Boodha Narayana Swami Temple

Boodha Narayana Swami Temple, located near the Annamalaiyar Temple, is dedicated to the guardian deity of Tiruvannamalai and marks the traditional starting point of the Girivalam circumambulation. Pilgrims seek the deity's permission here before setting out on the fourteen kilometer walk around Arunachala Hill, a custom rooted in centuries of local devotional practice. Though modest in size compared to the main temple, the shrine holds significant ritual importance, and most serious Girivalam walkers make it their first stop before beginning the hill circuit.