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2017
Photographs of Repairs, Renovation and Painting at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below photographs show Arunachaleswarar Temple repairs, cleaning, renovation and painting prior to the 2017 Mahakumbhabhiskeham.

Renovation work began in 2015. A crack found in the stone beam of the base of the 217 foot high Rajagopura (and other minor cracks found in the gopura) were fixed using anchor assemblies.

Traditional ash colour paint was applied on all nine gopuram of the Temple.


Cracks on Raja Gopuram repaired by Civil Engineers.

Statues on Gopurams cleaned and whenever necessary repaired



Gopurams cleaned, repaired and whitewashed



Vimanas on all shrines repaired and painted






Statues around both Theerthams painted



Wherever necessary repairs made on stonework



Statues on top of shrines cleaned and painted






Shrine at 4th Prakaram



Shrine back of 4th Prakaram fully painted



Statues in front of Mother Shrine cleaned and painted






Restoration work both inside and outside Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below photographs of newly restored painted Shrines and Structures.


Bairava Temple, 4th Prakaram




In the inside of the Mandapam eight pillars each support different manifestations of Lord Bhairavar, namely:- Niru Bhairavar, Kapali Bhairavar, Bhisha Bhairavar, Krothana Bhairavar, Asitharga Bhairavar, Samkara Bhairavar, Unnathu Bhairavar, and Sandai Bhairavar.







Formerly Kala Bhairavar was situated in the second Prakara near the Palliarai (sleeping chamber of the deities). The reason for the change in location goes as follows:-

"After an untoward incident according to a legend a child was left inside the second Prakara but when the mother came to reclaim her child after the doors had been closed she was advised by a voice from inside to come and take back her child in the following morning and reassured that her child would be safe. But the mother insisted and so the voice angrily told her to take her child and proceeded to throw it out with torn limbs - and the child was dead. This was supposed to be done by Kala Bhairavar who is the guardian of the Temple. Hence this powerful statue was shifted to the fourth Prakara. Kala Bhairavar is one of the fierce manifestations of Lord Siva."


Alankaram Mandapam


To the east of the Raja Gopura is a small mandapam meant for darshan of the Panchamoorties during processions. A fire on July 11, 1996 burnt the previous Mandapam to the ground. The current Mandapam built at an estimated cost of 107 lakhs was part of major restoration work of the Temple completed in time for the Arunachaleswarar Maha Kumbhabhiskeham of February 27, 2002.

This current mandapam rises 31 feet at the Central Eastern Pinnacle and 22 feet on the North and South sides and consists of cut stone flooring. Although this current mandapam consists of 44 pillars it continues to be known as the 16 pillar mandapam (pathinaru).


Ceiling and stonework top of pillars were painted






Even the oldest clock and tower in Tiruvannamalai was painted