000 years from now. The main tower is build by Krishna Devarayar who is

also well known emperors of India

and who build the worlds richest temple

Thirupati. Other

atteractions of the temple are the 1000pillar hall, Golden car, tallest bronze

statue of Lord Natraj and stone made link chains on the pillars inside the

temple. This temple is one of the five temples of Panja bootham (Fire, Water, Ground,

Sky and Air) and Lord Arunachaleswarar represents Fire.

Apart from Arunachaleswarar temple this

town also has a Pavazha Kundru where is believed to be the place Siva and

Sakthi integrated themselves has a single person showing the importance of

Husband and Wife. The Pavasha kundru is about 200 meters from north side

entrance of the Arunachaleswarar temple. There is also a belief that those

husband and wife who has internal problem visiting here will make them

integrated.

This temple is around 200kms distance from

Chennai and connected by National highways. The Bangalore – Pondy NH65 crosses this town and

connecting NH45 in Tindivanam. While traveling from Chennai the tourist can

also visit Gingee the great fort which is just 28kms from Tiruvannamalai. This

place also has several ashrams of Yogis and in the recent days the Greatest

Music Director Illayaraja has been attracted by this temple and permanently

living here as a devotee to Lord Siva.

It is one of the most peaceful places I

have ever seen in my life I hope you people will have a peaceful feeling deep inside

your heart while visiting the temple here.

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