The spiritual center of Tiruvannamalai, dedicated to Paramashiva in the form of the sacred Arunachala Hill, holds the highest significance in the life and mission of the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (SPH) Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam. The establishment of the KAILASA Aadheenam is not merely as a founding a monastery, but as reviving a foundational enlightened ecosystem on Earth.
The Sacred Birth and Lineage of the SPH
The SPH Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam was born inside the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara temple. Specifically, the birthplace is located within the temple’s sixth prakaram (courtyard), known as Madaveedhi. The family home was situated on Thiruvoodal Street, where the SPH noted that devotees were sitting in the third house where He was born and brought up.
The SPH was born and raised in a traditional family deeply connected to Shiva Jnana (knowledge of Shiva). His lineage is historically tied to the city, as his ancestor, Saiva Yellappa Navalar, penned the beautiful commentary on the Arunachala Purana. His father’s name was Arunachalam, which is the Sanskrit name for Annamalai, and his father’s father’s name was Annamalai. The SPH affirms that if asked for one reason why all the best things happened in His life, He would state only the word “Tiruvannamalai” or “Arunachala”.
Tiruvannamalai: Arunachala Hill and Temple
Tiruvannamalai is considered one of the most powerful spiritual centers on the planet, possessing a unique spiritual signature:
- Arunachala Hill (The Spiritual Center): The hill is revered as the very form of Paramashiva Himself, not just His residence. The SPH was taught from a young age that the Arunachala Hill is not geography; it is biology—a living energy. History tells us that Paramashiva appeared as a column of light whose head and feet could not be seen, and this great cosmic happening penetrated the planet through the Arunachala Hill. Ramana Maharshi confirmed that Arunagiri Yogishwara is sitting inside Arunachala Hill and running the whole enlightened civilization. The city itself is a spiritual incubator dedicated to the upliftment of humanity.
- Arunachaleswara Temple: The city is a settlement around Arunagiri Yogishwara. The main deity (Shiva Linga) in the temple is considered the Jeeva Samadhi of Arunagiri Yogishwara. Shiva is available in three forms in Tiruvannamalai: the deity in the temple, the Hill, and an Enlightened Master from that place. The environment is so charged that great masters and incarnations, like those in the SPH’s lineage, were drawn to Tiruvannamalai to give the necessary initiations. The spiritual focus of the region was historically on Vedanta Siddha, concentrating on attaining spiritual experiences and awakening the non-mechanical parts of the brain through herbs and processes, essentially functioning as a huge university for spiritual R&D.
The Avataric Mission and Enlightenment
The SPH received profound spiritual experiences in Tiruvannamalai, which defined His avataric mission:
- Enlightenment in Arunachala: The SPH achieved the experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi and manifested the 360-degree vision when He was twelve years old while sitting in Pavala Kundru (Pearl Hill) in Tiruvannamalai on a full moon night in 1989. He later received the formal Yoga Paṭṭābhiṣekam from His Guru Parampara around 1994, which declared Him the thousand and eighth successor of the lineage.
- Revival of Kailasa: The SPH states that His primary work is taking Thiruvannamalai globally, and creating the same enlightened ecosystem worldwide. His Avataric mission is to revive the enlightened civilization of Paramashiva. He considers the Kailasa ecosystem in Tiruvannamalai to be the reason Paramashiva manifested the State, Space, Being, Powers, and Superconsciousness through His body, and therefore, reviving Kailasa is the true gratitude owed to that ecosystem.
Establishment of KAILASA Tiruvannamalai Aadheenam
The establishment of the ashram was predestined and guided by enlightened masters:
- Prophetic Land: The land where the present Tiruvannamalai Aadheenam stands is considered sacred, as the SPH states that the building was part of a long proper planning by Arunagiri Yogishwara Himself. The SPH even rested on this exact property for three days after Paramashiva showed Him a vision of Kailasa. Furthermore, this site was the location of Gautama Maharishi’s Ashram.
- Inauguration and Public Life: The SPH began His public life in Tiruvannamalai in 2000 by performing a Chandi Homa in a temple opposite the ashram. The Adi Arunachala Sarvajna Peetham (Tiruvannamalai Aadheenam) was formally inaugurated on April 19, 2008.
KAILASA Tiruvannamalai Today
Today, the KAILASA center in Tiruvannamalai, often referred to as Nithyananda Nagar-Tiruvannamalai or Arunachala Sarvajnapeetham, serves several important functions:
- Spiritual Headquarters: It is the hub for collecting and archiving the SPH’s life history, serving as the central location for the Autobiography of The Avatar project.
- Enlightenment Ecosystem: The mission involves reviving the four Padas (disciplines) of the enlightenment ecosystem: Yogapada, Kriyapada, Jnanapada, and Charyapada. The campus is specifically dedicated to reviving the Vedanta-based Siddha tradition and training individuals in research and development (R&D) related to Siddha herbs that awaken the non-mechanical parts of the brain.
- Programs and Service: The ashram offers intensive programs, such as Paramashiva Sena and “Oneness With The Avatar”, designed to initiate participants into manifesting the being of Paramashiva. Consistent with the ancient tradition of Arunachala where every sadhu is fed, the ashram provides constant free food (Annadaanam), feeding an average of 1200 people per day (as of a 2011 announcement). The flag of KAILASA has also been hoisted in Tiruvannamalai (Adi Arunachala Sarvajna Peetham) to symbolize the revival of the civilization. The SPH has stated the importance of this center as He once intended to move His residence to Tiruvannamalai
In this way, KAILASA Tiruvannamalai stands as both the origin and living expression of the SPH’s global enlightenment mission. Rooted in the sacred geography of Arunachala and enriched by millennia of Siddha knowledge, it functions today as a dynamic epicenter for spiritual research, initiation, service, and the revival of Hindu civilization. As the SPH carries this ecosystem to the world, Tiruvannamalai continues to serve as the spiritual heartbeat of Kailasa—the eternal reminder that the enlightened civilization of Paramashiva is not history, but a living reality being restored for future generations.