Annamalaiyar Temple – Religious Significance
The Annamalaiyar temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams, or five Shiva temples, with each a manifestation of a natural element: land, water, air, sky or fire. In Annamalaiyar
temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself as a massive column of fire,
whose crown and feet could not be found by the Hindu gods, Brahma and Vishnu. The main lingam in the
shrine is referred as Agni Lingam, and represents duty, virtue,
self-sacrifice and liberation through ascetic life at the end of the Agni
kalpa.
Aathara Sthala are Shiva temples which are considered to be
personifications of the Tantric chakras of human anatomy. The Annamalaiyar temple is
called the Manipooraga sthalam, and is associated with the Manipooraga chakra. Manipooraga is the chakra of spiritual ignorance,
thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and
sadness.