Aruṇācala, Tiruvaṇṇāmalai

Śiva as the hill of fire · Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

Aruṇācala is a hill worshipped as Śiva himself. At its foot stands the vast Aruṇācaleśvara temple, the fire-element shrine among the Pañca Bhūta Sthalas. Pilgrims walk the girivalam, the barefoot circuit of about fourteen kilometres around the hill, especially on full-moon nights, passing eight liṅga shrines on the way.

The 20th-century sage Ramaṇa Mahaṛṣi lived here, and his āśrama draws seekers from around the world. On Kārttikai Dīpam in November–December, a great flame is lit on the summit and can be seen for miles.

Tradition says Aruṇācala is the very place where Śiva appeared as the endless column of fire before Brahmā and Viṣṇu. At their request he took the gentler form of this hill so that people could approach him. Kārttikai Dīpam recalls that column of light.

Tamil Nadu · Girivalam ~14 km · Kārttikai Dīpam · Ramaṇa Mahaṛṣi

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