Yesterday, Sunday August 17th, visited Arunachaleswarar Temple (Big Temple) after a long absence. Many people who live in Tiruvannamalai visit the Temple daily, in much the same way devotees who live in the suburb of Ramana Nagar, often visit one of the major ashrams located in that area. I always enjoy my visits to BigTemple and if it was closer to my home, would visit much more regularly.
Whilst there I checked out a couple of items readers of Arunachala Grace have written about. The first request came from Grasshopper, who asked for some photographs of her favourite, Periyar Nandi. The second request (which I will fulfil in the following post) was for information of Temple timings (in addition have also included information about specific pujas available at the Temple).
Nandi
The Periyar (Big) Nandi statue at Arunachaleswarar Temple is located in the Fifth Prakaram facing the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and just outside the One Thousand Pillared Mandapam.
Whilst there I checked out a couple of items readers of Arunachala Grace have written about. The first request came from Grasshopper, who asked for some photographs of her favourite, Periyar Nandi. The second request (which I will fulfil in the following post) was for information of Temple timings (in addition have also included information about specific pujas available at the Temple).
Nandi
The Periyar (Big) Nandi statue at Arunachaleswarar Temple is located in the Fifth Prakaram facing the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and just outside the One Thousand Pillared Mandapam.
Nandi, is most renowned as the carrier and principal follower of Shiva. He is also the gatekeeper of Siva’s abode, which explains the close association of a statue of Nandi at the gate of many Shiva Temples.
In Sanskrit, a bull is called ‘vrisha’, which also connotes righteousness or Dharma, thus making it important to seek the blessings of Nandi before proceeding to worship Lord Shiva.
In Siddhar traditions, Nandi is one of the primal Gurus and amongst others was the guru to Siddhars Thirumulanathar and Patanjalinathar.
The largest Nandi Statues in India can be found at:
Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Chamundi Hills, Mysore, Karnataka
Bull Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu,
Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka
Shanthaleswara, Halebidu, Karnataka
