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Arunachalesvara Temple
The Arunachalesvara Temple or Annamalaiyar Temple (Tamil: அண்ணாமலையார் திருக்கோவில்), is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, located at the foothills of the Annamalai hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is regarded as one of the most significant temples in the Tamil Shaivite tradition and is associated with the element of fire (Agni) among the five classical elements (Pancha Bhoota Sthalams).
The presiding deity of the temple is Annamalaiyar (Tamil: அண்ணாமலையார்), a manifestation of Shiva, who is worshipped as the embodiment of the Arunachala (Annamalai) hill itself. His consort is known as Unnamulai Ammai (Tamil: உண்ணாமுலை அம்மை), a form of Parvati.
The temple holds immense religious and cultural significance in Tamil Shaivism and is celebrated in canonical Tamil devotional works such as the Thevaram, Thiruvempavai, and Thiruppugazh. It is classified as one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, the sacred sites glorified in early medieval Tamil Saiva literature.
Shiva is worshipped as Annamalaiyar (meaning "The mountain that cannot be reached"), and is represented by the lingam known as the Agni Lingam, symbolizing the element of fire. Parvathi, revered as Unnamulai ammai (As per Thevaram Hymns), is represented by the yoni, with her idol referred to as the Agni Yoni.
The temple's original and enduring name in Tamil tradition is Annamalaiyar Temple, as praised in classical Tamil Shaivite literature.
Both deities were glorified in the 7th-century CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram, composed by saint-poets known as the Nayanars. The temple is classified as a Paadal Petra Thalam, one of the 276 sacred Saivite temples. In the 9th century CE, the saint-poet Manikkavacakar composed the Thiruvempavai at this temple, further elevating its spiritual prominence.
The temple complex covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest in India. It houses four gateway towers known as Gopurams. The tallest is the 11-storey (66 metres (217 ft)) eastern tower, making it one of the tallest temple towers in India built by Sevappa Nayakar (Thanjavur Nayakar dynasty) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Annamalai and Unnamalai being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the thousand-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagara dynasty.
The present masonry structure was built during the Chozha dynasty in the 9th century CE, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagara rulers of the Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 CE), the Saluva Dynasty and the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE). The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
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Arunachalesvara Temple
The Arunachalesvara Temple or Annamalaiyar Temple (Tamil: அண்ணாமலையார் திருக்கோவில்), is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, located at the foothills of the Annamalai hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is regarded as one of the most significant temples in the Tamil Shaivite tradition and is associated with the element of fire (Agni) among the five classical elements (Pancha Bhoota Sthalams).
The presiding deity of the temple is Annamalaiyar (Tamil: அண்ணாமலையார்), a manifestation of Shiva, who is worshipped as the embodiment of the Arunachala (Annamalai) hill itself. His consort is known as Unnamulai Ammai (Tamil: உண்ணாமுலை அம்மை), a form of Parvati.
The temple holds immense religious and cultural significance in Tamil Shaivism and is celebrated in canonical Tamil devotional works such as the Thevaram, Thiruvempavai, and Thiruppugazh. It is classified as one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, the sacred sites glorified in early medieval Tamil Saiva literature.
Shiva is worshipped as Annamalaiyar (meaning "The mountain that cannot be reached"), and is represented by the lingam known as the Agni Lingam, symbolizing the element of fire. Parvathi, revered as Unnamulai ammai (As per Thevaram Hymns), is represented by the yoni, with her idol referred to as the Agni Yoni.
The temple's original and enduring name in Tamil tradition is Annamalaiyar Temple, as praised in classical Tamil Shaivite literature.
Both deities were glorified in the 7th-century CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram, composed by saint-poets known as the Nayanars. The temple is classified as a Paadal Petra Thalam, one of the 276 sacred Saivite temples. In the 9th century CE, the saint-poet Manikkavacakar composed the Thiruvempavai at this temple, further elevating its spiritual prominence.
The temple complex covers 10 hectares, and is one of the largest in India. It houses four gateway towers known as Gopurams. The tallest is the 11-storey (66 metres (217 ft)) eastern tower, making it one of the tallest temple towers in India built by Sevappa Nayakar (Thanjavur Nayakar dynasty) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Annamalai and Unnamalai being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the thousand-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagara dynasty.
The present masonry structure was built during the Chozha dynasty in the 9th century CE, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagara rulers of the Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 CE), the Saluva Dynasty and the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE). The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.