Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai








 Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple 

      This more than 1000 year old Temple was constructed around 9th century initially by the Cholas and later developed by Pandyas, Hoysala, Vijayanagar and Nayak dynasties. There is also a belief that the temple was intially built in 7 th century by the Pallavas going by the architecture around the sanctum  from which the temple has developed . Had the opportunity to visit the temple recently . The temple occupies an area of 25 acres and consist of seven prakarams five in the temple  sixth on the mada veethi, seventh on the girivalam path around the hills. 


      There are nine stately Gopuram  in the temple with four big Gopuram on the four sides and remaining inside the temple. The east Gopuram is the Rajagopuram consisting of 11 tiers and 217 feet in height . It was started by Krishnadevaraya in 1516 and completed by Nayak  rulers later around 1580. The western tower is called Peygopuram, the northern tower is called Ammani Amman  Gopuram  and southern  tower is called Thirumanjana Gopuram. The western Gopuram is the oldest started around 1388 by Hoysala King Ballala.


         There is also a thousand pillared mandapam built during Krishnadevaraya period. The main deity is Arunachaleswarar and the shrine is one of the Panchabootha sthalam representing Agni. The Goddess Unamalaiyamman Sannidhi is in the north west corner of the temple supposed to have been built during the reign of Kulothunga Chola III  around 1180 AD. The compound wall around the temple is more than 30 feet in height and there are seven mandapams in the temple. The girivalam around the temple is 14 kms in distance and can be covered in 3 hours brisk walk which we did. The various towers, mandapams, pillars , images , sculptures  represent   Dravidian form of temple architecture.


         Thiruvannamalai is around 195 kms from Madras and is well connected by road and public transport.

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