Tiruvannamalai or Arunachalam is one of the oldest divine places in the world with high reverence in the Hindu tradition. Not just the Hindu Community, Arunachalam is a favorite destination for many pilgrims across the globe, irrespective of age, gender, religion, etc.

Thiruvannamalai has been known for its significance since Yugas and has a mention in Skanda Purana. The shrine is one of the Panchabhoota Lingas (prithvi, Ap, Tejo, Vayu, Aakash). Of these, Thiruvannamalai hosts the Agni (Fire) Linga.

Apart from Agni Ling, it’s the Giri Pradakshina or Giri Valam that strikes ones mind when talking about Thiruvannamalai.

Thiivannamalai Giri Valam

The 14-km long Giri Valam is the unique of its kind in the world and has many cosmic secrets associated with it. It is said that there are two parallel paths to Giri Valam, one for humans and the others for Gods and Siddhas.

The 14-km-long GiriValam track has significant Shiv Ling temples installed by respective dieties (Indra, Yama, Nairuti, Varuna, Vaayu, Kubera, Eeshaanya, Surya, Chandra, Agni)

Karthigai Deepam/Karthika Deepam is another unique aspect. A huge fire is lit at the pinnacle of the godly hill of Thiruvannamalai on every Karthia Pournima day. This is carried as a procession where some set of people designed by temple authorities carry heavy loads of ghee and other material required to lit the divine fire at the top. While the shrine is flooded with pilgrims round the year, Karthika Deepam day witnesses lakhs coming into the shrine city to witness the scene and make Pradakshinas around the holy hill.

Depsite the shrine’s significance, it is less known about the three yogis of Thiruvannamalai, who are believed to have been sent by three Mahashaktis.

Three Yogis of ThriShaktis

Despite it’s significance in Sanathan Dharma, general public visits to Thiruvannamalai in the modern age began to rise from the times of Shri Bhagavan Ramana Maharashi.

Hailing from Madurai (Madhura Meenakshi Amma), Shri Ramana spent his whole life in Thiruvannamalai after leaving home at a very young age. Shri Ramana never left this shrine until last breathe, but His sayings pulled the global audience paving the path for regular visits.

Another great saint is Sheshadri Swami who came from Kanchipuram (Kamakshi Amma) to settle down in Thiruvannamali.

It is said that Sheshadri Swamy was the first one to identify the holiness and greatness of Shri Ramana and brought Him to this outside world.

As Shri Ramana entered Thiruvannamalai as a young boy, it is believed Sheshadri Swamy offered Him shelter and guided in initial days.

Later after years, Sheshadri Swamy found Shri Ramana meditating at an isolated underground place in Thiruvannamalai Main Temple (Paathala Lingam). Upon his word to come out and enlighten this world, Shri Ramana stepped out and starting spreading the power of ultimate silence.

It’s obvious to recall the holy Saint Shri Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni known for his intellect in many areas of mantra, kavyam and others. It is said Ganapati Muni found answers to his long-standing queries only when he met Shri Ramana at Skanda Guha. Later happened many miraculous conversations and incidents between the two.

Another is Yogi Ram Surat Kumar Ashram, who travelled all the way from Kasi/Varanasi (Vishalakshi Amma) to remain in Thiruvannamalai forever.

Surprisingly, the three saints of Thiruvannamalai are from the three holy popular shrines of the Goddess Shakti (Madura Meenakshi, Kanchi Kamakshi, Kashi Vishalakshi).

Another interesting part is these three also represent three forms of meditation/sadhana/japam. Sheshadri Swami represents Mantra Japam (meditating with mantra, Shri Yogi Ram Surat Kumar is known for Nama Japam (recitement of the diety’s name) and Shri Ramana is known for Mouna Japam (utter silence and remaining as Parabrahma in non-duality.

In Conclusion

Many other things about Thiruvannamalai are in open sources and Needless to say about the shrines significance, presence and the universal feeling.

Keep reading…….!