Details of Thiruannamalai

Thiruvannamalai the home of Annamalaiyar or Arunachaleswarar and Apeethakuchalambal (Unnamalayal) is an ancient city named after the holy mountain. Annamalayar mountain is visible everywhere in Thiruvannamalai. Annamalayar mountain is worshiped as lord siva. Earth is composed of Five Elements (Pancha Bootha Sthalam), they are Earth ,Water ,Fire, Air, Ether.Of which Tiruvannamalai is the place of the Pancha Bootha Theyu(Fire) Sthalam. On Full Moon(Pournami) days and Karthigai hundreds and thousands of devotees circumbulate (GIRIVALAM) the mountain and get the blessings of the Lord Arunachalam. 


Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple (Annamalayar kovil)is the central point of devotees who worship in Thiruvannamalai. Annamalaiyar temple is built by the great vijayanagar king kirshnadevarayar over an extent of 24 acres. Lord Annamalayar (Arunachaleeswarar) and Apeethakuchalambal (Unnamalayal) are the god and godess name of the Thiruvannamalai Temple respectively. Daily six times poojas are conducted regularly. Apart from daily poojas special Poojas are conducted during Amavasai, Kiruthigai, Pradosham, Pournami, Sathurthi etc.
Totally there are six prakaram(enclosures) and nine Gopuram(tower) present in Tiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple. Eastern Raja gopuram, Northern Ammaniammal Gopuram, Southern Thirumanjana Gopuram and Western pey Gopuram are the main gopuram in Annamalaiyar Temple through which devotes enter into the temple.Raja gopuram is the biggest of all has 11 tiers(stories) of 217 feet height. It is the second largest Gopuram(tower) in south India