The Raja gopuram – the Eastern gateway, the tallest temple tower and a view of the tank

Ancient Tamil scholars such as Nakkirar (1st century BCE–1st century CE), Kapilar and Paranar (125–225 CE) have referred to the shrine at Annamalai and the presiding deity.[1] The 7th-century Nayanar saints Sambandar and Appar wrote of the temple in their poetic work, Tevaram. Sekkizhar, the author of the Periyapuranam, wrote that both Appar and Sambandar worshiped Arunachalesvara in the temple.[2] The Chola Kings ruled over the region for more than four centuries, from 850 CE to 1280 CE, and were temple patrons. The inscriptions from the Chola king record various gifts like land, sheep, cow and oil to the temple commemorating various victories of the dynasty.[3] The Hoysala kings used Tiruvannamalai as their capital beginning in 1328 CE.[4][5] There are 48 inscriptions from the Sangama dynasty (1336–1485 CE), 2 inscriptions from Saluva dynasty, and 55 inscriptions from Tuluva dynasty (1491–1570 CE) of the Vijayanagara Empire, reflecting gifts to the temple from their rulers.[6] There are also inscriptions from the rule of Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE), the most powerful Vijayanagara king, indicating further patronage.[7] Most of the Vijayanagara inscriptions were written in Tamil, with some in Kannada and Sanskrit.[8] The inscriptions in temple from the Vijayanagara kings indicate emphasis on administrative matters and local concerns, which contrasts the inscriptions of the same rulers in other temples like Tirupathi. The majority of the gift related inscriptions are for land endowments, followed by goods, cash endowments, cows and oil for lighting lamps.[7] The town of Tiruvannamalai was at a strategic crossroads during the Vijayanagara Empire, connecting sacred centers of pilgrimage and military routes.[9] There are inscriptions that show the area as an urban center before the precolonial period, with the city developing around the temple.[9][10]

During the 17th century CE, the temple along with the Tiruvannamalai town came under the dominion of the Nawab of the Carnatic. As the Mughal empire came to an end, the Nawab lost control of the town, with confusion and chaos ensuing after 1753.[11] Subsequently, there were periods of both Hindu and Muslim stewardship of the temple, with Muraru Raya, Krishna Raya, Mrithis Ali Khan, and Burkat Ullakhan besieging the temple in succession. As European incursions progressed, Tiruvannamalai was attacked by French Soupries, Sambrinet, and the English Captain Stephen Smith. While some were repelled, others were victorious. The French occupied the town in 1757, and the temple along with the town came under control of the British in 1760.[3] In 1790 CE, Tiruvannamalai town was captured by Tippu Sultan, who ruled from 1782 to 1799 CE.[11] During the first half of the 19th century, the town along with the temple came under British rule.[3] From 1951, under the provision of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, the temple has been maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR & CE) of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[2] In 2002, the Archaeological Survey of India declared the temple a national heritage monument and took over its stewardship. Widespread protests and litigation with the Supreme Court of India, however, led the Archaeological Survey to cede the temple back to the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board.[12][13]