Jambukeswarar Temple at Thiruvanaikaval near Trichy is
dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is around 5 kilometer north of Trichy, or
Tiruchirappali, in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the temples in which Shiva is
worshipped as element of nature – one of the Panchabhoota Temples. Shiva is
worshipped here as water.
At Jambukeswarar Temple, the sanctum sanctorum is beyond ground level and the Shivling is always surrounded by water. Mother Goddess is worshipped here as Akilandeshwari.
At Jambukeswarar Temple, the sanctum sanctorum is beyond ground level and the Shivling is always surrounded by water. Mother Goddess is worshipped here as Akilandeshwari.
A saint is said to have performed intense austerities at the
spot where the present temple stands. The saint offered a Jambu or gooseberry
fruit to Shiva here and then swallowed it with the seed.
The saint continued his meditation and in due course of time
the seed sprouted and grew into a tree in the body of the saint.
Moved by the intense austerity, Shiva appeared before the saint.
As a boon, the saint asked the presence of Shiva near the tree. Shiva then
appeared in the form of a Shivling here and he got the name Jambukeswarar.
The present temple structure is a huge one with a large
complex with five enclosures, several subsidiary shrines, pillared halls and
gopurams. The temple is built on Chola and Vijayanagara style of architecture.
Shaiva saints appar and sambandar have sung about the temple
in Tevaram.
The annual festival in the temple takes place in Panguni
month.
Daily puja time is from 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM to
9:00 PM
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