Paramaśiva’s 3 fold Promise to Humanity

Though initially misled by his own arrogance, Lord Brahma himself is the one who narrates this story in Arunachala Puranam, to his son. There is not an ounce of pride remaining in him nor hot vengeance against Paramaśiva, whom he could have perceived as his punisher, but instead remembers with the deepest reverence. Such is the compassion of Paramaśiva: to liberate one even beyond the slightest hints of one’s pain.

Heeding to the request of Lord Brahma and Vishnu that He should continue to be in Tiruvannamalai enlightening the rest of humanity, Paramaśiva settles down from His effulgent-light-form into the form of the sacred Hill – Arunachala, to liberate human beings forever.

Even as he took the Hill-form, those who were dearly devoted to Him sweetly lamented, ‘If you are in Hill-form, other than the rain from the sky, who will perform abhiśekam, the sacred bath for you? Other than the stars, who can offer pearl garlands to you? Other than the rays of the Sun, who can offer deepa, the lit lamp for you?’

In response, Paramaśiva took the next form as the Arunachaleshwara Shiva linga which can be worshiped everyday through rituals.

Paramaśiva also promised to be ever-present in Tiruvannamalai in human form as an incarnation – The Guru. Thus, Tiruvannamalai boasts of an unbroken lineage of incarnations of Paramaśiva, the current Living Incarnation being THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAVAN NITHYANANDA Paramaśivam ^{^SM} .

In a fourth form, Paramaśiva manifested, which was not declared by Paramaśiva but which happened seamlessly. He lives as śivah sarva guhā śayah, – as Śiva, One who resides in the hearts of all! This is true especially among the townspeople of Tiruvannamalai for whom Arunachala is antaryāmi, their most Supreme Lord and intimate partner residing in their hearts, and this makes it possible for Paramaśiva to appear again and again as one among them in this land.