Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar

Tiruvannamalai is a town about 185 kms on NH45 from Chennai. Sthalas are associated with the 5 natural elements of fire, water, wind, land and sky. Tiruvannamalai is associated with Agni or fire and is considered to be an Agnitheertham. It is said that one can attain Mukthi or Salvation by just thinking of TIruvannamalai.

The main shrine of the Tiruvannamalai temple is Arunachaleswarar and his consort Tiru Unnamulai amman. Rudraksha beads from the Naagam adorn the Siva Lingam. Other shrines include those of Selva. Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Parasakthi, Kala Bhairava, Patala Linga and Gajalakshmi. The temple is also the place where Siddhar Sri Edaikkadar attained his Jeeva Samadhi. Any temple having Patala Linga Sannidhi reportedly also has one or more Jeeva Samadhis. Arunagirinathar a devotee of Lord Muruga attained salvation after falling off from a gopuram in this temple and being rescued by Lord Muruga Himself. 

A lot of Siddhars are said to be in visible (sometimes in the form of parrots) and invisible forms in the hill. Girivalam on Pournami (full moon day) is famous in Tiruvannamalai. There are reportedly as many as 360 Theerthams and 400 Lingams in the eight mile circuit of the hill. Kaarthigai Deepam is also famous in this temple and is celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December). People with Sukran in 7th place from Lagnam are considered to have “Kalathra Dosha" affecting the marital life. Pariharam for such people involves Girivalam in Tiruvannamalai. 

Ramana Maharishi performed penance in this temple’s Patala Lingam sannidhi before going on to establish Ramana Ashramam in Tiruvannamalai.


This is also considered to be the place where Brahma and Vishnu went in search of Lord Shiva’s head and feet in a test of their prowess. Lord Shiva assumed the form of Jothi/ Light. While Vishnu returned accepting that He was unable to find Lord Shiva’s feet, Lord Brahma conspired with the Thazhampoo flower that fell from Lord Shiva’s head to falsely claim victory in the test. Enraged by the false testimony of Thazhampoo, the flower  was cursed by Lord Shiva and lost its ability to be used for Lord Shiva’s worship.

Madurai Koodal Azhagar

Ashtanga Vimanam

The Koodal Azhagar temple is at the heart of Madurai city - close to Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. This temple is the 47th Divya Desam and is one of the three temples with Ashtanga Vimanam - the other two in Uthiramerur and Tirukoshtiyur.

Moolavar is called Koodalazhagar and Utsavar is Sundararaja Perumal. The name of the Thayar is Maduravalli Thayar. The Moolavar is in the Amarndha Kolam. There are two more Perumal murthis and they can be seen by climbing the stairs leading to the Vimanam. Surya Narayana Perumal is in the Nindra Kolam at the base of the Vimanam and Sheerapthi Perumal is in the Pallikonda position or Kidandha Kolam further up the Vimanam.

The Navagrihas in the temple are noticeably bigger in size. The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and from 5 pm - 9 pm.

Vimanam -  A closer look

Koodal Azhagar Gopuram

Pazhamudir Cholai Subramanya Swamy

Pazhamudir Cholai is the 6th Arupadai Veedu and is at the hilltop near Kallazhagar Temple in Madurai. The temple is very small and the Subramanya Swamy murthi itself is small. Sri Valli and Sri Deivayanai appear alongside Subramanya Murthi. 

Golden Chariot

Temple Entrance

Madurai Kallazhagar

Kallazhagar temple is the 91st Divya Desam and Azhagar Koil Main Road leads straight to this temple. The Azhagar Temple is at the base of a hill with Pazhamudir Cholai Murugar temple further up the hill.

The name of the Perumal is Sundararaja Perumal and the name of the Thayar is Kalyani Sundaravalli Thayar. One of the famous festivals for this temple is the Chitrai Tiruvizha when the Kallazhagar Perumal goes for a dip in the Vaigai river. The sight of Perumal on the horse in procession to Vaigai is very beautiful.

Thirumogur Kaalamega Perumal

Yaanaimalai

Thirumogur is famous for its Perumal temple (46th Divya Desam) and is located close to the Madras High Court 
branch in Madurai, near Othakadai. One can see Yaanai Malai ( hill shaped like an elephant) on the way to this temple. In fact there is also a Narasimhar temple at the foothills of Yaanaimalai.



The main deity of this temple is Kaalamega Perumal who appears with Sridevi and Bhoodevi by His side wearing Saligramam garland. The name of the Thayar is Mohanavalli Thayar who is also a Padi Thaandaa Pathni - meaning that She does not step out of the temple for any processions and the only function is in Panguni Uthram when Perumal comes to Thayar's Sannidhi for Kalyana Vaibhavam (divine wedding).

This is the Kshetram where Sridevi and Bhoodevi prayed to the resting Pallikonda Perumal to help the Devas get Amrit (nectar) at the time of churning the milky ocean. One can see the Devis in the Prarthana Seva posture in the Pallikonda Perumal's Sannidhi. The Lord answered Devis' prayers and took the form of Mohini to get the Amrit for Devas by duping the Asuras. Since Perumal took the form of Mohini in thisSthalam, this place is called Mohana Kshetram or ThiruMogur.

The Chakrathazhwar and Kaalamega Perumal of this temple have the powers to remove the fear of Death. Devotees can offer prayers at this temple to overcome mortal fear.

The temple is normally open from 7 am - 12 pm and from 4 pm - 8 pm. On Saturdays, the temple is open for extended hours - from 5.30 am - 1 pm and from 4pm - 8.30pm.

Thirumogur Temple Entrance

Tirupparankundram Murugar

Tirupparankundram is 7 kms from Madurai city and is famous for one of the Arupadai Veedu temple here. The temple can be reached by taking the Tirupparankundram Road and following the route to Thyagaraja College of Engineering.

According to Sthala Puranam, Lord Murugar married Indra's daughter Deivayanai after Surasamhaaram in this Kshetram. Near the entrance of the temple, there is a statue of Murugar marrying Deivayanai. Devotees usually resolve to garland this statue as a token of thanks for marriage being fixed for their near and dear ones.

In this temple, one can offer milk for performing Abhishekam for the Vel. The Moolavar is in the marriage scene that is engraved/ sculpted on the walls of the hill.

The temple is currently in Balalayam with Kumbabhishekam being planned for June 6th 2011.

Vairavanpatti Bhairavar

The town Vairavanpatti is about 2 kms from Pillayarpatti and as the name suggests, famous for its Vairavar or Bhairavar temple.

Special poojas and homams are performed on Krishnapaksha Ashtami for Bhairavar. The name of the Siva Lingam is Valar Oli Nathar and the name of the Ambal is Neelavadivudai Amman. The temple is well decorated with paintings and also stories from Ramayana. In this temple, one sees Lord Rama expressing gratitude with folded hands in front of Anjaneya on hearing news about Sita.