Siva Lingams and Saints

In this page, you get to read about Tiruvannamalai Sivan temple and Siva Lingams around the surrounding hill. Also, you get a glimpse of great saints who lived in Tiruvannamalai.

Information!
Ramanar

Ramana Maharshi was born on 30 December 1879 in Thirusuzhi, South India. During his early years, he was attracted to Periya puranam, which has a loud and clear message. The message being , “it is possible for Divine Union”. This deep thought made him ambitious to attain God and took deeper into philosophy.
At the age of 16, he had a near death experience where he recognized his true” Self” and this event turned the history of Ramana Maharshi. He left his uncle’s home in Madurai and travelled to Tiruvannamalai. He arrived in Tiruvannamalai and when he first saw the Lord Arunachala Sivan, he said “Appa Vanthuten” meaning, “Father, I have come”.
His main preaching circled around analyzing “your-self”. That is, inquiring within and finding “Who is the seer”, who is within you which claims to be “I am”. This led to a deeper level of gnanam and which led to a pure state of mind. This is starting point of feeling God and being with God. He attained the highest state often moving into Samadhi.
He has helped millions of people to attain a higher form of life. His followers are across the globe and they come to his Ashram in Tiruvannamalai. He attained Maha Samadhi on 14th April 1950.

Seshadri Swamigal

Seshadri Swamigal was born on January 22, 1870. In his young age, he was nick named "Thanga Kai" (golden hand) as whatever the boy touched, brought fortune to traders. He met Sri Balaji swamigal (A saint) taught him and made him a Sanyasi. Seshadri swamigal travelled to various places and finally he reached Tiruvannamalai.
Sheshadri swamigal had thousands of followers during his 40 years in Tiruvannamalai. He has never bothered about, caste, religion, customs, or a person’s name or physical form of the person. He praised the glory of Arunachala Siva, Lord Ram and Goddess Kamakshi.
He never accepted money and at times he would receive clothes from people. He would tear up the clothes he got and share it with the poor people around him. He wore only a dhoti and another piece of cloth over his shoulders. He has blessed and solved problems of thousands of people who came to visit him. In Tiruvannamalai, he moved around the girivalam path in a state of trance. He lived in Tiruvannamalai for 40 years. He attained highest spiritual glory and attained Maha Samadhi on January 4th 1929.

Tiruvannamalai Sivan Temple

Tiruvannamalai Sivan is known as Annamalayar or Arunachaleswarar. There are 275 Sivan temples which are sacred in nature and Tiruvannamalai Sivan temple tops in the first few places of this list.
This Sivan temple is called Agni stalam (Place of Fire). Main Nayanmargal (Saivam leaders) such as Thirugnana Sambandar, Sundarar and Thirunavukkarasar had visited Thiruvannamalai, prayed to the Lord and have composed divine poems. Saint Manickavasagar had lived at Thiruvannamalai for long period and had composed Thiruvempavai and Thiruvammanai. Even today there is a temple for Saint Manickavasagar on the Girivalam path at Adi Annamalai. Tiruvannamalai is also one of the four places for attaining salvation. Devotees worship the Tiruvannamalai hill as Lord Siva or Lord Annamalaiyar. The Annamalai Hill was Agni (Fire) during Sathya yugam, was Manikkam (Emerald) during Thretha yugam, and was Pon (Gold) during Dwapara yugam and rock during Kali yugam.
There is no evidence of when the temple was built and it is believed that the temple is thousands of years old. Evidence starts as early as at 870 AD. Main contributors to the temple are Aditya Chola, Krishna Devarayar, Rajendracholan, Koperunsingam and many other prominent kings.

Girivalam Siva Lingams

Girivalam path means the path around the hill. As the hill itself is considered as Lord Siva, walking around the hill is auspicious. There are eight lingams located on the path of Girivalam. Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam are the eight lingams. Also, Adi Annamalai Temple which is mentioned in Dhevaram is located on this Girivalam path.
There is significance for each Siva lingam and devotees perform special poojas for specific Siva Lingam with specific purpose. Indra lingam should be worshipped for long life and fame. Agni lingam should be worshipped for relief from disease and fear. Yama lingam for longer life span, Niruthi lingam for wealth, issueless can pray for children. Varunalingam for water, Vayulingam for breathing related disease. Kuberalingam for wealth and improvement in social status and finally Easaniya lingam for peace of mind.
The total distance of Girivalam path is 14 kilometres. It is auspicious to walk on the Girivalam path during Full moon day which would do immense good. If one is lucky, he/she can see a Siddhar walking on this path during full moon day.