The annamaliyar temple is associated with the Famous hindu festival of the Kartigai Dheepam. when, on Karthigai day in between December and January, a huge fire is lift up the hill, visible for kilometers around. The fire (dheepam) is called Mahadheepam, lakhs of hindu divotees visit here and pray the god shiva, shouted "arogara".

Lord Siva appeared as a huge flame of light before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma (hindu gods), who each considered Himself supreme and said that the matter could be tested if the two could search for their Lord Siva's Head and feet. Lord Vishnu took the form of a (varagar)boar and delved deep into the earth, Lord Brahma that of a (Annam)swan and flew into the top, Lord Vishnu failed in His search and returned. But Lord Brahma, chancing upon a piece of "thazhambu", a flower learnt from it that it had been floating down for thirty thousand years from Lord Siva's head. He seized upon this and claimed to Lord Siva that he had seen the other's top. Lord Siva realized the falsehood and pronounced that there would never be a temple for Lord Brahma in this world. He also interdicted the use of the flower thazhambu in His worship.Lord eswaran(siva) appeard as a flame, this day is called Maha Dheepam

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