Thread by @_ugra_

Namaste to everyone from the ancient Arunachaleshwara Temple at Tiruvannamalai, TN.

Seen here standing at a massive 216.5 feet is the Raja Gopuram of the Temple.

It was constructed by none other than Shri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara.

The base of the massive Rajagopuram is made out of pure granite & measures at an astounding 135 x 98 ft.

Carving of the royal emblem of the Vijayanagara empire inside the Rajagopuram. It depicts a Boar & a dagger.

Goddess Gaja Lakshmi flanked on either sides by elephants carved onto the ceiling of the Raja Gopuram.

The massive Nandi in front of the Rajagopuram. The Nandi is facing west direction.

View of the Temple complex from the east. Seen to the left is a gudi dedicated to Lord Subramanya, in the middle is the west gopuram & to its right is the massive mantapam constructed during the Vijayanagara era. In the background is the Arunachala hill.

The South Gopuram, also called Thirumanjangopuram at the Arunachaleshwara Temple. Also seen is the Pushkarani.

The massive North Gopuram of the Arunachaleshwara Temple.

The North & West Gopurams seen from the South. The main Garbagriha of Lord Arunachaleshwara lies beyond the west Gopuram.

The South & West Gopurams seen from the North. It is a literally a mirror image to the previous image. The geometrical precision is mindblowing.

Now a brief walk through on some of the notable carvings on the Gopurams. Seen here is a carving depicting Samudra Mantan.

Carvings of different manifestations of Lord Shiva carved onto the base of the Gopuram

1) Panchamuka Shiva
2) Bhairava
3) Lingodbhavamurthy
4) Gajasurasamhara

More carvings from the Gopuram include that of

1) Veerabhadra (also seen is Daksha)

2) Nrithya Ganapathi

3) Ugra Narasimha

4) Bhakta Kannappa, also known as Kannappa Nayanar, one of the 63 Shaivaite saints.

The circular design pattern within which all the carvings are confined is said to be the tongue of a Makara. Its seen very clearly in this carvings which shows

1) Durga slaying Mahisasura

2) Lord Kartikeya with his consorts Goddesses Valli & Devasena

This circular design starts on one end of the Gopuram threshold & runs along the walls onto the ceiling & ends on the opposite wall. Seen here is one more example. Seen here are the carvings of

1) Veerabhadra
2) Indra (not sure)
3) Sharabeshwara
4) Garuda (obstruct by pipe)

The circular design that continuously runs along the ceiling. Seen in the center is a terrific face called Kirtimuka. Also seen next to it is a carving of Yoga Narasimha

Also panel running parallel to the circular design depicts the Trimurtis with their consorts & other devas.

Another manifestation of Lord Shiva known as Bhikshatana murthy. Here he is depicted as a Bhikshuka(beggar). Shiva assumes this form to perform prayaschita for the paapa of having severed Lord Brahma's 5th head. He is feeding a deer with his right hand here.

Carving of Gaumata performing abhishekam to Shiva lingam with her milk.

Two seperate carvings of Lord Dakshinamurthy.

Lord Rama with Hanuman

Goddess Durga within the precinct of the Raja Gopuram.

Some of the carvings are fast fading away due to abuse in the name of maintainance. Seen here.

1) Vinayaka
2) Bhairava
3) Ugra Narasimha
4) Uma-Maheshwara

Within the confines of the massive 1000 pillar Mantapam seen on the left is a small underground Shiva gudi known as Patala Shiva. The great Ramana Maharshi meditated at this Gudi. The Vimana seen on the right is situated right above the Patala Shiva lingam.

Seen here is the Kili Gopuram in the west direction. Kili in Tamil means parrot. It gets the name due to the fact that there is a carving of a large green parrot on the extreme top left corner of the Gopuram.

Seen here is the Vallala Gopuram. Vallala was none other than Veera Ballala III, inarguably the greatest Hoysala emperor. After the fall of Dwarasamudra(Halebidu), the capital city of the Hoysalas, Ballala deva reorganised his forced here at Tiruvannamalai.

Veera Ballala would later go on to lead the Hindu resistance against the vassals of the islamic barbarians of the delhi sultanate who had occupied Madurai. Just when his victory was around the corner, Ballala Deva was captured & killed in the most gruesome of manner.

From the ashes of Veera Ballala & Hoysala empire would be born the Vijayanagara empire. The empire under the commandership of Kumara Kampana would go on a reconquest to reclaim all of Dakshin Bharat from islamic barbarians. The city of Tiruvannamalai played a very imp role in it

Another Nandi, this time facing the Kili Gopuram to the west. In the background is the massive North Gopuram.

A mindblowing & very rare depiction of a multi-headed manifestation of Lord Shiva on the North Gopuram.

Another stunning deity from the North Gopuram. Front facing face that of Mahadeva, flanked to either sides by Varaha & Gajanana with Narasimha on the top.

Trisula, Paasa & Shanka are clearly visible. Must be a manifestation of Shiva-Vishnu-Ganesha together.

The ardha mantapa & Vimana carvings of the Lord Subramanya gudi. Seen are various devas including Shiva-Parvati, Lord Ganesha & few Nayanars( Shaivaite saints)

Lord Maha Vishnu & Devi Mahalakshmi with Lord Murugan.

Life sized carving of Goddess Ganga. She is standing on top of her Vahana known as Makara.

A wall inscription in old Tamil paying tributes.

A miniature model of the entire Arunachaleshwara Temple complex.

And now I shall conclude. Have barely scratched the surface of this architectural marvel.

A day or two or a month or perhaps even a lifetime isn't enough to explore, understand & appreciate this divine Temple.

Thank you friends for reading patiently 🙏🏼

ॐ नमः शिवाय 🙏🏼🚩