The Basic Principle of lighting Karthigai Deepam and the way of Thiruvannamalai worship.

The Basic Principle of lighting Karthigai Deepam and the way of Thiruvannamalai worship.

Annamalaiyar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, located at the foothills of the Annamalai Hill in the town of Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Annamalaiyar or Arunachaleswarar represented by lingam, with his consort, Parvati in the form of Unnamulaiyamman.

The temple occupies a significant place in Saivism and is regarded as one of the five temples associated with the five classic elements of nature, called the Pancha Bhoota Stalas. The temple is associated with the natural element fire, called Agni and the presiding deity, Arunachaleswarar in the form of lingam is called Agni lingam. The temple is revered by the Tamil Saiva canonical work of the 7th century, the Tevaram, by Tamil saint poets called the nayanars and is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam – the temples reverred in Tevaram. It is believed that the 9th century Saiva saint poet Manikkavasagar composed the Tiruvempaavai in the temple.

The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated during the full moon day in November–December and a huge beacon is lit on the top of the hill. It can be seen from miles around and believed to be Shiva's lingam of fire joining the limitless skies. The event is witnessed by 3 million pilgrims. Hear the the Tamil narration thro video.

Let us all bow Annamalaiyan.