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

• Meditation:

► Shiva: I meditate on Lord Arunachaleshwarar abiding in Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai).
► Kamakshi: I meditate on Devi Kamakshi performing penance in Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai).

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) (Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu) → (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) [Agni Sthalam] (Paadal Petra Sthalam) [Thiru Annamalai]

• Greatness:

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam (Place representing a prime Element of Nature) [Kanchipuram (Prithivi), Thiruvanaikaval (Jala), Thiruvannamalai (Agni), Srikalahasti (Vayu), Chidambaram (Akasha)] [Agni Sthalam]

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is a Paadal Petra Sthalam (Glorified by Nayanmars) [Thiru Annamalai]

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is primarily a Shiva Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Shiva):

-- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam (Place representing a prime Element of Nature) [Kanchipuram (Prithivi), Thiruvanaikaval (Jala), Thiruvannamalai (Agni), Srikalahasti (Vayu), Chidambaram (Akasha)] representing the element of Agni (Fire)

-- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is also a Paadal Petra Sthalam (Glorified by Nayanmars) [Thiru Annamalai]

-- 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 (Thiruvannamalai) is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):

-- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Devi Parvati performed penance after performing penance at Kanchipuram.

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is also a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Sage Gautama told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra (Arunachala Mahatmya) to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there. (Pavala Kundru)

• Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is also a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950 CE) spent most of his life here and has an ashram in Thiruvannamalai. (Ramana Ashram)

• Sacred Geography:

Thiruvannamalai - Arunachaleshwarar — Arunachala Mountain

☗ Arunachala Mountain

• Temples and Places:

• Temples and Places of Lord Shiva in Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai):

• Lord Shiva manifesting as Taijasha Linga
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 1)
• Lord Shiva manifesting as Arunachala Mountain
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 2)

► 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.

• Temples and Places of Devi in Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai):

• Devi Parvati performing penance at Arunachala
(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya - 4 to 9)

► 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.

• Temples (Summary):

• Shiva:
- Lord Arunachaleshwarar

• Devi:
- Devi Unnamulai (or Apitakuchambigai)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Shiva in Arunachala: (Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
• Lord Shiva manifested as an infinite Taijasha Linga (Column of Fire) at Arunachala whose ends could not be found by Brahma and Vishnu. On the request of the Devas, Lord Shiva then manifested in a smaller form as the Arunachala Mountain for their worship.

2. Presence of Devi in Arunachala: (Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
• Devi Parvati performed penance at Arunachala after performing penance at Kanchipuram.

• Puranic References:

• Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya (About Arunachala)

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