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This temple, 2kms from Srirangam is dedicated to Lord Siva. It is also known as Jambukeswaram. This is the Appu Sthalam among the Pancha Bootha Sthalams. The others are - Tiruvannamalai (Thejo sthalam - Fire) Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth) Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air) Chidambaram (Akasa sthalam - Space). The Siva Lingam (Appu Lingam) under a holy Jambu tree is submerged in water from a subterranean spring. There is another Lingam in the shrine. Daily prayers & worship are offered to both Lingams. There is a separate shrine for the Goddess, Akhilandeswari facing east, while the Lord faces west. The temple is situated amidst a mango grove. There are 7 gopurams and the temple is surrounded by 5 walls. The sculptures & carvings are of the Chola period. In a pillar in the Mahamandapa of Akhilandeswari temple, there is a magnifi ient figure of Ekapadeswarar, with Brahma & Vishnu on either side with their vahanas. During the mid-day puja, the priest is dressed as a female while offering worship, signifying that Godddess Parvati herself is offering prayers to the Lord. Legend An elephant and a spider were offering worship to the Lingam simultaneously. The spider would spin a web giving cover to the Lord. The elephant would bring water in its trunk to do Abhishekam to the Lord. He found the web in the way & destroyed it. The spider spun the web again & the elephant destroyed. This continued & one day the angered spider got into the elephants trunk to disturb him. The elephant struck his trunk against a rock. The Lord was pleased with their relentless devotion & both the spider and the elephant attained moksham. Since an elephnat worshipped the Lord here, the place is known as Tiruvaanaikaaval (Aanai in Tamil-Elephant) This place is also known as Jambukeswaram. There was once a rishi who performed tapas in this region. The Lord was pleased with his prayers & agreed to give darshan to devotees here as Jambukeswarar. |
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