Arunachaleswra Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu India

The temple is at the foot of the Arunachala Hill and is one of the largest temples in India. The Vijayanagara ruler Krishna Deva Raya built the temple in between 1502 to 1529. The inner sanctorum of the temple dates back to the 11th century. In this temple is found one of the elements lingas where God Shiva incarnates as Fire. The Arunachaleswara temple spreads over an area of 24 acres. An interesting fact is that the Kadugai or the roof edge is formed of Yali friezes and the vimana of mortar.

There are found about 119 epigraphs in the temple most pertaining to the Cholas for a long time. The rest of the inscriptions belongs to the Kopperunjinga, Pallava, Hoysalas and the Vira Vallava Deva Nagara Kings. Inside the premises of the large temple there are also temples dedicated to Subramanya and Parvati. The temple came in to existence when Lord Shiva was angered by the act of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. He then took the form of Fire having neither a beginning nor an end.