Of all the thousands of Shiva temples in India, five are revered as the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, the temples where Shiva is worshipped as one of the five elements of nature. Tiruvannamalai’s Arunachaleswarar Temple represents Agni, the element of fire, and the deity here is worshipped as the Agni Lingam. This article explains the legend, the five temples, and why fire is at the heart of everything in Tiruvannamalai, from the hill itself to the Karthigai Deepam flame.
The Five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams
| Element | Lingam | Temple | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth (Prithvi) | Prithvi Lingam | Ekambareswarar Temple | Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu |
| Water (Jala / Appu) | Appu Lingam | Jambukeswarar Temple | Thiruvanaikaval, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu |
| Fire (Agni) | Agni Lingam | Arunachaleswarar Temple | Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu |
| Air (Vayu) | Vayu Lingam | Srikalahasteeswara Temple | Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh |
| Space (Akasha) | Akasha Lingam | Thillai Nataraja Temple | Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu |
Four of the five are in Tamil Nadu, and many pilgrims undertake a Pancha Bhoota yatra to visit all five. Tiruvannamalai is easily combined with Kanchipuram (about 120 km) and Chidambaram (about 160 km).
The Legend of the Column of Fire
According to the Shiva Purana and the Arunachala Mahatmyam, Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver once argued over which of them was supreme. To end their pride, Lord Shiva appeared between them as an infinite column of fire (the Jyotirlinga or Lingodbhava form) and challenged them to find its beginning or end.
Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and dug deep into the earth, while Brahma became a swan (Hamsa) and flew upwards. Neither found the limit. Vishnu humbly admitted defeat. Brahma, however, claimed he had seen the top, citing a falling thazhampoo (screwpine flower) as his false witness. Shiva cursed Brahma that he would not be worshipped in temples, and the thazhampoo was banned from Shiva worship.
The gods then prayed to Shiva to reduce his blinding radiance, and he took the form of the hill Arunachala (the “red mountain” or “mountain of dawn”). The hill itself is therefore considered to be Shiva, which is why devotees walk around it in Girivalam rather than climbing it casually.
How the Fire Element Shapes Tiruvannamalai
Karthigai Deepam
Every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai, a huge flame, the Maha Deepam, is lit on the summit of Arunachala at dusk, re-enacting Shiva’s appearance as fire. It burns for days and is visible from far across the plains. Read our Karthigai Deepam festival guide and the Karthigai Deepam 2026 date and timings.
The heat of the sanctum
Devotees often say that the inner sanctum of Arunachaleswarar feels distinctly warm, in keeping with the fire element.
“Remembering Arunachala grants liberation”
A famous saying holds that being born in Tiruvarur, dying in Kashi, seeing Chidambaram, or merely remembering Arunachala grants liberation. Of these, remembering Arunachala is the easiest, which is why the hill is so central to Tamil devotion.
Arunachala in Tamil Devotional Literature
- Tevaram: the Nayanar saints Thirugnana Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) sang hymns on the Lord of Annamalai, making it a Paadal Petra Sthalam.
- Thiruvempavai: Manikkavasagar’s famous Margazhi hymns are associated with Tiruvannamalai.
- Thiruppugazh: the poet-saint Arunagirinathar, born in Tiruvannamalai, composed thousands of verses on Lord Murugan.
- Arunachala Stuti Panchakam: Ramana Maharshi’s five hymns to Arunachala, including the Akshara Mana Malai.
Visiting the Agni Lingam Temple
The Arunachaleswarar Temple is open daily from early morning until night. Plan your visit with our guides to temple timings, daily pooja timings, the dress code and temple history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which element does Tiruvannamalai represent?
Tiruvannamalai’s Arunachaleswarar Temple represents Agni, the fire element, among the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams.
What are the five Pancha Bhoota temples?
Ekambareswarar (earth, Kanchipuram), Jambukeswarar (water, Thiruvanaikaval), Arunachaleswarar (fire, Tiruvannamalai), Srikalahasti (air) and Chidambaram Nataraja (space).
Why is the Arunachala hill considered sacred?
According to legend, Shiva appeared as an endless column of fire and then took the form of the Arunachala hill, so the hill itself is worshipped as Shiva.
Why is thazhampoo not offered to Shiva?
The screwpine flower acted as a false witness for Brahma in the column-of-fire legend, so Shiva barred it from his worship.
