Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
Sri Jambukeswarar is the name of Lord Shiva and worshipped at
Thiruvanaikoil. It is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams (signifying the
5 natural elements) and represents water ('Neer'). The other four temples
are Kalahasti, for wind, Triuvannamalai for fire, Chidambaram for
space, and Kanchipuram for earth.
It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where all the four most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints) have sung glories of the deity in this temple.
Sri Jambukeswara is an embodiment of the element water and is referred to as Appustalam. Even today one can see water oozing out near the Shivalinga idol in the temple. The Shivalinga ('Swami') here is called as 'Appu Linga'.
Legends :
According to the mythological scriptures, Devi Parvathi in
Her Incarnation as Devi Akilandeswari performed penance in the Jambu forest
(Thiruvanaikoil). She made a Lingam out of water from the river Cauvery, and
installed it under the Venn Naaval tree (the Venn Naaval tree on top of Saint
Jambu) and commenced her worship. Hence the Lingam is known as Appu Lingam
(Water Lingam). Lord Siva at last gave darshan to Devi Akhilandeswari and
taught Her Siva Gnana. Devi Akhilandeswari took Upadesa (lessons) facing East
from Lord Shiva, who stood facing west.thiruvanaikoil temple thiruvanaikoil
temple thiruvanaikoil temple.
According to mythological interpretations, Devi
Akhilandeswari took Upadesa (lessons) facing East from Lord Shiva, who stood
facing West. Hence this Temple is also revered as a Upadesa Sthalam. Since Devi
Akhilandeswari worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple, even today at noon the
'Archakar' (priest) dresses like a female and performs Puja to Lord
Jambukeswara and the holy Cow. A specifice breed of black cow, called Karam
Pasu is brought to the Temple for puja. As the Devi was like a student and Lord
Jambukeswara like a Guru (teacher) in this temple, there is no Thiru Kalyanam
(marriage) conducted in this temple for Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi, unlike
the other Shiva temples. The Shrine of the Devi Akilandeshwari and the Shrine
of Lord Prasanna Vinayaka opposite the Devi Shrine are in the shape of the
Pranava Mantra called "OM".
About the Temple :
The temple at Tiruvanaikaval is a big one covering an area of about 18 acres with high walls and gopurams on all the 4 sides. The temple has 5 prakarams. The main sanctum sancotrum (the 5th prakaram) can be reached by entering a series of Gopurams (Towers). The shrine for female deity Akilandeswari is situated in the 4th prakaram. Thiruvanaikoil temple was built according to 'Saiva Aagama Sasthra'. According to Saiva Agamam, the temple reflects the human body and the idol of Lord Shiva is considered as the soul. Many other kings like Pandiyas and Nayakars of Madurai later renovated this temple. The 2nd and 3rd praharams were built in 13th century A.D. and the 4th Praharam was constructed in the late 13th century A.D.
There are many mandapams in the temple, a 1000 Pillar, on the North West corner of the 3rd praharam and a 100 Pillar Mandapam on the North East corner of the 3rd Praharam, Vasanta mandapam (The mandapam is surrounded by pool of water where Lord Shiva and Goddess Akilandeswari are worshipped on summer evenings), Somaskandha mandapam, Nataraja mandapam, Trimurthi mandapam, etc. The thousand-pillared mandapam looks like a chariot.
There are many interesting legends in this temple. When the king "Thirruneetru Sundara Pandiyan" was constructing the 5th Praharam wall on the East Side, he was running out of money to pay to the labourers for the next day of work. On that night in the Kings dream Lord Shiva asked him to continue the work. As per the Lords wish the King continued the construction and at the end of that day a Sanyasi (saint) came there and he gave the labourers pinches of sacred ash. That sacred ash turned into gold equivalent to the work done by them. Then only the King and others came to know that the Sanyasi is none other than the Lord himself. Because of this instance the East Side praharam is known as "Vibhoothi" (sacred ash) praharam.
Pooja Timings :
Ushakkala Pooja - 6.30 am - 7.30 am
Kaalasandhi Pooja - 8.00 am - 8.45 am
Uchikkala Pooja - 11.00 am - 12.00 pm
Saayaraksha Pooja - 5.00 pm - 5.45 pm
Ardhajama Pooja - 9.00 pm
Theerthams
There are nine Theerthams (Holy Water Points) near this
temple.
· Sreemath Theertham:This
is nothing but the water spring oozing inside the Sanctorum of Lord Shiva.
· Rama Theertham:This
is outside the temple. Just directly opposite to the temple across the G.S.T
Road. You can see this on the way to the Srirangam. This is where the “Thai
Poosam theppam” festival is celebrated. This Theertham is full of beautiful
Lotus flower plants.
· Chandra Theertham
· Agni Theertham:This
is the well in the South East corner of 3rd Praharam. Just opposite on the
side of Vasantha Mandapam and temple Nandhavanam.
· Indira Theertham :This
is in the 3rd Praharam opposite to Kasi Viswanatha Swami sannathi.
· Akasthiya Theertham
· Jambu Theertham: This
is in the South West 3rd Praharam near the old Jambukeshwara temple
(Opposite to Sangareshwarar temple and opposite to Kubera Linga)
· Surya Theertham:This
is in the South West corner of the 4th praharam. Just opposite to the 1000
pillar mandapam. This Tank is architecturally beautifully built with two
stories of Mandapams around the tank. Each mandapam built with 100 pillars.
“Theppam” festival is celebrated in this tank in the Tamil month “Aadi” on
“Pooram” day (the day when the star is Pooram, which is the star of
Akilandeswari).
· Brahmma Theertham:This
is in the South side of 4th Praharam (South Car Street).
Festivals Celebrated at this temple :
- Vaikasi
- Vasantha Urchavam (10 days)
- Aadi
- Aadipuram festival (10 days),Aadi Friday is celebrated.
- Purattasi
- Navarathiri festival (10 days)
- Thai
- Thai Poosam, Thai theppam (Float) festival Special poojas are performed
during Fridays of Thai month.
- Panguni
- Brahmotchavam (40 days)
- Car
festival and Panchaprakara festival are important festivals.
Benefits of worshipping at this temple:
Devotees worshipping here are blessed
both in this birth and in next birth.One who worships Goddess Ahilandeswari will
be blessed with good education and intelligence, marrige and wishes for child
are fulfilled. By coming around the fifth divine wall known as
"Thiruneetran thirumathil one with gets fulfilled.
Travel Info :
- By
Air - Trichy has an airport (5 kms from the city).
Indian Airlines connects Trichy with Chennai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Colombo.
Air Lanka Service connects Tiruchirapalli with Colombo.
- By
Rail -Trichy is an important junction on the Southern
Railway. It connects almost all important Indian places like Chennai,
Tirupathi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi,Varanasi, Kolkotta,
Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, and
Mangalore.
- By
Road - Trichy is well connected by road with important places
and Southern Cities including Trivandrum, Bangalore.
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