Arulmigu Annamalaiyar Temple, located in the divine town of Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, is one of the most sacred spaces in all of Sanatana Dharma. It is here that Lord Shiva manifested as the eternal column of fire to humble the pride of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, revealing the truth that the Supreme has no beginning and no end.

This holy temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, representing the element Agni (Fire). Unlike other temples where the deity is worshipped as a form, here the entire Arunachala Hill is Shiva himself. In fact, the hill is not just sacred—it is the deity. Revered sages like Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Appar, Sundarar, and Manikkavachagar have sung the glory of this place, calling it a path to self-realization and moksha.

At the temple's heart reside Lord Annamalaiyar (Shiva) and Goddess Unnamulai Amman (Parvati), symbolizing the divine union of Jiva and Atma, or soul and supreme consciousness. The sacred legend (Sthala Puranam) says that Parvati Devi once playfully closed Shiva’s eyes, causing darkness to fall across the universe. As penance, She came to Thiruvannamalai and performed intense tapas. Moved by Her devotion, Lord Shiva appeared as a flame on Arunachala hill and accepted her as His consort here.

The temple itself is a marvel — covering over 25 acres, it houses massive gopurams, sacred tanks, mandapams, and countless shrines. The East Gopuram (Rajagopuram) rises to 66 meters, one of the tallest in India, inspiring awe and devotion.

One of the most powerful spiritual practices here is Girivalam — the act of walking barefoot around the 14-kilometer sacred path around Arunachala Hill. Devotees undertake this journey especially on Pournami (Full Moon) nights, seeking blessings, healing, and inner transformation. It is believed that one complete Girivalam, done with devotion, equals years of penance.

The sacred hill of Arunachala is not a mere geological formation. According to the Skanda Purana and other ancient scriptures, it is Lord Shiva himself, manifested as a mountain of fire. The legend begins with a dispute between Lord Brahma (the creator) and Lord Vishnu (the preserver) over who was the supreme among the Trinity.

To humble their ego, Lord Shiva appeared as an endless pillar of fire (Jyotirlinga) and challenged both to find either the top or the bottom of the flame. Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and went downward, while Brahma took the form of a swan (Hamsa) and flew upward. Vishnu, after failing to find the base, accepted defeat. Brahma falsely claimed to have reached the top, using a flower (Thazhampoo) as witness. Enraged by the lie, Shiva cursed Brahma that he would never be worshipped in temples, and the Thazhampoo would never again be used in Shiva’s worship.

This infinite column of light then condensed into Arunachala Hill — the immovable, eternal embodiment of Lord Shiva in the form of Agni (fire). This is the only Jyotirlinga where the Lingam is a mountain itself.