The item has been added to your cart.Know More About The Mountain of Fire: Thiruvannamalai’s Spiritual Power and the Arunachala Siva Mantra
On December 01, 2025Thiruvannamalai, known as the Agni Sthalam or the Mountain of Fire, is one of the most revered Panchabhoota Sthalams representing the fire element (Agni). This sacred place stands as a powerful centre of Shiva’s consciousness and divine light. Read further to understand the deep spiritual, mythological, and transformative significance of Thiruvannamalai and the Arunachala Siva Mantra.
The Sacred Mountain of Fire: Thiruvannamalai
Thiruvannamalai is among the holiest places in the world dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in Tamil Nadu, this ancient temple town is home to Arunachala Hill, a red-coloured mountain revered as Shiva himself in the form of fire. As one of the Pancha Bhootas, it represents the element of Agni, while the other temples represent Space, Earth, Water, and Air.
The presiding deity, Annamalaiyar or Arunachaleswara, along with his consort Apitakuchambikai, symbolises the union of Shakti (energy) and Shiva (consciousness). This divine presence makes the mountain a source of immense spiritual power.
The Mythology Behind the Mountain of Fire
Ancient legends narrate that Goddess Parvati once playfully covered Lord Shiva’s eyes. Instantly, the universe plunged into darkness because Shiva’s vision sustains cosmic light. As atonement, Parvati descended to Earth and performed intense penance.
Pleased by her devotion, Shiva appeared as an unfathomable column of fire—a form beyond human or divine comprehension. That divine fire eventually manifested as Arunachala Hill. Therefore, the mountain is not just a geological formation but an embodiment of the Fire of Consciousness, which destroys illusion and awakens inner truth.
Dr. Pillai explains that Arunachala radiates both fire and light. Human attachment to physical pleasures creates spiritual limitations, and Arunachala, as Shiva, burns these limitations and awakens the soul.
The Message of Jnana Sambandar
According to Dr. Pillai, the saint-poet Jnana Sambandar, who deeply revered Lord Shiva, once refused to step on the sacred Arunachala soil out of reverence. Feeling unworthy of its divine radiance, he honoured the mountain from a distance.
He later composed hymns describing Arunachala as the Mountain of Light and Fire, a spiritual force that dissolves physical limitations and reveals the soul’s brilliance. Dr. Pillai compares this transformation to the symbolic “breaking of bread” in Christian tradition, which represents the release of divine consciousness after transcending the physical form.
The Ritual of Girivalam: Circumambulating the Mountain of Fire
For thousands of years, Thiruvannamalai has drawn sages, siddhas, mystics, and enlightened beings. Saints such as Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi, and Yogi Ram Surat Kumar considered Arunachala a silent guru—a living embodiment of divine wisdom.
The sacred ritual known as Girivalam involves circumambulating the 14 km path around the mountain. Devotees undertake this journey to absorb Shiva’s energy, dissolve karma, awaken intuition, and attain spiritual liberation.
According to Dr. Pillai, the Mountain transmits higher intelligence and psychic wisdom. This transmission helps devotees gain clarity and find solutions to life’s challenges. He explains that not only humans but Siddhas, Gods, and Goddesses also circumambulate the Mountain. Thus, Girivalam becomes a cosmic act of aligning with divine intelligence across realms.
How to Still Your Mind: Chant the Arunachala Shiva Mantra
“Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva,
Arunachala Siva, Aruna Sivom.”
Dr. Pillai emphasizes that chanting the Arunachala Shiva mantra or simply being near the Mountain can still the mind. Even without seeing the mountain directly, its divine radiation spreads across the entire region, calming thoughts and restoring inner peace.
A still mind is a rare blessing and can occur only through divine intervention. Arunachala offers this transformative stillness, helping one rise above mental turbulence.
Conclusion
Thiruvannamalai is more than a sacred destination—it is a living force of divine fire and light in physical form. Arunachala awakens inner wisdom, burns ignorance, and helps a seeker realise the truth beyond illusion. As Dr. Pillai beautifully puts it, “The Mountain will solve the problem.”
Visiting Thiruvannamalai allows you to experience the meeting point of the finite and the infinite. It is one of India’s most powerful pilgrimages, capable of dissolving karmic debts and awakening higher intelligence.
