In ancient times kings built magnificent temples in gratitude to Lord Shiva or other gods. These days enlightened masters are the temple builders who also energize them with transforming cosmic energy to raise our consciousness. They use them to revive the ancient Vedic tradition and enlightenment science, for meditation, rituals, and blessing purposes, and to celebrate dharmic life. Yet masters also support existing ancient temples in many ways as it is with the Arunachaleshwara Shiva Temple in Tiruvannamalai.

Temple History

Historical inscriptions on the temple walls read about the Chola Dynasty whose kings built the present masonry structure in the 9th century. Later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers of the Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 CE) and others. There are nine towers with the 217 feet tall East Tower, the main entrance, making it one of the tallest temple towers in India. The temple grounds cover an area of 24 acres with three prakarams or court yards which contain smaller shrines and temple tanks. The main shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is known here as Arunachaleshwarar. His consort Devi Parvati has a separate shrine as Unnamalai.

Sri Yantra Engraved on Copper Plate

A Profound Vision of the Mystical Sri Yantra

My guru, the Avatar HDH Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam, was born and brought up in Tiruvannamalai living near the temple. The  Arunachaleshwara Shiva Temple was his childhood playground. Swamiji, as we call him, had as a boy a profound vision of the mystical Sri Yantra while at the Devi shrine. At home he carved the complex design perfectly onto a copper plate which is still in his possession. For nine months, Arunagiri Yogeshwara visited with Swamiji, then a 10 year old boy, coming from his samadhi shrine behind the main shrine of Shiva. Arunagiri is none other than Lord Shiva himself who sits as Dakshinamurty under a huge sacred banyan tree on the north side of Arunachala, the holy mountain near the temple. Swamiji received for about 10 years his yogic training by a true yogic master here at the temple to become a great yogi himself.

Thousand-pillared hall at Arunachaleshwarar Shiva Temple

Meditation at the Patala Lingam

Enlightened masters like Ramana Maharshi, Sheshadri Swamigal, and Yogi Ramsuratkumar also spent time at this temple.

Ramana Maharshi meditated in the basement of the thousand-pillared hall for many months until Sheshadri Swamigal who was 10 years senior to him and another enlightened being, moved him to a different place. Ramana was so absorbed in himself in meditation that he did not feel that ants and insects had caused harm to his thighs, and blood and pus were oozing out. Inside the mandapam you find a sign stating that Ramana Maharshi meditated there where the patala lingam is installed in the basement. During this time Sheshadri Swamigal declared that his son, Ramana, was doing tapas. Ramana was not his physical but spiritual son. In this context Sheshadri referred to himself as being Parvati; Parvati being the Cosmic Mother.

In earlier times, around 700 AD poet saints like Appar and the childsaint Jnanasambandhar came to the Arunachaleshwarar Temple and sang praises to Lord Shiva.

Garland maker at flower market close to Arunachaleshwarar Shiva Temple

Visiting Arunachaleshwara Shiva Temple

I had been to the temple many times before whenever I visited Tiruvannamalai. This time I went and was surprised that I had to pay an entrance fee to see Arunachaleshwara. I reluctantly paid knowing all entrance fees go to the government as the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. As a result of my reluctance, there was no special darshan.

A few days later I went again. This time I was relaxed about the entrance fee and had purchased flower garlands for both Arunachaleshwara Shiva and Mother Parvati. Both have their separate shrines in adjacent buildings. I felt blessed and very lucky to get special darshan for both of them. Special darshan is when one is able to enter the vestibule of the garbha mandir, the sanctum sanctorum. This is not always possible. Some Hindu temples don’t allow non-Hindus to go inside. During darshan the priest asked me for my name, lineage, and nakshatra. While he does aarati, showing of light to the deity, he repeats my birth information. Then as blessed prasadam offering one receives a flower or garland that was previously offered from the deity along with bashma ashes or kumkum red turmeric powder. I received a garland from the Shiva Lingam and another one from Mother Parvati. Both of them were worn for a little while by the deities having energized them.

Instead of being reluctant to accept the change of paying an entrance fee it shows that when one simply flows and is accepting, Existence showers. What a blessed day!

• Name: Arunachaleshwarar Shiva Temple
• Town: Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
• Directions: SW of Chennai, 3.5 hours by taxi
• Entrance Fee: RS 25
• Photography: Not allowed beyond the Kili Gopuram
• Access: Hindus have full access. Non-Hindus ask for permission at the temple administration office.
• Special: There are five pujas a day
• Spiritual Takeaway: Go with the flow

In the comments below share your experience visiting this temple. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Yogini Ma Udaysree has lived in South India for nearly six years and is the organizer of Sacred Temple Journeys. She offers small group spiritual temple journeys to Tiruvannamalai, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Bidadi, and other places in South India. Udaysree is the author of ‘Living at Arunachala.’