Aadhi Annamalai Temple, Thiruvannamalai
Aadhi Annamalai Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Thiruvannamalai, pilgrimage town in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Aadhi Annamalai / Aadhi Arunachaleswarar and Mother is called as Abitha Kujalambal / Unnamulai Amman. The name of this Temple, Aadhi Annamalai means ‘first’ or ‘ancient’ Annamalai (Arunachaleswarar).
The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. This Temple was built few centuries before the famous Thiruvannamalai AnnamalaiyarTemple. The Temple is situated on the on the west side of Thiruvannamalai Town. The Temple is under the control of Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple.
Legends
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History
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The Temple
The Temple is very small compared to the famous Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple and it occupies only 1/2 acre. Presiding Deity is called as Aadhi Annamalai / Aadhi Arunachaleswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Mother is called as Aadhi Abitha Kujalambal / Aadhi Unnamulai Amman. She is housed in a separate shrine. There are shrines for Vinayaga and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai in the outer prakaram.
There is a Theertham called Unnamalai in the Temple premises. Idols of Karaikal Ammaiyar, Vinayaga, Sundarar, Appar, Manikkavasakar, Tilakavathy, Bala Ganapathy, Three Shiva Lingams and many more idols can be found next to the Vahana Mandapam. There is a Temple and pond dedicated to this saint Manikkavasakar at Adi Annamalai.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04:30 PM to 08:30 PM.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 4th Thirumurai in 63rd Patikam in 1st and 4th Song.
4-63-1:
ஓதி மா மலர்கள் தூவி உமையவள் பங்கா மிக்க
சோதியே துளங்கும் எண்தோள் சுடர் மழுப்படையினானே
ஆதியே அமரர் கோவே அணி அணாமலையுளானே
நீதியால் நின்னை அல்லால் இனி நினையுமா நினைவு இலேனே.
4-63-4:
பைம்பொனே பவளக்குன்றே பரமனே பால்வெண்ணீறா
செம்பொனே மலர் செய் பாதா சீர் தரு மணியே மிக்க
அம்பொனே கொழித்து வீழும் அணி அணாமலையுளானே
என்பொனே உன்னை அல்லால் ஏதும் நான் நினைவு இலேனே.
Prayers
The Temple is considered as Parihara Sthalam for mentally ill people.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 6 Kms from Tiruvannamalai Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Tiruvannamalai Railway Station, 7 Kms from Tiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple, 182 Kms from Chennai Airport, 197 Kms from Trichy Airport and 200 Kms from Chennai. The Temple is situated on the Girivala Path immediately after Varuna Lingam. The temple can be reached from Tiruvannamalai city center by an auto or taxi in 15 minutes.