Legend of Arunachala: Shiva resolves dispute between Vishnu and Brahma
The Shiva linga has been described in Tantra as the ultimate form for cosmic energy flow. It represents the perfect union of male and female energies.
Man does not need another being to experience the bliss energy in him. If he dives into the depths of his being, he can experience it as continuous surging tides that rise and fall within himself causelessly. The localized peak energy experience which happens through union with another being, can very well be an experience of every body cell, without the presence of the other. Energy need not be dissipated through the other being, but can be contained within oneself as an eternal and ecstatic dance. This phenomenon is what is represented in the Shiva linga – the ultimate God form created for worship.
The Shiva linga symbolizes the energy flow that happens when Existence unites with itself to create waves of bliss that rise and fall within, not without. It is the ultimate symbol of the state of samadhi, where mere existence is bliss.
The temple of Arunachaleshwara in Tiruvannamalai is the biggest Shiva temple in Bharat. It is one of the five sacred linga sites of Shiva in South Bharat. Here Shiva is worshipped in his elemental form of fire, as one of the pancha bhutas - the five elements of nature. These five elemental energies are: earth, water, fire, air and ether.
The other temple sites where Shiva is worshipped are: Chidambaram where Shiva he is worshipped as ether or space, Kalahasti where he is worshipped as air, Kanchipuram where he is worshipped as earth and Tiruvanaikkaval where he is worshipped as water. It is also believed that Shiva appeared to his consort Parvati here in Arunachala as a column of fire on the day of Kartikai Pournami (Kartikai is the Tamil month of November-December and Pournami is the full moon day) and fulfilled her desire to unite with him.
The temple of Arunachala has been praised in the songs of the 7th century Tamil Saint Tirugnana Sambandar, and is believed to have existed long before that. It is mentioned in ancient Tamil verses that just remembering Arunachala assures liberation! Such is the greatness of this mountain.