Thiruvannamalai's Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple

The Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai is one of the four sacred places for attaining salvation, according to the Siva Puranam. It is said that if you just think of Lord Arunachaleswar here, you can attain salvation. Indeed, Thiruvannamalai is said to be the centre of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams, the five sacred places for worshipping Lord Shiva.

Several sages have lived in Thiruvannamalai, including Arunagirinathar, Arunachala Desikar, Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi and Yogi Ram Suratkumar.

At the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, the rajagopuram, built by Krishnadevaraya, is more than 200 ft high, the second tallest temple tower in south India.

It was terribly hot as we arrived at the temple. Throats were parched, but it didn’t matter.

Pictures show the Sivagangai Vinayagar Sannithi, the 1,000-pillared mandapam, a close view of one of the majestic gopurams, another view, and one of the thousands of sculptures on the pillars.