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Jambukeshwar Temple - Thiruvanaikaval - Indian Scriptures
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Sacred places ›› Pancha Bhoota Sthalas ›› JAMBUKESHWAR TEMPLE THIRUVANAIKAVAL
PANCHA BHOOTA STHALA WATER ELEMENT
JAMBUKESHWAR TEMPLE THIRUVANAIKAVAL
Contents
. Location Details
. Introduction
. Deity Worshipped
. Archaeological Facts
. History
. Architecture of the temple
. Religious significance of the temple
. Cultural Significance
. Festivals
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. Address and contact details
Location Details
Temple Name Jambukeshwar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval
Main Deity Lord Shiva
Location Thiruvanaikaval, Tamil Nadu
Introduction
Thiruvanaikaval is a suburb in the city of Trichy in Tamil Nadu. It is a peaceful, quaint and unspoiled town located on the
northern bank of the river Kaveri very close to the river island of Srirangam. It is famous for being the birth place of Nobel
Laureate Sir C. V. Raman who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930. It is most famous for the Jambukeshwar temple
which is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas of Lord Shiva depicting the Water element. It was built by one of the earlier
Chola Rulers Kochengannan nearly 1800 years ago. The temple is one of the sthalas among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams
meaning the place which has found mention in the songs of the Shaivite Saints called Nayanmars.
Deity Worshipped
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Being one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas, the deity worshipped here is Lord Shiva and the lingam here is made out of water
from the River Cauvery (or river Ponni). Hence it is called Appu Lingam or Water Lingam.
Archaeological Facts
History
The temple was widely expanded by the Hoysala Kings including the 7 tiered Raja Gopuram. There were frequent conquests
between the French and English forces in the temple and its pagodas. The temple has been maintained by the Nattukotai
Chettiars during recent centuries.
Lord Shanmukha or Kartikeya is seen here in a very rare form with a demon under his feet. It is believed that a famous
saint named Arunagirinathar approached Lord Muruga for protection from evil thoughts. The demon under the feet of Lord
Muruga is said to symbolize evil thoughts.
Origin of the name Appu Lingam
Legends abound regarding the temple origins. Once, Parvati mocked Shiva’s penance for the betterment of the world. Lord
Shiva then banished her to Earth to do penance and Parvati in the form of Akhilandeshwari as per Shiva’s wish went to the
Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikaval) to do her penance. She made a lingam out of water from the Cauvery river (or river Ponni)
under the Venn Naval (blackberry) tree and began her penance. Therefore the lingam is known as Appu Lingam(or water
lingam). At last Shiva pleased with her (Parvati in the form of Akhilandeshwari) penance gave her darshan and taught her
Shiva Jnana.
Origin of the name Thiruvanaikaval
There were two Ganas(Shiva’s disciples and guards) of Shiva who were always quarelling with each other. One day, one of
them cursed the other to become an elephant on earth and the other in return was cursed to become a spider on earth.
Both of them came to the Jambu
Forest and began their Shiva worship. Legend has it that the elephant would perform ablutions to the Lingam after
collecting water from the Cauvery river. The spider constructed his web over the lingam to protect it from the harsh
sunlight falling on it and also to prevent leaves from falling on it. The elephant would see the web and thinking it to be dirt
would wash it with water that it carried in its trunk. This continued everyday till the spider one day in rage entered into the
trunk of the elephant and bit it to death killing itself also in the process. Shiva in the form of Jambukeshwara was moved by
their deep devotion and he relieved them of their curse. Therefore the place came to be known as ThiruAanaiKaa, Thiru in
Tamil meaning holy, Aanai meaning elephant and Kaa taken from the word Kaadu meaning forest. Subequently
Thiruaanaikaa became Thiruvanaikaval. Due to the sin committed by the spider in killing the elephant, it was reborn in the
next birth as the Chola King Kotchengannan Chola (meaning red eyed King). Remembering his enmity with the elephant in
his previous birth, it is said that he not only constructed 70 temples but specially built this temple Sanctorum in such a way
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that not even a small sized elephant could enter. The entrance of the sanctum sanctorum of the Jambukeshwara temple is
only 4 feet high and 2.5 feet wide.
Legend behind King’s red eyes
It is said that when the King was in his mother’s womb, the Palace Astrologer predicted the auspicious time to give birth to
enable the new born’s well being. Unfortunately the queen went into labour earlier than the predicted time. She
summoned her attendant and asked to be hung upside down so that the delivery would be stalled until the predicted time.
This waiting time in the womb is alleged to have made the baby’s eyes red.
Legend behind Vibhuti Praharam
It is said that at the time of construction of the fifth enclosure, the Chola king had to go to war to defend his kingdom.
Even in the battlefield his mind was constantly on the Lord and the incomplete temple construction. Lord Shiva in his
infinite mercy is said to have come as Vibhuti Chitthar and completed the construction. Therefore the praharam is named
Vibhuti Praharam and the walls around it are known as ‘Thiruneethran Thirumadhil’ where Thiruneeru in Tamil means
Vibhuti and Madhil means wall.
Legend behind offering betel nus and leaves as Neivedhyam
Once, a Brahmin aspired to become a poet. He prayed to Goddess Akhilandeshwari seeking her blessings. The Goddess
materialized as a woman chewing betel leaves. To test him she sought his permission to spit the betel juice in his mouth as
she could not desecrate the temple. This angered the Brahmin and he refused to allow her to do it. Meanwhile another
devotee named Varadhan who was very particular about cleanliness and purity in temples visited the temple. The Goddess
went to test him and when she placed the same condition, he readily agreed. He later became a famous poet named
Kalamegam. Thus even to this day betel nuts and leaves are offered to the Goddess to ensure success in education.
Origin of the name Jambukeshwar
There was a sage named Jambu who did penance of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared before him and gave him some
blackberry fruit(Jambu in Sanskrit and Naaval in tamil) as prasadam. The sage ate the fruit and consumed even the seeds.
The seeds began to germinate inside his stomach and grew into a tree right through his head. The sage then attained
salvation. This tree became the Sthala Vruksha (holy tree). Goddess Parvathi created the lingam and offered penance to
the Lord under this tree. Therefore the Lord came to be known as Jambukeshwar or the Lord who gave salvation to Sage
Jambu.
Architecture of the temple
The architecture of the temple is so classic that it is said to have even surpassed that of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy
temple which was constructed around the same period. There are five enclosures inside the temple.
Fifth Enclosure
There is a huge and magnificent 7 tiered Raja Gopuram in the entrance. The idols of Kali and Veerabhadra are on either side
of the entrance. The outermost fifth enclosure is a massive outer wall known as the Vibhuti Praharam. It is two feet thick,
over 25 feet high and stretches over a mile. Legend says that Lord Shiva himself assisted the labourers who built the wall.
Fourth Enclosure
There is another seven tiered tower with a shrine of Lord Ganesha at the entrance. The fourth precinct encloses a hall with
796 pillars and is 2436 feet by 1493 feet. It also has a tank with ever flowing springs.
Third Enclosure
At its entrance it has another tower called the Mallapan tower with two shrines of Ganesha and Subramanya at its
entrance. The third precinct encloses two gopurams (gateway towers) which are 73 and 100 feet tall, a coconut grove and
a small water tank. It measures 745 feet by 197 feet and is surrounded by a wall 30 feet high.
Second Enclosure
Beyond that there is a huge seven tiered tower. The actual temple starts from this area. The second precinct is 307 feet by
197 feet with a gopuram 65 feet high and several small shrines and pillared mandapas. On the left side there is a big sub
shrine almost like a separate temple dedicated to JambukeshwarAkhilandeshwari. Beyond that there is ‘Oonjal Mandapa’.
After that there is a mandapa full of pillars containing beautiful sculptures. A small Ganesha idol is located here. The right
side area has a small temple like shrine dedicated to MeenakshiSundareshwarar, a tank named Indira Teerth, a small
shrine with mandapa and prakara for Shiva linga called Kashi Vishwanatha and three sub shrines with small Shiva Linga
idols named Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. This enclosure has thinnais or raised platforms with lot of pillars on either side having
beautiful sculptures on them. There are sub shrines of Bal Dhandayuthapani and Saneeshwara with Jyeshta Devi which is a
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rare sight. Few Dhwajasthambas or flag posts are found in the backside of the main shrine of this enclosure. A few small
mandapas are located here. In a particular mandapa there are four statues of dancing girls found which are extremely
attractive. The 100 pillared mandapa is also located here.
There are two towers found in this section. The area between the two towers have few sub shrines and Jambu Teerth or
the holy tank. A big shrine more like a separate temple is dedicated to Shiva Linga named Sankaralingeshwara. The
Goddesss Sankareshwari, Dakshinamurthy Narthana Ganapathy and Subramanya Valli are also located in this shrine. A big
Linga named Kubera Linga , a small linga named Jambu Linga and Akhilandeshwari are found near the holy teerth.
Goddess Akhilandeshwari’s shrine
Unlike the other Shiva temples, there is no marriage conducted in this temple for Shiva and Parvati as here Parvati(Goddess
Akhilandeshwari) was like a student and Lord Shiva(Jambukeshwara) was like a teacher(Guru). The temple idols are
therefore installed opposite to each other. Such temples are known as Upadesha Sthalas. Goddess Akhilandeshwari and
Prasanna Vinayaka are in the shape of the Pranava Mantra ‘Om’. It is believed that the Goddess was in deep anger hence
during one of Adi Shankara’s visits he installed the Prasanna Ganapathy idol right opposite to her (as no mother would be
angry in the presence of her child) and installed a pair of Shri Chakra earrings (Thatankas) to reduce her anger. This shrine
is more like a separate temple with a separate flag post, Bali Peetha and Nandi idol facing the Goddess. The shrine has two
prakaras. The idol of the Goddesss is very tall and attractive with four arms. The prakara has two ShanmugaValliDevasena
idols, four Ganesha idols and the rare Chandra with his Consorts Rohini and Krithika. The basrelief images of Iccha, Kriya,
Jnana, Durga and Chandikeshwari are found on the wall surrounding the shrine as the Goshta Idols. Few more idols like
Saraswati, Ganesha and Bhadra are also located in the temple of Akhilandeshwari.
Nandi Mandapa
The Nandi Mandapa is adorned with four wide decorated pillars. There are intricate sculptures in the ceiling of this mandapa.
Navagraha shrine is located near the Nandi Mandapa.
First Enclosure
In the first enclosure there is a sub shrine which houses the tall idols of Nataraja and Sivakami. In this enclosure the idols
of Dakshinamoorthi, Chandikeshwara, Bhairava and two Jura Deva (sandalwood idols of Shiva with three legs and three
arms) are all located. The important subshrine here is Kochengannan’s shrine, the Chola King who built this temple. There
is a sub shrine housing the big idol of Vallabha Ganapathi with 10 arms and holding his Consort.
Innermost Enclosure
There is a small tower at the entrance. In this inner enclosure there are shrines of Subramanya with his consorts, Kalyana
Sundara, Nataraja and Sivakami, Navagrahas, Chandikeshwar, Mahalakshmi, Ganesha, 63 Nayanmars as Utsava idols and a
big Shiva Linga Sahasra Linga. The idols of Bhairava, few Goddesses, Surya, Subramanya Saptamata, Dakshinamurthy and
Chandra are also found here. The Sahasra Linga with 1008 small lingams is opposite to the Navagraha Sannidhi. It is said
that even Lord Rama on his return to Lanka after vanquishing Ravana installed a lingam called the Maragatha Lingam to
get rid of the ghosts of the Asuras that were following Him. Hence devotees pray to Him for removal of obstacles in
marriage leading to marital bliss and harmony.
Main Shrine
The innermost precinct encloses the sanctum sanctorum which is a square structure open on three sides found
independently situated at the centre of the enclosure and measures 126 feet by 123 feet. This structure has a shallow
moat separating it from the circumambulatory path of the innermost enclosure. There is a Vimana on the roof of the
sanctum. The Sthala Vruksha or the holy tree is the White Jambuka which grows along the South Eastern wall of the
sanctum sanctorum. A walled structure protects the trunk of the tree. There is a large closed hall on the western side of
the sanctum from where the deity is viewed called the Mukha Mantapa.
Mukha MantapaThe principal entrance of the Mukha Mantapa has a large ornate western door gilded with silver. It contains
four pillars and houses a bronze idol of Nandi. On the Southern and North Eastern sides, there are two additional entrances
to the Mukha Mantapa. From the Mukha Mantapa, a set of three steps descend down to the level of the sanctum
sanctorum. The western face of the sanctum sanctorum has a stone window through which the deity is viewed. The
window has nine viewing apertures believed to represent the Navagrahas or could also mean the nine holes representing
the nine outlets of the human body..Over the window there is a panel depicting the Sthala Puran of the Linga of
Jambukeshwara under the tree, on the extreme right the jambuka tree growing out of a meditating sage’s head, a spider
and an elephant worshipping the linga along with Goddess Parvati who is standing to the left of the Linga.
The sanctum sanctorum is divided into two parts, the Garbha Griha where the deity of Lord Jambukeshwara is housed and
the Antaralam or the Ardha Mantapam whose western wall bears the window. A small door about 4 feet high on the
southern wall forms the entrance into the sanctum. The Ardha Mantapam is 4 feet by 4 feet and contains an idol of
Goddess Parvati on the right side of the door to the Garbha Griha. Small groups of devotees are permitted during special
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sevas into the Ardha Mantapa. The Garbha Griha is wider than the Ardha Mantapa. At the centre of the Brahma Sthana is
the Linga of Lord Jambukeshwara. The upper conical part of the linga is copper colour and the pedestal or yonibhaga of the
linga is of black granite. The linga is attached to the pedestal by a brass ring. The linga is at a height of three feet from the
floor of the sanctum. The only source of illumination within the sanctum is the light from the ghee lamps. A stream of
water is said to emerge from the Linga and this can be demonstrated by the soaking of clothes on which it is draped. The
water increases significantly during the monsoon.
The image of Trimurthi Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva is present in the temple. There are separate shrines beyond the temple
compound namely Lord Muruga in the form of Aandi having the same typical structure as the main shrines in Palani. The
temple also has a shrine of Adi Shankara.
Religious Significance of the temple
It is considered as one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalas of Lord Shiva depicting the element water, hence the linga here is
called Appu Linga.
Cultural Significance
As Goddess Akhilandeshwari worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple, to this day the priest dresses like a female at noon and
does pooja to Lord Jambukeshwara and ‘Go Matha’(Cow). Hence the noon pooja is very famous with a number of pilgrims
gathered there at that time. For this occasion a special variety of black cow called ‘Karam Pasu’ is used. Ablutions with
cooked rice or Annabhishekham is a daily ritual performed in the temple.
A festival of classical Indian dance called Natyanjali is hosted in the temple annually. A school for training of the classical
pipe instrument called Nadaswaram in Tamil Nadu is also established in the temple.
Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the foremost composers of Carnatic music has sung in praise of the Goddess
Akhilandeshwari.
Festivals
The Vaikasi Utsavam is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi(MayJune).
Since Goddess Parvati performed penance in the month of Adi(July Aug),Fridays in this month of Adi is celebrated with
great pomp. During this time the temple is open from 2am to 12 am.
Betel nuts and leaves are offered to the Goddess as Neivedhyam(sacred offering to God)
Hymn venerating Lord Jambukeshwara
O Lord Shiva
Consort of Akhilandeshwari
Who wears Ganges on the head
Who is the Lord of the five elements.
Who is gracious and sweet,
Who dwells in the crematorium,
Who has a blue neck
Who drank the poison,
Who is Lord Jambukareshwara,
In the land near Trichy.
Who dwells as Appu Lingam
Who ever remains underneath water
Salutations Unto Thee.
Open My Third Eye.
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Om Namah Shivaya.
Address and Contact Details
Shri Akhilandeshwari Sametha Jambukeshwar Temple
Thiruvanaikaval620005
DistrictTrichy.
Nearest major town or city
Trichy is connected by air with Chennai and other cities. It is a major railway junction between Chennai and Madurai. It is
also connected with Erode on the ChennaiCoimbatore line. Trichy has several modern lodging facilities. The temple is
situated 7 kms from Trichy.
References
Published On: 18012014
(Others):
1. Wikipedia
2. temples.net
3. waytotemple.com
4. dishq.org
5. templesoftamilnadu.co.in
Tags: Pancha bhoota, Jamukeshwar, Thiruvanaikaval, Water, linga
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