Planet: Surya (Sun), Direction: East
The Indra Lingam is the most difficult to find. It is on Car Street, very near to the Vegetable Market.
Here is its entrance, amidst the various storefronts.
A long hallway takes you to the lingam.
Here is the Indra Lingam.
Cycle of Life meaning for Indra Lingam
Indra is important in heaven and is the ruler of creation. All beings, before they come to this world, are in Kailash. Before they come, they are wondering about this Earth. Lord Indra tells them that once they go there, they cannot come back that easily. When a person is born here, they lose all their higher energy and memories of what was before. So the people live on a lower level. Suffering and pain is a big part of their life. Ancient teachings, like the Siva Puranas, say that the purpose of life is to attain Mukti, enlightenment, liberation. But people don’t want Mukti, they want this life. So people should experience this world and their life. After this they will be ready for Mukti. These same ancient teachings say that Mukti is brought by doing Arunachala Pradakshina. These lingams were put in place to help people get Mukti. You start Pradakshina with the Indra Lingam because it stands for your birth (and the knowledge that you had before your were born).
If you watch closely, you will notice that there is always a path into the lingam (or moorthi) that is kept open from the outside. The reason for this is that the god does not always occupy the lingam. When you pray to the lingam, the spirit of the god rushes into the lingam, and the open path allows this to happen. The energy rises in the lingam, then comes back to you to respond to your prayers or devotion.
Traditional meaning for the Indra Lingam
Indra manifests seated on his elephant, wielding in his hand the weapon Vajra with which he destroys ignorance and bestows the light of knowledge on his deserving devotees. He offers the sweet nectar of spiritual knowledge to those who are fitting and ripe. Indra brings long life and fame.
This lingam has a tower above it. This was added when it was renewed, so it was not original. The tower has Saivite figures around it. In front are Siva and Parvati. Parvati is in her green-skinned Pachaiamman form.
Next is Murugan (or Skanda), with his spear, Val.
In back of the lingam is a well. When first constructed, each lingam had a tank for bathing. Before the lingam is worshiped, one should bathe and clean oneself. Now since the lingam is in the midst of the city, the tank has been built over, and to bathe, water from this well would be used.
An ancient Tiruvannamalai king built 365 bathing tanks in Tiruvannamalai and around Arunachala. One could bathe in a different tank each day of the year. This was another thing said to bring Mukti. Now many of the tanks have been destroyed, and fewer than 100 still exist.
The rope to pull up the bucket from the well.
On the back of the temple tower is a Lingodbhava, illustrating Siva creating the endless column of light that became Arunachala.
Atop the tower is a brass Kalasa (spiritual pot). Its conical top piece reflects the spiritual energy around the area of the lingam, so to be able to absorb it, you need to walk Pradakshina around the temple. This is why, in all Siva temples, one walks around the primary god after worship of it.
How to get there:
The temple is located on the 300 m south east from Arunachaleshwarar temple.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PrQKhsgzXiT9RDuQ8
About Asta Lingams of Arunachala
The Asta Lingams of Arunachala, the eight special Siva lingams that encircle the holy hill, are old features, dating back hundreds of years. It is said that visiting and worshiping these lingams brings great spiritual benefit. For the millions of people who, each year during the full moon nights, perform Arunachala Girivalam (also called Pradakshina, spiritual circumambulation), praying at these Asta Lingams is a major element of their experience.
Each of these eight lingams has a presiding star and is named for a God or Rishi that worshiped Siva (from this very location, it is often said). Each has a specific spiritual attribute. Each can provide assistance with some kind of major life issue, or illness. You can find out a lot about them by Googling “asta lingam.”
Recently Carol and I were given a tour of these lingams by Saran, a local man who we think is the best of the Arunachala guides. He grew up living on the side of Arunachala, deeply loves this holy hill, and is steeped in local knowledge and traditions. He gave us a way of approaching the Asta Lingams that I don’t find on the web or in books. This is a deep local tradition about how to use worship and prayer at these sacred lingams for and in your life.
Below is a map of the Asta Lingams (double click to enlarge):
History of the Asta Lingams of Arunachala
The Giripradakshina route for Arunachala was set a few hundred years ago, by a Pandyan king, Vikkirama Pandya, I think a bit before 1200 CE. The creation of the Asta Lingams is shrouded by time and myth. Saran told us a story of their creation that we had never heard.
Saran said that the locations were set on a specific astrological day, based on positions of the planets known as the Navagrahas, the Nine Planets, around Arunachala. There is a belief that one’s life is controlled by the Nine Planets. Each of the lingams stands for one of these planets, all surrounding (and worshipping) the “ninth planet,” Arunachala itself. In your life you are said to pass through each of the Navagrahas to the next. Worship of the Asta Lingams helps you move through the planetary cycles of your life.
The placement was done by a famous siddhar of Tiruvannamalai, about 500 years ago. The story goes that all of the planets, to worship Lord Siva, came around Arunachala. The siddhar could feel the energy from the planets, and located each lingam where their energy was the greatest.
