Tiru Aanaikkaa- Jambukeswarar temple

This is one of the most revered temples and is a Panchabhoota Stalams signifying the five elements of wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka), fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram). The element of water is represented by an undying natural spring in its sanctum.

This temple covers 18 acres with lofty gopurams, 5 prakarams and ornate mandapams. The second and third prakarams date back to the 13th century. The dwajasthampa mandapam has grand sculptures. There is an image of Ekapada Trimurthy in this temple. The Akhilandeswari shrine is located in the fourth prakaram. The Eastern tower has seven levels and is covered with fine sculptures of musical scenes. The Western tower has nine levels. The first prakaram was renovated in this century.

Jambukeswarar Temple is also known for a number of festivals. Festivals like Pankuni Bhrammotsavam, Vasanta Utsavam, the float festival in Thai (Capricorn), Aadi Pooram (Cancer) and the Pancha Prakara are celebrated by in the temple. Located in Tiruchirrapalli district of Tamil Nadu this temple is well connected with railways and roadways which are connected with the capital of the state.

As per the legend Goddess Parvati mocked Lord Shiva`s penance. He tried to condemn her act and directed her to go to the earth from `Kailayam` and do penance. Goddess Parvathi as per Shiva`s wish found `Jambu` forest to conduct her penance. Devi cretaed a Lingam out of water of river Kaveri under the `Venn Naaval` tree and commenced her worship. The Lingam is known as `Appu Lingam` or Water Lingam. Lord Siva at last gave darshan to her and taught her Siva Gnana. She took lessons facing east from Shiva who stood facing west. As the Devi was like a student and the Lord like a Guru in this temple, there is no marriage conducted in this temple for Lord & the Devi.

Legend of the Name - `Thiru Aanai Kaa`
There were two Siva Ganas called `Malyavan` and `Pushpadanta`. They always quarrelled with each other and fight for one thing or other despite being Shiva ganas. In one fight `Malyavan` cursed `Pushpadanta` to become an elephant on earth and the latter cursed him to become a spider on earth. The elephant and the spider came to Jambukeshwaram and continued their Shiva worship. The elephant collected water from river Kaveri and conducted Abhishekam to the lingam under Jambu tree. The spider constructed his web over the lingam in order to prevent dry leaves from dropping on it and prevent sunlight directly falling on Shiva. When the elephant saw the web he thought it to be dust on Lord Shiva and tore them and cleaned it by pouring water. This happened daily. The spider got angry and crawled into the trunk of the elephant and bit the elephant to death killing itself. Lord Siva relieved them from one other curse. As an elephant worshipped the Lord here, this place was known as `Thiru Aanai Kaa`. Later on the actual name `Thiruaanaikaa` become `Thiruvanaikaval` and `Thiruvanaikoil`.

In the next birth the Spider was born as the King Kochengot Chola and built 70 temples and Thiruvanaikoil is the one of them. He built the Lord Shiva `Sannathi` in such a way that not even a small elephant can enter. The entrance is only 4 foot high and 2.5 foot wide.

This temple record show the patronage of Chola, Pandya, Hoysala and Madurai Naik rulers. The temple was built by Ko Chenkannan. Inscriptions from the 10th century AD testify to later Chola patronage. The Hoysalas had a base near Samayapuram and built four temples. The Pandyas and the Hoysalas contributed to the Eastern tower. Adi Sankara is said to have adorned Akhilandeswari with earrings bearing the symbol of the chakram.

Architecture of Jambukeswarar Temple in Tiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu bears a sharp resemblance to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple which was one of its contemporary temples, though historians claim that its architectural grandeur beats that of the latter. Erected about 1, 800 years ago, Jambukeswarar Temple contains five enclosures within its premises. The temple was constructed by the king Kochenga Chola, following the style of Dravidian architecture, and is amongst the Panchabhoota Sthalams.

`Vibudi Prakara` is the giant external wall which surrounds the fifth temple precinct and it continues to stretch above a mile, with a height of 25 feet and width of two feet. As per a Hindu legend, this wall was created by Lord Shiva, who toiled along with some labourers. Measuring about 2436 feet by 1493 feet, the fourth precinct possesses a hall with 796 pillars. Perennial springs feed the tiny tank present here. The third temple precinct is fortified with a 30 feet high wall and measures about 745 feet by 197 feet. Two `gopurams` are existent, one of which is 100 feet in height while the other is 73 feet in height. A small water tank and a coconut `thoppu` is also there. The second temple enclosure has a gopuram which is 65 feet in height, measures nearly 306 feet by 197 feet and also consists of numerous tiny shrines. The sanctum sanctorum exists inside the innermost enclosure which measures about 126 feet by 123 feet.

Present at the central portion of the innermost enclosure of Jambukeswarar Temple, the `garbhagriha` is square-shaped. Its terrace has a `vimana` and is open on all three sides, being separated from the circumambulatory strip of land by a small moat. Close to the sanctum sanctorum grows the sacred tree or `sthala-vriksham`, particularly alongside the south-eastern wall of the sanctum. A walled structure defends the tree trunk and a gigantic closed hall or `Mukha Mandapa` possessing four pillars and a bronze idol of Nandi are also present in the western portion of the sanctum sanctorum. The main entrance of the temple is marked by a huge, ornamental, western door embedded with silver. The Mukha Mandapa can also be accessed by two other entrances on the north-eastern and southern end as well.

Visitors will notice a series of three stairs leading downwards to the garbhagriha from the Mukha Mandapa and will be able to catch sight of the deity with the aide of a stone window. Nine apertures arm the window, which symbolises the `Navagraha` and the `Sthala Puranam` is represented by the panelled bas-relief on the window. The image of an elephant and spider worshipping the Shiva Lingam and Parvati standing to the left side of the lingam, the lingam of Jambukeswarar and the Jambuka tree emerging out from the head of a meditating sage are existent inside the temple.

The `Antaralam` or `Ardha Mantapam` and garbhagriha divide the sanctum sanctorum and it is here that Jambukeswarar deity is existent. The sanctum can be approached with the help of a tiny door which measures 4 feet in height, on the southern wall. An idol of Goddess Parvati is there inside the Ardha Mantapa, near the right side of the garbhagriha door. During festive events like `Abhishekam`, pilgrims are permitted to enter the temple in groups of six, against a small payment. Compared to the Ardha Mabtapa, the garbhagriha is much wider and its central part contains the `Brahma Sthana`, which is the self-erected linga of Jambukeswarar.

The pedestal or `yoni bhaga` of the Shiva Lingam is composed of black granite while the upper conical region of the lingam is of copper colour. The point of intersection of the lingam and pedestal contains a brass ring and the lingam measures about 3 feet in height. The light from ghee lamps are the only source of illumination of the Ardha Mantapa and also the garbhagriha. The lingam is believed to sprout streams of water which is testified by the wet garments that are draped around it. During monsoons, the flow enhances. The element of water is depicted by the principal temple deity of Jambukeswara. Jambukeswara is portrayed as being seated underneath a Jambu tree which grows a tiny stream in which the deity submerges during the monsoons. It is believed that Goddess Akilandeswari, who is one of the divine avatars of Parvati, is another deity of the temple.