Home to Mount Arunachala, Thiruvannamalai is a spiritual beacon to people from all walks of life. There are many spiritual centres in India each with their own character and tradition. Legend has it that Mount Arunachala represents the most direct path, which is the path of self-enquiry. The Old Tamil saying which says that even to think of Arunachala was to be assured of liberation seems to be the reason Ramana Maharishi made Thiruvannamalai and the sacred Mount Arunachala as his home.

Lord Shiva has five different temples dedicated to him representing the five elements of nature – earth, water, wind, air, and fire. The Arunachaleswara Temple in Thiruvannamalai worships Lord Shiva in the form of fire.

Each full moon night thousands of pilgrims walk nearly 9 miles around the Arunachala hill barefoot to worship Lord Shiva. Karthikai Deepam, a traditional festival that falls on full moon day in the Tamil month of Karthikai is celebrated in a grand manner at Thiruvannamalai. That evening, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the sacred mountain, which is visible for several miles around the mountain.