Ashta Lingams, Thiruvannamalai

Ashta Lingams or the eight lingams are situated in the Thiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu and are found on the foothills of the Annamalai Hill. The town of Thiruvannamalai is known to reverberate with all that is holy and spiritual mainly because of the presence of the Ashta lingams.

These lingams attract saints and devotees alike to the place. There are eight small shrines housing the lingams. These shrines are all placed at some distance from each other on the 14 km circumference of the foothill. Pilgrims are known to go around the hill in order to offer their prayers. They also make it a point to pray at every lingam.

The eight lingams are the Indra lingam, the Agni lingam, the Vayu Lingam, the Varuna lingam, the Niruthi lingam, the Kubera lingam and the Isaanya lingam. Each of these lingams is associated with the twelve moon signs. Worshipping the eight lingams is an integral part of the ‘Girivalam’ or circumbulation of the hill.