Significance of Girivalam – Tiruvannamalai Arunachala Temple | Karthigai deepam

Arunachaleshwarar temple is an ancient temple located in Tiruvannamalai district Tamilnadu, India. This temple is also called as Arunagiri, Sonagiri, Sonachalam, Arunachala and Red Mountain. The name red mountain for Arunachala comes from the word “aruna” as the red colour signifies the fire lighting in the mountain and “Chala” means hill. To get to this temple, contact Prompt Tours & Travels, the best travel agents in Chennai for a profound service.

Discover the Spiritual Significance of Girivalam with Travel Agents in Chennai

Lord Shiva is the deity of this temple with his consort Parvathi. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as “arunachaleshwarar” or annamalayar and Goddess Parvathi is worshipped as “unnamulai Amman”.

Arunachaleshwarar temple was built during the Chola period in 750 A.D, over 1000 years before. In Tiruvannamalai temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of “fire” – one of the 5 elements of panjaboothas. This temple is situated in the bottom of the Annamalai hill. The word “Tiruvannamalai” represents Annamalai meaning hill and Tiru referring to the greatness of temple.

No matter where you live, if you want to reap the benefits of Girivalam, go for Prompt Tours & Travels Pilgrimage tour packages as we are the best travel agents in Chennai.

Unraveling the Architectural Marvels of Tiruvannamalai: A Guide with Travel Agents in Chennai

Arunachaleshwarar temple covers 10 hectares; it has four walls and four gopurams. The east and west walls are 700 feet, south is 451 feet, north is 1600 feet.

Eastern gopurams in Tiruvannamalai temple is the tallest Gopuram at 217 feet known as the rajagopuram. The four gopurams are Tirumanjana Gopuram, Ammaniammal Gopuram, Pei Gopuram and the Rajagopuram. It has five prakarams; nandhi statues are placed in every prakaram in front of Lord Shiva. Also, thousand pillar mandapam is showcased as stood by stone pillars. Tiruvathirai is the star of this mandapam.

It was built in Chola’s period and expanded in Vijayanagar period. It has a lot of shrines denoting the stories of Lord Shiva and Parvathi as prominent Gods.

With such a fascinating architecture to marvel at, Prompt Tours & Travels, being the best travel agents in Chennai, always promoted this temple and the significance of Girivalam through our pilgrimage tour packages. 

Highlights of Tiruvannamalai temple

Girivalam

Many rituals are happening daily in Tiruvannamalai temple. The most important festive event is Girivalam. More than one million people are participating in this Tiruvannamalai Girivalam every year. Every month on full moon day this Girivalam would happen.

Devotees will walk around the hills spanning 14 kilometres. The word Girivalam refers to “Giri” as hill and “valam” as blessing that comes with walking around the hill.

Significance of Girivalam

The significance of Girivalam is human health and peace of mind which has been believed spiritually and scientifically. Saints and siddhars lived in this Tiruvannamalai temple which is believed by devotees. The prominent saints who lived in Tiruvannamalai temple are appar, sundarar, manikavasagar.

Devotees also believe that siddhars presence in Tiruvannamalai hill during full moon day would give them prosperity if they complete Girivalam.

Tiruvannamalai hill has eight lingams are known as ashtalingam. Each lingam gives different goodness to the devotees.

Indra lingam gives fame and long life, Agni lingam gives relief from fear and disease, Yama lingam gives long lifespan, Niruthilingam gives health, wealth, childbirth to the couples, varunalingam gives relief from water health problems, vayulingam from diseases like heart diseases, stomach diseases, kupera lingam gives wealth improvement and easanya lingam gives peace of mind.

These are the important reasons to make it to the Girivalam.

Scientific reasons

There are lot of herbs surrounding the Tiruvannamalai hill; Tiruvannamalai hill has magnetic force and, herbal air inside hills gives peace and healthy environment to the devotees.

Tiruvannamalai deepam

Tiruvannamalai deepam is the most famous event happening in Tiruvannamalai temples. Big fired beacon is lamped in Tiruvannamalai hill which is worshipped by millions of devotees.

Tiruvannamalai karthigai deepam festival celebrated for 10 days is called karthigai BrahmaUtsavam.

Contact the best travel agents in Chennai to be here on the first day through our pilgrimage tour packages.

First day of Tiruvannamalai deepam: Hosting the flag to announce the ceremony is called Dwajaroghanam. Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis coming in grant vehicle (vahanam) for the devotees to worship. Panchamoorthis are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Arunachaleshawara, Goddess Parvathi and Lord Sandeswarar.

Second day of Tiruvannamalai deepam: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis coming out in the chariot of Lord Indira as oorvalam(appearing in front of devotees outside the temple).

Third day of Tiruvannamalai deepam: The third day of karthigai deepam festival is Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis coming out in lion vahanam

Fourth day of Tiruvannamalai deepam: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis come out in kamadhenu vahanam.

Fifth day of Tiruvannamalai deepam: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis come out in big rishaba vahanam with a tall umbrella on the top of Lord Shiva and panchamoorthis.

Like how the Gods travel in their Vahanam to shower blessings on their devotees, Prompt tours & travels – the best travel agents in Chennai, will transport you to Tiruvannamalai to celebrate Karthigai Deepam.

Sixth day of Tiruvannamalai temple: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis come around in silver chariot beautifully decorated and big in size which fills the road.

Seventh day of Tiruvannamalai temple: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis go around in wooden chariot that fills the entire road.

Eighth day of Tiruvannamalai temple: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis come around in horse vahanam whose legs are projected up from the ground.

Ninth day of Tiruvannamalai temple: Lord Shiva and Panchamoorthis come around in Kailasa vahanam. The ceremony gets more interesting on the 9^th night.

Tenth day of Tiruvannamalai temple: karthigai deepam starts at 4 o’ clock by lighting deepam in Tiruvannamalai temple. Then evening mahadeepam will be a festival of lighting fire lamp on the top of the Annamalai hill that is witnessed by millions of devotees to get blessings from Lord Shiva. The big fire lamp on the top of the hill is considered as lord Shiva. Lord periyandavar comes out in a gold chariot. Finally, theppal will happen in which lord chandrasekarar, lord parasakthi and lord subramaniyar come in a boat.

On the final day, devotees can have the complete satisfaction of getting blessings from Lord Shiva by witnessing this maha karthigai deepam in Tiruvannamalai temple. The best travel agents in Chennai are here to ensure the above.

Opening and close timings of Tiruvannamalai temple : 5:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Girivalam Timings 2018 – Calendar

January: Jan 1 – Morning 10:00 AM, Jan 2 – Morning 8:45 AM, Jan 30 – Night 9:36 PM, Jan 31 – Night 7:20 PM

March: Mar 1 – Morning 8:15 AM, Mar 2- Morning 7:00 AM, Mar 30 – Night 7:20 PM, Mar 31 – Night 6:15 PM

April: Apr 29- Morning 5:45 AM, Apr 30 – Morning 5:45 AM

May: May 28 – Night 6:50 PM, May 29 Night 8:45 PM

June: Jun 27 – Morning 7:45 AM, Jun 28 Morning 10:45 AM

July: Jul 26 – Midnight 12:00 AM, Jul 27 – Midnight 2:00 A

August: Aug 25 – Evening 3:00 PM, Aug 26 Evening 5:00 PM

September: Sep 24 – Night 7:00 PM Sep 25 – Night 9:00 PM

October: Oct 23 – Night 10:00 PM, Oct 24 – Night 11:00 PM

November: Nov 22 – Morning 11:15 AM, Nov 23 – Morning 12:30 PM

December: Dec 21 – Midnight 12:30 AM, Dec 22 – Midnight 12:30 AM

Pooja timings: 5:30 AM gomatha pooja, evening 6:00 PM sayara chai pooja, night 9:00 PM arthajama pooja.

Visit Tiruvannamalai with the best travel agents in Chennai

Distance from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai is 195kms. It takes 3 to 4 hours from Chennai by car. Chennai is the nearest metropolitan station to Tiruvannamalai by train.

There are a lot of bus facilities available from Chennai. Contact Prompt Tours & Travels, the best travel agents in Chennai if you are looking for a bus rental.

The nearest airport is Pondicherry airport.

The distance from Bangalore to Tiruvannamalai is 200 km and takes 4 hours 45 min to reach by car or bus. The best travel agents in Chennai operate inter-state services too.

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