Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram –
Gopurathilaiyanar Shrine & Arunagiri Mandapam
These two structures are situated at the base of the
Vallala Maharaja Gopuram on its northern side. These structures are reached by
the flight of the steps. Gopurathilaiyanar shrine consists of a cella and an
antarala both are rectangular in shape. Inside the shrine there is the most
magnificent statue of Muruga with Valli and Devasena. There is also a copper
image of Arunagirinathar praying at his feet. To the left and right side of the
walls Vinayaka and Muruga sculptures are erected.
The Arunagiri mandapa is in front of this shrine and it
extends nearly half of the size on the northern part, and it is supported by
two of pillars each of which contains five pillars on the northern side, and
one row of five pillars on the southern side, leaving a central space for the
devotees to worship Lord Muruga in that shrine.
The walls of the Arunagiri mandapa contain some
beautiful diagrams and pictures. One diagram is in the shape of a chariot with
peacock flag on the top. The chariot is divided into many squares. At the side
of this are some of Arunagirinathar songs. To the left of the chariot, there is
a plaque of bold Tamil ‘AUM’ containing the spear of Muruga inside. There are
some prayers written by Bampan Swamigal on this wall with a photo of this Swamigal.
Another picture depicts the scene of Muruga blessing Arunagirinathar.
The Gopurathu Ilayanar (Subrahmanya of the gateway) is
housed in a shrine built around the statue of Subrahmanya in a niche in the
eastern face of the Kambattu Ilayanar (i.e. Subrahmanya of the pillar). However
the image of Subrahmanya of that small pillar hall has become such an object of
devotion that this additional and imposing shrine was built to shelter the
pillar-deity.
The Shrine and Mandapam are located to the right of the
stone stairs at the bottom of the Vallala Gopura. An additional legend (which
follows below) tells that Lord Subramanya caught hold of and saved
Arunagirinathar when he flung himself off the pillar to end his life. To
commemorate this event this Temple was built adjoining the tower (Gopurathu
Ilayanar i.e. “Subramanya near the tower”). Inside this shrine is a
statue of Lord Muruga with his two wives Valli and Devasena. There is also a
copper image of Arunagirinathar praying at the Lord’s feet. To the left and
right of the walls there are statues of Vinayaka and Muruga.
This shrine is believed to have been extended by Deva
Raya II around the year 1421 A.D. The Vijayanagara insignia, the ‘Boar and
Dagger’ is seen on one of the extensions at its junction with the Gopura. His
statuette is seen on the south wall of the shrine and in other places.
Legends:
Arunagirinathar is renowned as
one of Tiruvannamalai's most famous saints. He was a Muruga Bhaktar who lived
at the foot of Arunachala in the fourteenth century. The major turning point in
his life occurred when he had spent his entire sister's money. Not knowing that
she was destitute, he approached her again in the hope of getting another
hand-out. His sister, who had nothing left except the clothes she was wearing,
told him that her funds were exhausted. Since she still loved her brother and
since she still wanted to be of assistance to him she offered him her own body,
saying, 'If your lust is so insatiable, you can use my body for your sexual
satisfaction'.
These words deeply affected and shamed Arunagirinathar.
He mentally reviewed the wasted years of his life and came to the conclusion
that he had been committing crimes against God. As his sense of shame deepened,
he decided to commit suicide by jumping off one of the Gopurams in
Arunachaleswarar Temple. He climbed the tower, but before he was able to jump,
Lord Muruga manifested and held him back. In some versions of the story,
Arunagirinathar actually jumped and Muruga had to catch him before he died on
the paving stones below.
Muruga embraced him. Then, with his vel, (the spear he
carries) he wrote a mantra on Arunagirinathar tongue, gave him a japamala and
commanded him to sing songs in praise of him.