Aadhi Annamalai Temple, Thiruvannamalai – Legends
Jyotirlinga, Infinite Pillar of Light:
According to Śiva
Mahapurana, once Lord Brahma (the
god of creation) and Lord Vishnu (the form of god of protection) had
an argument over supremacy of creation. To settle the debate, Supreme God Shiva pierced
the three worlds appearing as a huge Infinite Pillar of Light,
the Jyotirlinga and asked them to find his upper and lower limits and he
who found either of these is the superior one. Both gods stopped fighting and
decided to explore the ends.
Brahma took the form of a swan
and flew up to reach the top of the column of light, whereas Vishnu became a
boar and started digging into the earth to find its base. A thousand years
passed as Vishnu dug deep into the nether worlds and the journey seemed endless.
With all this power he could not discover the base. He soon realized and
recognized that his true strength was derived from this Supreme Light, that is
Lord Shiva. He prayed to Shiva seeking his pardon and then returned to earth.
Brahma who flew up as a swan
was mounting the sky and the higher, he soared, the column of light rose higher
before him. He was growing despondent and was about to return when he saw a
fragrant flower called Ketaki (screw-pine) falling towards the earth. On asking
from where it had come, the flower revealed that it had come from the crest of
the fire column that was none other than Shiva himself and that it had been
descending for thousands of four-fold Yugas.
Bramha, realizing that he
would not be able to reach the crown asked the flower to act as a false
witness. The Ketaki flower acting as a false witness declared that Brahma had
seen the crown. Siva became angry at the deception and cursed that Bramha
should have no temple on earth and Ketaki flower should not be used while
praying to Lord Siva. This huge Infinite Pillar of Light, the Jyotirlinga. which
later cooled into the Holy Mountain Annamalai (on
which the Temple of Arunachaleshvara is
located).
Ani Annamalai:
According to legend, Brahma
got infatuated with Tillottama, his own daughter (i.e. one of his own
creations) and in his mood of infatuation went after her in the form of a dove.
When she took refuge in Siva, the Lord confronted Brahma in the form of a hunter
and dispelled his delusion. There is even today on the slopes of Arunachala, a temple
to the Lord as Hunter, known as Vediyappan Koil, being called wrongly nowadays
as Kannapar Koil. To get himself absolved of the sin committed, Brahma
installed and worshipped a Linga of Lord Arunachaleswarar called Ani Annamalai.
In the Arunachala Puranam (Tamil), Brahma says to his son Sanaka, “To remove
the unabating Karmas I installed and worshipped a Linga of Lord Arunachala, who
is called (Ani = Beautiful)”.
Siva Yoga Muka Darshan:
It is reported that the vision
of Arunachala from this Temple is known as Siva Yoga Muka Darshan and the great
Siddha Thirumoolar saw this aspect.
Ramana Maharshi heard the celestial recital of Sama Veda
here:
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
who used to camp at Adi Annamalai for up to 2-3 nights while performing Giri
Valam was reported to have said that while at the Temple he heard the celestial
recital of 'Sama Veda'.