Siva manifested as the column of light in the month of Margazhi (December-January) when the moon was opposite to Ardra

and He emerged from this column in the month of Masi (February-March) on chathurdasi (the fourteenth day after the full moon, i.e., a day before the new moon), when Brahma, Vishnu and other devas worshipped him. He, the blue-throated one of tawny complexion, wearer of the crescent moon, wielding the axe and fawn, signalled with one hand to Brahma and Vishnu to be fearless and offered protection with the other. He further bade them ask for boons. The two then prayed to Him as follows, Oh Lord, the sky, the galaxies and the intergalactic spaces are so flooded with Thy splendour that the worlds cannot be discerned. Therefore Thou must kindly withdraw Thy Effulgence and abide as an immovable Linga named Arunachala for the welfare of the world. Oh Arunachala! Proclaim Thy presence by healing all diseases, fulfilling all desires and granting liberation. Siva declared, Be it so. Thus Siva assumed the form of the immovable Linga