Location
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Graha
Fire (Agni) (Fire (Agni))
Deity
Sri Arunachaleswarar
Goddess
Unnamulai Amman
Timings
5:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Best time
Karthigai Deepam, full-moon Girivalam nights
District
Tiruvannamalai
Address
Arunachaleswarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606601
History
Shiva appeared as an endless column of fire on Annamalai hill; the vast temple below has nine towering gopurams.
Significance
The fire element — worship burns away karma; the 14 km Girivalam is done barefoot on full-moon nights.
Pariharam
Walk the Girivalam, light a ghee lamp and meditate at the Ramana Ashram caves.
Festivals
Karthigai Deepam
November – December · Giant beacon lit on the hilltop
Full Moon Girivalam
Every month · Lakhs circumambulate the hill
Nearby stays & food
Sparsa Resort
Stay · 3 km · Quiet resort facing the hill
Dreaming Tree Cafe
Food · 2 km · Vegetarian cafe near the ashram