24th, May 2011.
114/60 -
SRI JAMBUKESWARAR TEMPLE - THIRUVANAIKAVAL
This
is the 114th Devara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 6th Shiva Sthalam on
the banks of River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu, Vadakarai. Moovar has sung hymns in
praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Sri Vennavalesar, Sri
Jambunathar,
Sri Aanaikka Annal, Sri
Neerthiral Nathar.
Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
This
is one of the pancha bootha sthalangal called Appu sthalam (Water). To
signify water is coming from the base of the lingam even during summer.
Moolavar is facing west. The Iraivan was worshiped by Brahma, Spider,
Elephant, Ashtavasukkal, Ambal, Parasarar, and Ko Chenkat Chozhan. There is a
9-way salaram in front of moolavar and we cannot enter straightly to
karuvarai like any other temple, instead, we have to enter through the sideway.
Ambal
is in a separate temple facing Iraivan ie east direction. Since Ambal
worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple, archakar used to do the uchi kala pooja
wearing a sari. Sri Sakkathodukal given by Sri Adhi Sankara is still being used for Ambal.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE :
Thiruvanaikoil
is a beautiful small urban village in the Tiruchirappalli district ('Trichy',
'Thiruchirappalli', 'Tiruchinopoly', 'Tiruchi') in Tamil Nadu of Southern India.
Thiruvanaikoil is also familiarly known as Thiruvanaikoil, Thiruvanaikaval,
Thiruvanaikaval, Thiruvanaikaval, Thiruanaikaa. Thiruvanaikoil is around 3 km
away from the heart of Trichy city and adjacent to Srirangam another small
historic town and one of the holy places in India .
Thiruvanaikoil and Srirangam are on the banks of river Cauvery. Literally, these
two places form an island, surrounded by river Cauvery and river Coleroon.
This
ancient temple dedicated to Shiva (Jambukeswara) and Parvati (Akhilandeswari)
is one of the foremost Saivite shrines in Tamil Nadu. This large temple
celebrates Shiva as Jambukeswara, an embodiment of the element water and is
often referred to as Appustalam and is hence one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams,
the other four being Tiruvannamalai (fire), Chidambaram (Space), Kanchipuram
(Earth) and Kalahasti (Air) respectively. The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is
dedicated to Lord Siva and has five concentric walls and seven gopuras. It is
built around a Shiva lingam partly submerged in water that comes from a spring
in the sanctum sanctorum. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple.
Due
to a curse, the two Shiva ganas Pushpadanta and Malyava, were born in the
forest as a white elephant and as a spider. The elephant worshiped the Lingam
with flowers and with water brought in its trunk. The spider too worshiped the
Lingam, spinning out a web over the Lingam to prevent leaves of the tree from
falling on it. The spider's web appeared to be unclean for the elephant and it
destroyed the web. This led to a big clash between the two and ultimately
resulted in their death. Lord Shiva granted Moksha (salvation) to both. The
spider was born in a royal Chola family as the great king Ko Chenkannan, a
Chozha King who built about 70 temples (Madakovil) including the temple of Jambukeswarar at
Tiruvanaikka. Because the king remembered his earlier birth, he built the
temples in a such way that no elephant could enter the sanctum sanctorum and come
near the Sivalingam. The temple at Thiruvanaikaval is a big one covering an area
of about 18 acres with high walls and gopurams on all 4 sides. The temple
has 5 prakarams. The main sanctum sanctorum (the 5th praharam) can be reached
by entering a series of Gopurams (Towers). The shrine for the female deity
Akilandeswari is situated in the 4th praharam.
HOW TO REACH:
Frequent
Buses are available from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
Frequent
Town buses are available from the Main guard gate, Malaikottai Thayumanavar temple tank, and 8 Km from the main bus stand,
CONTACT
DETAILS :
The landline Number is +91 431 2230257.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
( A Rajagopuram at the back side )
A small mandapam on the praharam
Third level Rajagopuram
Mallappa gopuram
( Neerazhi mandapam near the first Rajagopuram )
First 7-tier Rajagopuram on the west side
----- OM SHIVAYA NAMA -----
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