Thiruvannamalai (Arunachala) - Abode of Lord Shiva and a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam

► Thiruvannamalai (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu)

☗ Arunachala Mountain
(Tamil Nadu Uplands)

(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)

• Shiva: Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Lord Shiva manifested as an infinite Taijasa Lingam (Column of Fire).
- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Lord Shiva later manifested in a smaller form as the Arunachala Mountain.
- Arunachala Mountain
- Arunachaleshwar Temple

• Devi: Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Devi Parvati performed penance after performing penance at Kanchipuram.
- Devi Unnamulai (or Apitakuchambigai)
- Pavala Kundru

• Sages: Sages associated with Arunachala:

○ Gautama: Sage Gautama told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra (Arunachala Mahatmya) to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there (Pavala Kundru).

• Saints: Saints associated with Arunachala:

○ Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950 CE): Sri Ramana Maharshi spent most of his life in Thiruvannamalai and has an ashrama there on the foothills of the Arunachala Mountain.
- Ramana Ashram


(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)

▬ Lord Shiva manifesting as Taijasha Linga
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 1)
▬ Lord Shiva manifesting as Arunachala Mountain
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 2)
▬ Devi Parvati performing penance at Kanchipuram
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 3 to 4)
▬ Devi Parvati performing penance at Arunachala
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 4 to 9)

► Thiruvannamalai - Arunachala Mountain and Temple
(Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu)

The Arunachaleshwarar Temple of Thiruvannamalai is a famous temple of Lord Shiva. Thiruvannamalai is a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam associated with the element of Agni (Fire). Lord Shiva manifested here as an infinite Taijasha Lingam and later in smaller form of Arunachala Mountain for the worship of the Devas. Arunachaleshwarar Temple is also a Paadal Petra Sthalam (Thiru Annamalai) whose glory was sung by the Nayanmars.

► Thiruvannamalai - Pavala Kundru Temple
(Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu)

The Pavala Kundru Temple of Thiruvannamalai is the place where Devi Parvati performed penance in Arunachala to get united with Lord Shiva.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama in the erstwhile Gautama Ashrama on the outskirts of Mithila.

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Shiva Purana) (Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
• Sage Gautama performed penance in the Brahmagiri Mountain meditating on Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva relieved Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Gautami Ganga (Godavari).
• Sage Gautama told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra (Arunachala Mahatmya) to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Mithila - Ahilya Asthan: Identified with the hermitage of sage Gautama.
► Nashik - Tryambakeshwar: The place where sage Gautama brought river Godavari on Earth.
► Thiruvannamalai: Told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there (Pavala Kundru).

◍ Life: Born in Thirucuzhi, near Madurai.

◍ Sadhana & Philosophy:
• Realized the Self through a death experience during boyhood.
• Suggested Aatma Vichara (Self-Enquiry), or the direct enquiry within oneself to find the source from where the "I" rises.

◍ Compositions:
• Sayings recorded in many books including Who am I, Day by Day with Bhagavan and Talks. (Sayings of Ramana Maharshi)
• Famous song Arunachala Akshara Manimalai (Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva).

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Thiruvannamalai - Ramana Ashram: Spent most of his life in Thiruvannamalai and had an ashrama at the foothills of the Arunachala Mountain.