Annadhanam, 365 days
Hot food for sadhus and pilgrims on the Girivalam road, every single day of the year.
Adi Annamalai · Girivalam path · Tiruvannamalai
Come home to Arunachala.
A living ashram on the sacred Girivalam path — a hot meal for every sadhu, every day; Shiva bhakti, Thiruvasagam and satsang; and quiet guidance under the loving care of Maataji.
- Annadhanam 365 days a year
- Charitable trust since 24 April 2017 · Reg 63/BK4/2017
- Open to devotees from every land
MaatajiSathguru Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma
அன்பே சிவம் · அதுவே தவம்
Love is Shiva — that itself is tapas.
The words on the ashram's seal, and the measure of everything that happens here.
Maataji's darshan: Fridays & Pournami · 9 AM – 7 PM
A message from Maataji
“திருவண்ணாமலையே திருக்கயிலாயம். இங்கு வரும் எவரும் பசியோடு திரும்பக் கூடாது. ஒவ்வொரு முகத்திலும் சிவனைக் காணுங்கள் — அதுவே தவம்.”
“Thiruvannamalai itself is Thirukailayam. No one who comes here should leave hungry. See Shiva in every face you meet — that itself is tapas.”
Maataji — Sathguru Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma — built this ashram beside the hill she calls Thirukailayam itself, so that no sadhu walking around Arunachala goes hungry and no seeker leaves without a moment of stillness. Her books, her songs and her daily seva all say one thing: see Shiva in everyone, and serve.
What happens here
Every day, and every full moon.
Spiritual guidance
A quiet word for anyone carrying the weight of everyday life and looking for inner peace.
Devotion to Lord Shiva
Daily Siva pooja, Shiva teachings and a positive, loving way of seeing the world.
Thiruvasagam classes
Learning Manikkavasagar's hymns the way they were meant to be learnt — sung, understood and lived.
Kailaya Vathiyam
Temple percussion taught to children and devotees, so Sivapuranam can be sung at temples with the right beat.
Satsang gatherings
Sitting together in song, silence and conversation — in Tamil, with help in English, Telugu and Hindi.
Monthly full-moon pooja
Every Pournami night, pooja at the ashram and annadhanam for the thousands walking Girivalam.
Special festival poojas
Karthigai Deepam, Maha Shivaratri, Thiruvadhirai, Pradosham and Maheswara Poojai for sadhus.
Annadhanam · 365 days
A hot meal for every sadhu on the Girivalam road. Every single day.
Rain or shine, festival or ordinary Tuesday, the ashram kitchen cooks before dawn. Sadhus, pilgrims and the poor who walk the 14 km path around Arunachala are fed with love — and on Pournami nights and Karthigai Deepam the line stretches down the road.
365
days a year, without a break
25+
years of Amma's annadhanam tradition
1 lakh
meals served on one Karthigai Deepam, as the ashram reports
Sponsor one day of Annadhanam₹25,000 feeds about 500 sadhus for a day · receipt sent instantly
PhotoUpcoming poojas & gatherings
Come for a full moon. Stay for Deepam.
24Nov 2026 · Tuesday
Karthigai Maha Deepam
Bharani Deepam before dawn, Maha Deepam on the hill at dusk, Pournami Girivalam through the night. The ashram's largest annadhanam of the year.
Volunteer or sponsor23Dec 2026 · Wednesday
Pournami pooja & Girivalam
Monthly full-moon pooja at the ashram, followed by annadhanam for Girivalam walkers.
Book a sankalpa24Dec 2026 · Thursday
Thiruvadhirai · Arudra Darshan
Special pooja for Nataraja's cosmic dance, with Thiruvasagam recital and kali prasadam.
Book a sankalpa6Mar 2027 · Saturday
Maha Shivaratri
Four-kala pooja through the night, bhajans and satsang with Maataji's disciples.
Details
Maataji's words, sung for the world
A song written by Amma that millions now carry in their hearts.
The lyrics of “Thiyaneshwara! Thiyaneshwara!!” were written by Maataji and sung by Solar Sai for Jothi TV in January 2024. Listen while you read, and let it set the mood for your visit.
Plan your visit
On the Girivalam path, at Adi Annamalai — the quiet side of the hill.
Ashram · Thiyaneswar Veedhi, Vediyappanur Road, Adi Annamalai
Arunachaleswarar temple timings
5:30 AM – 12:30 PM · 3:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Extended on Pournami and festival days
Getting here
About 175 km from Chennai airport
Tiruvannamalai railway station · buses from Chennai, Bengaluru, Puducherry
Best times
Pournami nights · Karthigai Deepam · Maha Shivaratri
Satsang & annadhanam daily, 9–11 AM and 4–6 PM · Maataji's darshan Fridays & Pournami
Walk with us