Tiruvanamallai
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Tiruvannamalai (तिरुवन्नमलई) is a city and district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a part of the Tondaimandalam (Tondai Nadu) region. It is located on the foothills of Annamalai hills.
Variants
- Tamil: Tiruvaṇṇāmalai IPA: [ˈtiɾɯʋaɳːaːmalɛi̯],
- Thiruvannamalai
- Trinomali
- Trinomalee (during British times)
- Tiruvanamallai (तिरुवन्नमलई) (मद्रास) (AS, p.403)
Origin
Tiruvannamalai is named after the central deity of the Annamalaiyar Temple, Annamalaiyar. The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated during the day of the full moon between November and December, and a huge beacon is lit atop the Annamalai hill. The event is witnessed by three million pilgrims. On the day preceding each full moon, pilgrims circumnavigate the temple base and the Annamalai hills in a worship called Girivalam, a practice carried out by one million pilgrims yearly.
History
Tiruvannamalai has been ruled by the Pallavas, the Medieval Cholas, the Later Cholas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Carnatic kingdom, Tipu Sultan, and the British. It served as the capital of the Hoysalas. The town is built around the Annamalaiyar Temple like other Nayak capitals.
Apart from other temples, there are 8 important Shiva temples facing 8 important directions on the (side) path of Girivalam. All the Shivlings of these 8 temples are believed to have formed naturally. [1]
तिरुवन्नमलई (मद्रास)
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[2] ने लेख किया है ...तिरुवन्नमलई (मद्रास) (AS, p.403 समुद्रतल से 2668 फुट ऊँची पहाड़ी पर यहाँ एक प्राचीन मंदिर है जहाँ कार्तिक में शिव की पवित्र ज्वाला प्रज्वलित की जाती है.