Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu · 12.2317°, 79.0676°
The fire-element temple beneath Arunachala hill, one of the largest temple complexes in India. Each Karthigai Deepam a giant ghee beacon is lit on the summit, visible for miles; the 14 km girivalam circuit of the hill draws hundreds of thousands each full moon. Ramana Maharshi's ashram at its base made the town a global magnet for seekers.
Brahma and Vishnu quarrelled over supremacy; Shiva became an endless column of fire and challenged them to find its ends. Vishnu as boar dug down, Brahma as swan flew up and lied about reaching the top — that infinite fire-column cooled into Arunachala hill itself.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola