THIRUVANNAMALAI

Presiding Deity : Annamalayar
Goddess : Unnamualayal
Muruga : Kambathuilayanar
Vinayaka : Sambandhavinayakar
Bhairavar : Ashta Bhairavar
Holy tree : Makizha tree
Holy spring : Brahmma theertham

The temple has 9 towers and spread over an area of 25 acres. Thiruvannamalai Gopuram (tower) is the second tallest one – 217 feet with aesthetic beauty. According to geologists, Thiruvannamalai has some greater magnetic power and hence the name Kaanthamalai (Kaantham - Magnet, Malai - Mount). The festival of Karthigai is supposed to be celebrated very specially as a lamp is lighted on top of the mountain and will be visible from a very long distance and will be burning at least for 11 days and nights continuously.
The other wonder is, the mount looks with a single shape when seen from the east meaning “All is One”. During the rounding, it looks as if two symbolizing the “Arthanareeswara” philosophy (male and female both are important parts of life). When seen from the west, three faces could be seen meaning the “Trimurthis” (Brahma – Creator, Vishnu – Protector, Shiva – Destroyer). In one another instance, the mount looks like “Nandhi Mukh”. At the end of the rounding journey, five faces will be visible symbolizing the five faces of Lord Shiva.
Girivalam – Giri meaning Mount and Valam meaning Rounding. Procedures of Girivalam or walking around the mount the total distance is 14 kilometers. The rounding journey should be undertaken worshipping all the Lingams.

There are eight Lingams:
1) Indra Lingam – Worshipped for improvement in business and official hierarchy
2) Agni Lingam – Worshipped to overcome suspicions and life partner troubles
3) Ema Lingam – Worshipped to overcome the fear of death
4) Nruthi Lingam – Worshipped to overcome the problem of infertility
5) Varuna Lingam – Worshipped to overcome water borne diseases
6) Vayu Lingam – Worshipped to overcome from respiratory diseases
7) Kubera Lingam – Worshipped for happy prosperous life
8) Eesana Lingam – Worshipped for peaceful life

There are some beliefs about Thiruvannamalai:
- This mountain was a Fire Mount during the Krutha Yuga (during Vamana Avtar), Ruby Mount during the Thredha Yuga (during Rama Avtar), Golden Mount during Dwapara Yuga (during Krishna Avtar) and now a Stone Mount during Kali Yuga (currently).
- When you worship the Ashta Bhairavar in this temple and do an archana in the name of the person who has to give back money to you, it is believed to be collected with ease from that person.
- This mountain is supposed to be the place where a lot of saints attained moksha including Yogi Ramanar, Seshadri Swamigal and Visiri Swamigal
- When a person is born in Thiruvaiyaru (native of saint thyagaraja) or dies in Kasi, he is supposed to attain moksha. But according to tamil mythology, when a person thinks about Thiruvannamalai he is supposed to attain moksha.
- Sunday Girivalam ensures divine position, Monday the greater status, Tuesday release from debt burdens, relieves the devotee from the cycle of births and deaths, Wednesday the Wisdom, Thursday a status equal to enlightened souls, Friday taking near to Lord Vishnu and Saturday ensures effects of total prayer offered to all the nine planets.
- Girivalam on new moon days eliminates all the tension and stress of the mind and makes it clear as a crystal. A 48 day fasting and going round the mount ensures a child.

One who thinks Arunachalam and desire to go around by covering 14km the Arunachala hill and forwarding one foot will get equal benefit of Yagam and for second foot he will achieve the benefit of Raja suya Yagam and with clear mind of third foot will achieve Aswameda Yagam and who continues further will get beneficial of all Yagams. The Siddhas tell going around the hill once destroys the karma of ten million births.

So powerful is the Mountain Thiruvannamalai. Apart from spiritual beauty it also has the beauty of nature with more than 360 holy water tanks, springs, ashrams and mandapams. The scenic beauty adds strength to the devotees who are on the Girivalam.