Jambukeswarar temple | Places to visit in Trichy

May 1, 2021

Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Quick Info:

Location: Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy, Google Maps

Official Website Of Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Temple: http://thiruvanaikavaltemple.tnhrce.in/

Jambukeswarar Temple Timings: Monday – Thursday: 6 am – 1 pm, 3 pm – 8 pm & Friday – Sunday: 6 am – 8 pm

Jambukeswarar Temple Contact Number: 0431 223 0257

Dedicated To: Lord Shiva

Major Festival At Jambukeswarar Temple: Panguni Brahmotsavam, Vasanta Utsavam, Karthigai Deepam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai Utsavam, Aadi Pooram, Pancha Prakara

Introduction:

Jambukeswarar Temple also known as Tiruvanaikovil Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple was built 1,800 years ago by Kochenga Chola, one of the Early Cholas. The temple is located on the island of Srirangam which is a famous temple of Rangaswamy. As Lord Siva is seated below the Jambu tree at this temple, it got its name Jambukeswaram.

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History Of Jambukeswarar Temple:

For the betterment of the world, Goddess Parvathi once mocked Lord Shiva’s penance. Lord Shiva wanted to condemn her act and ordered her to go to Earth to do penance from Kailash (Lord Shiva’s abode). Goddess Parvati in the form of Akilandeswari at the behest of Lord Shiva discovered the Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikoil) to perform her meditation. She made a lingam from the water of Cauvery and started to worship. Lord Shiva, at last, gave Darshan to Goddess Akilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnanam.

There were two Siva Ganas who lived in Kailash ‘Malyavan’ and ‘Pushpadanta’. Though they are Siva Ganan they quarrel and fight with each other. In a fight ‘Malyavan’ cursed ‘Pushpadanta’ to become an elephant and later cursed to become a spider. Both came to Jambukeswaram and started the worship. The elephant collected water from the Cauvery river and saved it under the Jambu tree meanwhile the spider constructed a web over the lingam and to prevent dry leaves from falling in it and also to prevent sunlight directly on it. Once the elephant saw the web in the lingam and thought it was dust and cleaned it by pouring water. One day the spider became angry and crawled into the trunk of the elephant and bit the elephant to death, killing itself. Siva, in the form of Jambukeswara, moved by the deep devotion of the two, relieved them from the curse. As the elephant worshipped Lord Shiva here this place is known as Thiru Aanai Kaa (thiru means holy, aanai is elephant, kaa (kaadu) means forest) and later named Thiruvanaikaval.

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Due to the sin committed by the spider by killing the elephant in the next birth the spider was born as a King Kochengot Chola which means red-eyed king and built about 79 temples and this is one of them. Remembering his enmity with the elephant in his previous birth, he built the Siva Sannathi in such a way that not even a small elephant can enter. The entrance on the Siva Sannathi of Jambukeswara is only 4 feet high and 2.5 feet in width.

Jambukeswarar Temple Style and Architecture:

The first enclosure is about 126 feet and has 123 sanctums. The second enclosure is about 306 feet and a gopuram of 65 feet with several small shrines. The third enclosure is 745 feet by 174 surrounded by a 39 feet height wall. The fourth enclosure contains about 796 pillars and measures up to 2436 feet by 1493. The last enclosure has a massive outer wall covering, known as the Vibudi Prakara, which stretches over a mile and is two feet thick and over 25 feet high.

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Conclusion:

Planning to visit Jambukeswara temple (Thiruvanaikaval) and get astonished visually by its architecture? Then book your stay at Ramyas Hotels which is located close to Trichy Central Bus Stand and Trichy Railway Junction.

You can also visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam which is located very close to Thiruvanaikovil.