Tiruvannamalai Girivalam is a sacred path, where thousands of devotees participate to show their devotion. This event will take place every full moon day ie. on Pournami day. Arunachalam means sacred hill which is red in color. This hill is 2668 feet high. This hill would have been a fire during Kruthayugam, Emerald during Threthayugam and Gold during Dwaparayugam. It is believed that performing Girivalam will relieve one’s from the birth cycle.
Thiruvannamalai Girivalam Legend:
It is said that when Lord Siva appeared in a great flaming cosmic pillar, Lord Brahma and Sri Vishnu instructed him to assume a benevolent and approachable form for the benefit of all beings. At their request, Lord Siva manifested as the Arunachala Hill. Lord Shiva said that all holy places will derive their holiness from this place. For the benefit of all beings, every year on the day of Karthigai, he began to appear as a peace-giving beacon on the top of the hill. A large number of devotees gather at Thiruvannamalai to view the holy fire and start walking around the hill.
Arunachalam Girivalam Distance:
Girivalam covers a distance of 14 km to 15 km, in which devotees walk barefoot around the hill. Before starting Girivalam, devotees offer prayers to Irattai Pillayar, who stands to the left of the Raja Gopuram. Along the way, devotees will travel through 8 Siva Linga shrines namely Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Niruda Lingam, Vaayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam, Eesana Lingam and Surya Lingam. The Surya Lingam Shrine is located just opposite the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
How to reach Arunachaleswarar Temple?
From Chennai, the Temple is 194 km away, which takes 4 hr 18 min to reach the temple.
Daily trains are available from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai. Special trains will be available on this day.
Tiruvannamalai is well connected with all parts of Tamilnadu.
From Villupuram 61.8 km away.
From Bengaluru 202 km
From Coimbatore 336 km
From Madurai 320 km
