This
is the 114th Devara Padal
Petra Shiva Sthalam and 60th Shiva
sthalam on the north side of River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Both
Thiruvanaikoil and Srirangam are on the island formed by the rivers Kaveri and
Kollidam before Kallanai. This place was called in different names from ancient
times. 
In
Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple
after worshiping Lord Shiva Thayumanavar of Tiruchirappalli.
விண்ணவர்
போற்றிசெய் ஆனைக்காவில் வெண்நாவல்
மேவிய மெய்ப் பொருளைநண்ணி
இறைஞ்சிமுன் வீழ்ந்து எழுந்து நாற்கோட்டு
நாகம் பணிந்ததுவும்அண்ணல்
கோச்செங்கண் அரசன் செய்த அடிமையும்
அம்சொல் தொடையில் வைத்துபண்உறு
செந்தமிழ் மாலைபாடிப் பரவி
நின்று ஏத்தினார் பான்மையினால்
Thirugnanasambandar,
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar, Ayyadigal Kadavarkon, Kalamegam and
Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
வானைக்காவில்
வெண்மதி மல்குபுல்கு வார்சடைத்தேனைக்காவில்
இன்மொழித் தேவிபாக மாயினான்ஆனைக்காவில்
அண்ணலை அபயமாக வாழ்பவர்ஏனைக்காவல்
வேண்டுவார் ஏதும் ஏதும் இல்லையே.......
திருஞானசம்பந்தர் நாவால்
நன்று நறுமலர்ச் சேவடிஓவாது
ஏத்திஉளத்தடைத் தார்வினைகாவாய்
என்றுதம் கைதொழு வார்க்கெல்லாம்ஆவா
என்றிடும் ஆனைக்கா அண்ணலே.......
திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்மறைகள்
ஆயின நான்கும் மற்றுள பொருள்களும் எல்லாத் துறையும்
தோத்திரத் திறையும் தொன்மையும் நன்மையும் ஆயஅறையும்
பூம்புனல் ஆனைக் காவுடை ஆதியை நாளும்இறைவன்
என்றடி சேர்வார் எம்மையும் ஆளுடையாரே........
சுந்தரர்குழீஇயிருந்த
சுற்றம் குணங்கள் பாராட்டவழீஇயிருந்த
அங்கங்கள் எல்லாம் – தழீஇயிருந்தும்என்னானைக்காவா இதுதகா தென்னாமுன்தென்னானைக்
காஅடை நீ சென்று.........
ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்ஏரானைக் காவிலுறை என்னானைக் கன்றளித்தபேரானைக்
கன்றதனைப் போற்றினால் – வாராதபுத்திவரும்
பத்தி வரும் புத்திர உற்பத்தி வரும் சக்தி
வரும் சித்தி வருந்தான்.........
காளமேகம் ---“நாற்றிசையும்தேனைக்காவுண்
மலர்கள் தேங்கட லென்றாக்குவிக்கும்ஆனைக்கா
மேவி யமர் அற்புதமே........
திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Jambukeswarar, Sri Appu Lingeswarar,
Sri Vennavalesar, Sri Jambunathar,
Sri Aanaikka Annal, Sri Neerthiral Nathar.Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some
of the important features of this temple are....The
temple is facing west with a 7 tiers and the east Rajagopuram is of 13 tiers.
The Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam under a mandapa are in front of
sanctum sanctorum. This is one of the pancha bhoota sthalangal and Appu sthalam
( Water ). To signifies this water will
be coming from the base of the Linga even during summer. Moolavar is
facing west. There is a 9 way jala in front of moolavar and we cannot
enter straight to Sanctum Sanctorum like any other temples, instead
we have to enter through side way.
In
prakaram Maha Saraswati is in standing posture without Veena, Chandra with Karthika
& Rohini, Pancha mukha Vinayagar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar, Jyeshta Devi, Kubera worshiped Kubera Lingam and Chandikeswarar.
Some
of the sannathis are Rajarajeswarar Sannadhi ( The Moolavar is of 5 mukhas ),
Sri Vindeeswarar Sannadhi, Sankareswarar Sannadhi, Pidari Sannadhi, Veerabhadra
Swamy Sannidhi and Subramaniya Swamy Sannadhi.
Ambal
is in a separate temple facing Lord Shiva ie east direction. Since Ambal
worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple, archakar used to do the uchi kala pooja
wearing sari. Sri Sakkathodukal ( a type of ear ring ) given by Sri
Adhi Sankarar is still is being used for Ambal.
The 15th
Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this
temple. In one of the hymns he mentions Lord Shiva as “Jambu Nathar” and
Sriranga Perumal also.
நாடித்
தேடித் தொழுவார்பால்நானத்
தாகத் திரிவேனோமாடக்
கூடற் பதிஞானவாழ்வைச்
சேரத் தருவாயேபாடற்
காதற் புரிவோனேபாலைத்
தேனோத் தருள்வோனேஆடற்
றேகைக் கினியோனேஆனைக் காவிற் பெருமாளே
கருதிய
ஆறங்க வேள்வி யந்தணர் அரிகிரி
கோவிந்த கேச வென் றிரு கழல்தொழு
சீரங்க ராச னண்புறு மருகோனே கமலனு
மாகண்ட லாதி யண்டரு மெமது
பிரானென்று தாள்வ ணங்கிய கரிவனம்
வாழ்சம்பு நாதர் தந்தருள் பெருமாளே
Chandrasekarar
Somaskandar
ARCHITECTUREThe
temple at Thiruvanaikoil is a big covering an area of about 18 acres with high
walls and gopuras on all the 4 sides. The temple has 5 prakaras and 7
Rajagopuras. The main sanctum sanctorum ( in the 5th prakara) can be reached by
entering a series of Gopuras (Towers). The Sanctum Sanctorum was built about 4
feet below the Ground level, in such a way that Shiva linga partly submerged in
water that comes as a spring for River Kaveri & Kollidam. The entrance to
the sanctum is from side and climb down to reach the sanctum sanctorum.
The
4th prakara wall is of 35 feet high, 6 feet thick and 2436 X 1493
feet. The Shrine of Sri Akilandeswari is situated in the 4th prakara.
Some of the mandapas are Oonjal Mandapam, Vasantha
mandapam, 1000 pillar mandapam ( centre mandapa was built like a Chariot with
horses and wheels ), 100 pillar mandapam, Navratri mandapa, Dwajasthambam mandapa, Natarajar Mandapa, Mummoorthy mandapa, Mani Mandapa and Somaskandar
Mandapam.
The
Temple has 9 Theerthas / Temple Tanks,
namely Brahma Theertham, Indra Theertham, Jambu theertham, Rama Theertham,
Srimat Theertham, Agni Theertham, Agasthiya Theertham, Chandra Theertham and
Surya Theertham.
Nayaka kings, those constructed the Mandapam
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSBRIEF HISTORY
OF THE TEMPLE :Thiruvanaikoil
is a beautiful small urban village at Tiruchirappalli District ( 'Trichy',
'Tiruchirappalli', 'Tiruchinopoly', 'Tiruchi') in Tamil Nadu of Southern
India. Thiruvanaikoil is also popularly known as Thiruvanaikoil, Thiruvanaikaval,
Thiruvanaika, Thiruanaikaa. Thiruvanaikoil is around 3 Km away from the heart
of Tiruchirappalli city and adjacent to Srirangam another small historic town, where
Maha Vishnu as Ranganathar’s temple is there. Thiruvanaikoil and Srirangam are on
the banks of river Cauvery. Literally these two place on an island, surrounded
by river Cauvery and river Kollidam /Coleroon.
This
large temple celebrates Lord Shiva as Jambukeswara, an embodiment of the
element water and is often referred as Appu sthalam and is hence one of the
Panchabhoota Sthalams, the other four temples are Tiruvannamalai (fire),
Chidambaram (Space), Kanchipuram (Earth) and Kalahasti (Air) respectively.
INSCRIPTIONSThe
original temple might have been constructed by Chengat Chozha and latter
reconstructed with stone during medieval Chozhas period. As per the
inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvanaikavudayar, Thiruvanaikavudaya
Nayanar, Mahadeva Battar. And Ambal was called as Akilandeswari,
Akilandanayagi. This
place was under Thenkarai Pandya Kulanasini Valanadu.
Rajarajan-I’s
20th reign year inscription records that three people gifted the
proceeding of the sale of land and
housing plot to this temple, by three people.
An
inscription with out king’s name records the endowment of daily naivedyam with
vegetables to Ambal Akilandeswari after purchase of land for gold, by Thondai
mandalam Pulivelurudayan Thevarai Thozhunthan. Please note that this person
belongs to Thondai mandalam or Jayankonda Chozhamandalam.
Rajaraja-III,
Kulothunga Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Rajendra Chozha Period inscriptions
records the endowment poojas, prayer, Naivedyam, burning of petual lamps for
which land, gold and kasu etc, was gifted to this temple.
Kulothunga
Chozha-I’s 47th reign year inscription records the endowment of
Naivedyam and sacred bath on two days during festival to Rishabathevar and
nampiratiyar for which a land was sold to Munayan Arumozhithevan alias
Villavarayan and the money was deposited in the temple’s pandaram /
treasury.
Jadavarman
Sundara Pandyan ( 1251 – 64 CE ), Kulasekara Pandyan ( 1278 CE ), Kakathiya king
Pratabha Rudradevan period inscriptions
records the gift of Lands to this temple. It is believed that East side of the
4th prakara Rajagopuram was built by Sundara Pandya.
Hoysala King Veera Someswara ( 1253 CE ) period inscription on the North wall
of 3rd prakara records that
Hoysaleswara Temple was built by him at their Capital Kannanur aka Samayapuram.
Now called as Bhojaraja Temple. Veera Someswaran also established the images of
his Grand Father Vallalar, Grand Mother Padmala, His father Narasimhan-II and
his wife Somaladevi and worshiped. They also gave gifts to this temple.
Veera Someswaran’s
son Veera Ramanathan’s 1271 CE, inscription records, that he also donated lands
to this temple. Kannanoor alias Samayapuram was a Capital for Hoysala Kings and
Veera Someswaran period this place was called as Vikramapuram.
The
Chalukya King Kopparajan’s son Thirumalairayan 1450 – 80 CE, inscription on the
Ambal temple’s south wall records the endowment of donation of an ornament to
Lord Shiva. The Same king has given lot of wealth to Kalamega poet to recover
from poverty. The poet mentions the same in his poem.
The
Konerimai Kondan’s period inscription on the west wall of Sri Sankaracharya
madam records that a madam was established in the name of Narpathonayiravar (
May be a merchant group ) madam and annadhanam was served. The same King gave
donations to the Thirupaingneeli temple Rajagopuram.
A
Chozha’s Provincial Chief Valakakamaya’s, inscription on the north wall of 3rd
Prakara records the gift of one Veli land in the Village, Vadakarai Venkonkudi
to Lord Shiva of this temple. He calls himself as Bhima of the Chozhas. He also
bears the title of maha mandaleswara which suggests that he was a subordinate
Chief under one of the last Kings of the first Vijayanagar Dynasty ( ?). The
donation was made on 3rd February 1482 CE.
Major
Thirupani was carried out by Kanadukathan Chidambaram Chettiar and maha
kumbhabhishekam was conducted 1908. After attending repair works maha
kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 96th April, 1960.
Two
Chariots was donated by Chidambaram Chettiar in 1910. The Palliyar Sannadhi was
also constructed during 1908. Electrification of the temple was done in 1935.
LEGENDSLord
Shiva of this temple was called in different names and some of them are, Jambu
Nathar, Jambunayagar,VeNNavaleesar, Jambu Lingam, Appu Lingam, Amudha lingam,
Amudhewarar, Brahma Lingam, Brahmeesar, Gajaranyanathar, Pachathabeswarar,
Adhiperunchelvar, Sankareswarar, Chezhuneerthiral ( by Appar ), etc,.
Brahma,
Spider, Elephant, Ashtavasukkal, Ambal, Prasrar, Ko-Chenkat- Chozha, Gauthamar,
Kubera, Agni, Indra, Ashtavasukkal / Ashtadikpalakas, Adi Sankarar, Moovar,
Aiyadigal Kadavarkon, Rama worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
The
muthu aram ( Pearl aram ) an ornament
adorn Lord Shiva was belongs to Chozha King who ruled Chozha Dynasty with
Uraiyur as capital. As per the legend when the Chozha King was taking a bath in
the river Kaveri he lost this precious “Muthu Aram“. The Chozha King Prayed
Lord Shiva and let the ‘Muthu Aram be yours, Please accept it”. The Muthu aram/
mala entered in to the Thirumanjana kudam / pot, when the Pandithar fetched water
from from River Kaveri. While the Pandithar was doing Abhishekam the Muthu
Haram had fallen on Moolavar. This was mentioned by Sundarar in his hymns and
Periya Puranam also mentions as “Valavar Peruman Thiru Aram – வளவர் பெருமான் திருஆரம்“ and the Sundarar Hymns as...
தார
மாகிய பொன்னித் தண்துறை ஆடி விழுத்தும்நீரில்
நின்றடி போற்றி நின்மலா கொள்என ஆங்கே ஆரங்
கொண்டஎம் ஆனைக் காவுடை ஆதியை நாளும்ஈரம்
உள்ளவர் நாளும் எம்மையும் ஆளுடையரே
According
to the legend, this place was once a forest with jambu trees. Nearby was a tank called Chandra theertha
which was filled by water from the river Kaveri. Lord Shiva appeared as a Linga
under one of the sthala Viruksha Jambu tree / White Naval maram, Hence Lord
Shiva is praised as Jambulingam.
In another Legend. Ma Parvati Came to earth and did
penance on Lord Shiva. She had made a Shiva Linga out of Kaveri river
water and worshiped him. Hence this
temple has become one of the Pancha Bhoota sthalas - Water.
In another legend, Brahma the creator, started
loving the women, those he created. Due to this he has got the Sthree dosha.
To get rid of the dosha Brahma came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. In
the mean time Lord Shiva left kailash to this place. Mother also wished to
accompany with Lord. Lord told the Brahma is weak in women and asked her to
stay in Mount Kailash itself. Mother gave a suggestion that Lord Shiva can come
in her form and mother in Lord’s form. Agreeing the suggestion Lord Shiva and
ma Parvati came to this temple and pardoned Brahma. To signifies this event the
priest used do pooja during “Uchi kalam” dressed Like woman with saree at, Lord Shiva and Ambal temples. Devotees
worships priest considering him as Ambal, during Midday pooja.
Due
to a curse, 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 do abhishek with water brought in its trunk from river Kaveri.
The spider too worshiped the Lingam, spinning out a web over the Lingam to
prevent leaves of the tree, falling on it. The spider's web appeared to be
unclean for the elephant and it destroyed the web. This lead to 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 Chozha family as the
great king Ko Chenkannan, a Chozha King who built about 70 temples ( Madakovil )
including the temple of Jambukeswarar at Thiruvanaikoil.
Because the king remembered about his earlier birth as Spider, he built 70, mada temples
in a such way that no elephant can enter the sanctum sanctorum. Thirumangai
Alwar mentions the same in one of his pasurams.
இருக்கிலங்கு
திருமொழிவாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில்
மாடம் எழுபது செய்து உலகாண்ட திருக்குலத்து
வளச் சோழன்.........
திருமங்கையாழ்வார்The
( 4th ?) 5th Vibhuti prakara wall is called as “Thiruneetran
mathil”.. It is 32 feet high 6 feet
thick and 8000 feet long. The legend
behind this is, after completion of the wall, Lord Shiva came in the form of
Siddhar gave Vibhuti as wages to the labourers. When they opened their hand
and found that the Vibhuti has changed to Gold.
Sthalapurana bas-relief
Sthala purana Painting
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSApart
from regular poojas, Pradosham, 10 days Vaikasi Vasantha Utsavam in the month
Vaikasi ( April ), Navaratri in the
month Purattasi ( October – November ),
Thai Poosam, Thai Theppotsavam, Fridays in the month Thai ( January ), 40 days
Brahmotsavam in the months Panguni ( March – April ) . In addition to this Car
festivals, Pancha Prakara festival are celebrated in grand manner.
Golden Car
Golden Car procession
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe
Temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00
hrs. Usha kala pooja will start around 06.30 hrs, Uchikala poojas will be
conducted at 12.00 hrs and Artha Jama pooja will end around 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS :Land
line Number +91 431 2230257.Temple Website :
HOW TO REACH:Frequent
Buses are available from various parts of Tamil Nadu.Frequent
Town buses are available from Main guard gate, Malaikottai The
temple is 1 KM from Srirangam Sri Ranganathar Temple, 4.0 KM
from Thayumanavar temple tank and 8 Km from main bus stand, 60 KM from
Thanjavur and 320 KM from Chennai. Nearest
Railway station is Tiruchirappalli.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Temple Layout 
Hero Stone - in front of west Rajagopuram--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
.......
திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
புத்திவரும்
பத்தி வரும் புத்திர உற்பத்தி வரும்
Moolavar : Sri Jambukeswarar, Sri Appu Lingeswarar,
அரிகிரி
கோவிந்த கேச வென் றிரு
Chandrasekarar
Somaskandar
The
temple at Thiruvanaikoil is a big covering an area of about 18 acres with high
walls and gopuras on all the 4 sides. The temple has 5 prakaras and 7
Rajagopuras. The main sanctum sanctorum ( in the 5th prakara) can be reached by
entering a series of Gopuras (Towers). The Sanctum Sanctorum was built about 4
feet below the Ground level, in such a way that Shiva linga partly submerged in
water that comes as a spring for River Kaveri & Kollidam. The entrance to
the sanctum is from side and climb down to reach the sanctum sanctorum.
Nayaka kings, those constructed the Mandapam
நீரில்
நின்றடி போற்றி நின்மலா கொள்என ஆங்கே
According
to the legend, this place was once a forest with jambu trees. Nearby was a tank called Chandra theertha
which was filled by water from the river Kaveri. Lord Shiva appeared as a Linga
under one of the sthala Viruksha Jambu tree / White Naval maram, Hence Lord
Shiva is praised as Jambulingam.
எழில்
மாடம் எழுபது செய்து உலகாண்ட
Sthalapurana bas-relief
Sthala purana Painting
Golden Car
Golden Car procession
Temple Layout
Hero Stone - in front of west Rajagopuram
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