• It is counted as one among the Panchabhuta (Five Gross Elements) abodes of Lord Shiva signifying the element of fire (Agnisthalam).
• Tiruvannamalai is considered to be the Manipuraka chakra among the six adara sthalas.
• Here the hill is verily the embodiment of God.
• Once Brahma and Mahavishnu had an argument about who was superior between them. To dispel their ignorance, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them in the form of a jyoti sthambha - column of fire. Vishnu, took the form of Varaha (wild boar) and went downwards to search for the feet of this column. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew high to see Its top. Neither of them could see jyoti sthambha's limits. Understanding that Lord Shiva is the Supreme, both of them worshiped Him. Lord Shiva revealed Himself by changing the infinite column of fire into a hill. This is the hill known as Tiruvannamalai. He then took the form of a Linga (the symbol signifying the jyoti) for worship. This is the place where Linga Utbhavam (lingotbhava - Emergence of the Shiva linga) took place.
• In Tamil, "Annu" means approachable and “Annaa” means unapproachable. The word “malai” simply means hill. The name Annamalai is derived from the above puranic story where Lord Shiva took the form as a hill which was the symbol of the column of fire, the limits of which could not be approached by Brahma or Vishnu.
• In Sanskrit, "Aruna" means red. “Achala” means hill. The name Arunachala means the hill that appeared from the red column of fire.
• Annamalai was a hill of fire in the Krita Yuga, hill of ruby in the Treta Yuga, hill of gold in the Dvapara Yuga and that of a stone in the Kali Yuga.
• This is the very place where Surya, Ashtavasus, Brahma, Chandra, Vishnu and others worshipped the Lord and were blessed.
• There is also the legend of two Vidyadharas (celestial beings), cursed by a Rishi to become a cat and a horse, who circumambulated this place and attained liberation from the curse.
• A Pandya king named Vajrangata circumambulated the hill every day and performed many services at the temple.

Thirumurai Padhikams: Sambandhar - 1. உண்ணாமுலை உமையாளொடும் (1.10),                            2. பூவார்மலர்கொண் டடியார் (1.69);                     Appar   - 1. ஓதிமா மலர்கள் தூவி (4.63),                            2. வட்ட னைமதி சூடியை (5.4),                            3. பட்டி ஏறுகந் தேறிப் (5.5);     Manikkavachakar  -  1. ஆதியும் அந்தமும் (8.7),                            2. செங்கண் நெடுமாலுஞ் (8.8); Songs : Sambandhar -    பெண்ணாண் எனநின்ற (1.84.2),                               அண்ணாமலை யீங்கோயும் (2.39.2),                               அண்ணாவுங் கழுக்குன்றும் (3.64.1);              Appar -     தீர்த்தப் புனற் (6.7.2),                                ஊக முகிலுரிஞ்சு (6.16.5),                                கண்ணார்ந்த நெற்றி (6.21.8),                                விண்ணோர் பெருமானை (6.22.2),                                மூரி முழங்கொலி (6.23.5),                                அண்ணா மலையமர்ந்தார் (6.51.3),                                விண்ணோர் பரவ (6.82.2);              Sundarar -      தென்னாத் தெனாத் (7.2.6),                                கடங்களூர் திருக்காரிக் (7.31.3),                                தேனைக் காவல் (7.47.7);       Manikkavachakar -      வெளியிடை ஒன்றாய் (8.4.149),                                அண்ணா மலையான் (8.7.18),                                விண்ணாளுந் தேவர்க்கு (8.8.10);     Parana   -      மதியாரும் செஞ்சடையான் (11.23.38,42);            Sekkizhar    -      அண்ணாமலை மலை மேல் (12.21.313) திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்,                                 அண்ணாமலை (12.28.970) திருஞானசம்பந்தர் நாயனார் புராணம்.                                                                   

Interesting Facts about the Temple and the Town

• Tiruvannamalai is a place that gives salvation even if you contemplate on it.
• Here the hill Itself is the embodiment of God. Circumambulating the hill (giri pradhakshina) is a special practice here.
• The circumference of the hill is 14 km. It is very auspicious to circumambulate this hill on a full moon day.
• There are eight special directional lingas, Ashtalinga in the eight directions as one goes around the hill. These Ashtalingas are Indra linga, Agni linga, Yama linga, Nirrti linga, Vayu linga, Kubera linga and Ishanya linga.
• The main temple is situated at the base of the towering Arunachala Hill.
• The Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple is one of the largest temples in Tamil Nadu.
• The temple is spread over 25 acres of land with seven prakaras (enclosures).
• There are four main towers or gopurams located on each side of the exterior wall. The Raja Gopuram (main tower) is in the eastern direction and is the 2nd largest tower in Tamil Nadu. It is 217 feet tall and has 11 levels. The south tower is called Tirumanjana Gopuram, the west tower is Pey Gopuram and the north tower is called Ammani Ammal Gopuram. The temple also has four gopurams in each direction as gateway between the fifth prakara and the fourth prakara, and one gopuram called the Kili Gopuram in the east as gateway between fourth prakara and the third prakara. 
• The eastern tower – Raja Gopuram is especially well known for its numerous sculptures depicting dance and other artforms.
• There is the foot imprint of Arunchaleshwara inside the Tiruvannamalaiyar temple. This can be found on the right side of the Pey Gopuram.
• The exact spot where Ramana Maharishi received grace through penance is found immediately on entering the temple.  On the right of the Sarvasiddhi Vinayaka is Patala Lingeswara Sannidhi, the place where Ramana Maharishi performed his penance.
• This temple is believed to be the turning point in the life of the great Arunagirinatha. Inside the temple can be found the Kambathilayanar Sannidhi and Gnanapal Mantapam Sannidhi. It is at the Kambathilayanar Sannidhi that Lord Subrahmanya appeared on the pillar and blessed Arunagirinathar when he sang the Tirupugazh - 'Athala Sedanarada'.
• The temple houses lingas worshiped by Vishwamitra, Patanjali, Vyaghrapada, Agastya, Sanandana and others.
• Unlike Ashtabandana used in most temples, Swarnabandana (cementing made of pure gold) has been used at the Arunachaleshwara temple.
• The Mulasthana Lord - Arunachaleshwara Swamy shines in a gold-armoured Nagabharana with diamond tripundra on His forehead.
• There is a Chatur mukha or four faced Lingam.
• Manikkavasagar composed both the Tiruvammanai and Tiruvempavai of the Tiruvasagam in Tiruvannamalai. Tiruvempavai is a devotional treatise written as a description of activities performed by the women of this town for worshipping the Lord, beginning with them waking each other up before dawn.
• Other noted works composed here include the Sthala puranam - Arunachala Puranam, Arunai Kalambakam sung by Saiva Ellappa Navalar and 'Annamalai Venba' sung by Guru Namashivayar.
• Great saints like Guru Namashivayar, Guha Namashivayar, Arunagirinatha, Virupaksadeva, Isanya Gnanadesika, Deiva Shikhamani Desika lived in this place.
• When Nagalinga Desikar, a great yogi, who came in the lineage of Deiva shikhamani Desika went on a pilgrimage to Rameswaram, he was requested by Ramanathapura Raja Sethupathi, to undertake the management of five temples belonging to the Ramanathapuram principality. So, he established the Tiruvannamalai Adeenam in Kunrakkudi and named it 'Kunrakkudi Tiruvannamalai Adeenam'.

Festivals

• All major festivals like Karthik Deepa Utsav, Ashada Puram, Uttarayana and Dakshinayana Punyakalas, Chitra Vasantha Festival, Skandha Shashti, Margashira Pavai Festival, Phalgun Uttram are celebrated in a special way.
• Brahmotsava takes place in the month of Chitra with the Tirtha utsavam on the day of the Chitra Nakshatra.
• On Aadi - Puram, the festival of walking on fire takes place in front of Ambal Sannidhi.
• Karthik Deepam Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Tiruvannamalai.
• Mattuppongal, Tiruvudal and Swami Uyyala Utsavam festivals are celebrated in the month of Thai (Pushya).
• On the 5th day of the month of Thai (Pushya), the Lord visits Manalur to give Darshan.
• On the day of Rathasaptami in the month of Thai, Arunachaleshwara gives Darshan at Kalasapakkam.
• The Lord goes to a town called Palli Kondapattu on the day of Magha nakshatra in the month of Magha for the sake of the Hoysala Maharaja Viraballala and is given the ceremonial bath in the river.
• Kalyana Utsavam in the month of Phalgun (Panguni) lasts for 6 days.
• The Theppa (float) Utsavam is held at Indra Theertha.

Karthik Deepam Festival

• Karthik Deepam is a 10-day festival in the month of Karthik. Lord Shiva appeared as column of fire before Vishnu and Brahma on the day of the Krittika Nakshatra in the month of Karthik. On this day Karthik Deepa Utsav is celebrated. In the morning on the day of the Apabharani nakshatra, a lamp is lit at the Arunachaleshwara shrine and then light five more lamps are lit. These lamps are kept together near Arunachaleshwara sannidhi. Then this lamp is taken to the top of the Annamalai hill. In the evening, the pancha murthis assemble at the mantapa near the flagpole. Then Ardhanareeswar comes out from the sanctum. The Akhanda Deepam is lit in front of Him and the Maha Deepam is lit on the hill. At that time Arunachaleshwara is believed to appear in the form of a jyoti on the Hill. The Ardhanareeswarar comes out for granting darshan only while lighting the Maha Deepam. On all other days He does not leave His shrine. The Maha Deepam stays lit on the hill for 11 days.
• The people with the hereditary right to light the Deepam on Tiruvannamalai hill belong to the Bharadwaja clan of fishermen. On the day of Deepam festival, the people of the temple honour them and send all the articles required to light the Deepam on the hill.
• If one sees the Mahadeepa, 21 generations following theirs is believed to be blessed.
• Philosophical essence of the Karthik Deepam is that the Lord, who has no form and no name, transcends the mind, language, and form, manifests Himself in the form of a jyoti to uplift the jivas. It is this Jyoti that creates the world and from where Shakti emanates, purely out of His mercy towards living beings. This essence indelibly permeates through creation – living and non-living. (Ashtamurti philosophy). 

Recorded History and Temple Inscriptions 

• The Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara temple has hundreds of inscriptions. These inscriptions are in Tamil, Sanskrit and Kannada languages. 
• The total number of inscriptions recorded is 119. Most of these are of the Chola period. These inscriptions declare the giving of land, gold, cattle etc. for many charities including Deepa Seva, Abhisheka, Nandanavanam, Naivedya, Utsava, Prasad to devotees etc. Inscriptions of Pandya, Pallava, Hoysala king Veera Ballala, Vijayanagara Rayars, Thanjavur Nayak and merchants, peasants are also found.
• During the period of Rajendra I (1038 ACE), Tiruvannamalai was called Madhuranthaka-Valanattu Tiruvannamalai on the north bank of Penna. During the reign of Kulothungan III, it was called Rajaraja Valanattu Vanakopadi Anna-nattu Tiruvannamalai on the north bank of Penna. In the 27th year of his reign, it was simply called Vanakopadi Anna-nattu Tiruvannamalai on the north bank of Penna. Then during the Vijayanagara Rayars, Jayankonda Cholamandalam Senkunra kotta Vanakopadi Annanattu Taniyur Tiruvannamalai on the north bank of Pennar.
• The inscription of Gangaikonda Rajendran Chola (1028 ACE) is found on the wall of the first prakara, thus the stone masonry must have taken place before this. 
• In the shrines of Ekambareshwara and Chidambareshwara, in the first prakara, twelfth century shasanas (royal edicts) are found. 
• In the Kili Gopuram 33 inscriptions are found, and the stone masonry must have been done before the second regnal year (1063 AD) of the older Veerarajendra Chola.
• Apitakuchambal shrine was established separately in the 12th century. In the inscriptions it is marked as Tirukama Kottam.
• Inscriptions dated in the middle of the thirteenth century mention a Veeraraghavan wall, Vanathirayan wall, Tiruvegambamudayan wall etc. Between the Ammaiyappan Sannidhi, towards its west, the Nankaiyavweeswaram Temple was built by a queen from the Pallava family (1269 CE ) after selling thirteen and a half kuzhis(1 kuzhi = 144sq.m) of land for ten thousand gold coins. That portion is not present today.
• Vijayanagara emperor Krishna Devaraya carried out twenty major developments at the Tiruvannamalai temple. Each one of those services rendered remind devotees of Krishna Devaraya even today. The eastern Rajagopuram towering majestically at a height of 217 feet, the Shivaganga pond, the Thousand pillar Hall, Indra Vimana, Vinayaka Chariot, Tirumaladevi Amman Samudram lake, Seventh day festival Mandapa, 2 doors in the sanctum, gold plating of the doors of the sanctum, the doors of the Apitakuchambal shrine, gold-plating of the doors of the Ambal shrine, a well named Araamudhu (Nectar) was dug in front of the shrine of the goddess, an ornament named Krishnarayan was given to Arunachaleshwara and Ambal, Nagabharanam, gold statues and silver pots are some of the important endowments of Krishna Devaraya.
• There are many contributions by the Pallava king Kopperunchingan and his son Venavudaiyan. For the puja and other holy services, he donated lands and offered to Annamalaiyar, paddy brought by Aayambadi guards from the lands (wet and dry lands).
• Names of temple officials found in the inscriptions are Srirudra, Srimaheshwara, assistants of Srimaheshwara, residents, resident Maheshwara, Devakarmi, accountants, executives and many more. Among them, the Srimaheshwarsa was the one who oversaw that the Dharmasasanas were performed properly.
• There are many inscriptions related to the donation of land for the Naivedya service of Arunachaleshwara, Apitakuchambal and Bhikshatana at the different puja timings Ushatkala, Kalasandi, Madyahnika, Sayaraksha, Ardhajam etc.

• अरुणाचल महात्म्यम् - ऑडियो 
   

திருவண்ணாமலை மீது பாடப்பட்ட நூல்களில் சில:

• திருவண்ணாமலை அண்ணாமலையார் கோயில் தலவரலாறு 
• తిరువణ్ణామలై అరుణాచలేశ్వర దేవాలయం - చరిత్ర మరియు ఆసక్తికరమైన విషయాలు
• ತಿರುವಣ್ಣಾಮಲೈ ಅರುಣಾಚಲೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ - ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಆಸಕ್ತಿದಾಯಕ ಸಂಗತಿಗಳು
• तिरुवण्णामलै अरुणाचलेश्वर मंदिर – इतिहास और रोचक तथ्य