51 Shakthi Sthalam / Shakthi Peedam - Thiruvanaikka Sri Akilandeshwari Temple !!




Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jai Ambey Ma !!





 
Thiruvanaikka/Pancha Bootha Sthalangal/Jambukeshwaram is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva / Shakthi Peedam located on the river banks of Kollidam and Cauvery in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalam represents Water and one of the Shakthi Peedam of Goddess Sri Parvaty. The Pancha Bootha Sthalangal of Lord Shiva are Thiruvanaikka (Appu Lingam) represents Water, Thiru Kalahasthi symbolizes Wind, Thiruvannamalai represents Fire, Kanchipuram stands for Earth and Chidambaram represents Sky. This temple occupies massive acres of land was built by the King of Chola Dynasty. In this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of a self-manifested Jambu Linga.

 

Presiding deity – Sri Jambukeshwarar/Jalakandeswarar with his consort Goddess Sri Akilandeswari



Mangalasasanam – Appar, Sundarar, Thiru Gnana Sambandar,

Saint Arunagirinathar sung praising the glories of Lord Muruga in this temple.



Sthalavruksham – Jambu



Significance –


The work process of mighty walls of this temple was on its peak; Lord appeared himself as a saint and distributed holy ashes in place of wages to the workers. Astonishingly, the holy ashes were turned into gold coins of their proportionate wages. Hence, the fourth circumambulatory path of this temple is widely known as ‘Thiruneetru Mathil’.


Goddess Sri Parvati came down to Earth due to the curse of Lord Shiva. Goddess consecrated a Linga /Appu Linga and worshipped Lord Shiva on this sacred land. Lord was pleased at the devotion of Goddess Sri Parvati and blessed her with eternal wisdom. The main priest of this temple presumes the worship Lord Jambukeshwara to memorialize the divine act. 



Previously, Goddess Sri Akilandeswari in this temple was in a vicious form. The earring (Thadagangal) of Goddess was installed by Sri Adi Sankara to bring her in a composed state also installed Sri Chakra and sanctified the idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya on both the sides of her. In this way, Sri Adi Sankara brought back tranquil form Goddess Sri Akilandeswari in this temple.



Sage Jambu was a fervent devotee of Lord Shiva. He offered an exquisite and an extraordinary white Jambu fruit as offerings to Lord. Lord accepted his offering and left the seed untouched. Sage Jambu passionately swallowed the remaining as Lord’s blessings, surprisingly a tree started to grow on its place. Sage Jambu earnestly prayed to Lord to take place under the tree as his Abode. Lord Shiva instructed the Sage to continue his penance on the river banks of Cauvery and also promised that he would take the place under the Jambu tree as his Abode in due course of time. Consequently, Goddess Sri Parvati undertook penance under the tree worshipping Lord. As a result a Linga manifested under the Jambu tree and fulfilled the yearnings of Sage Jambu as well.



Theertham – There are nine holy theerthas located in this temple. They are Cauvery Theertham, Brahma Theertham, Chandra Theertham, Indra Theertham, Rama Theertham, Agni Theertham, Agastya Theertham, Surya Theertham and Kollidam river. There is an undying natural spring beneath the Linga in the sanctum sanctorum.



Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Annabhishekam, Arudra Darisanam, Thiru Karthikai, Navaratri,  Aippasi Annabhishekam, Masi Magam, Panguni Uthiram, Skandha Shashti, Pournami, Amavasya,



Worshipped by – Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama, Lord Brahma, Ashtadikpalakas, Sage Parasara, Sage Jambu,

The legend has that there was a time the Mount Himalaya and its surroundings were under the abstract control of the demons. They harassed the life of deities and sages, they all appealed to Lord Vishnu. As instructed by Lord Vishnu, all the spiritual energies of the deities turned into a flame and as desired by the deities and Sages Goddess Sri Sati was rose from the flame and she was brought up by Daksha Prajapathi. Later, she married was to Lord Shiva against the will of her father.






A Grand Yagna was conducted by Dakshaprajapathi ended in disaster, his own daughter Goddess Sri Sati had to sacrifice her life in the sacrificial fire. This catastrophic incident brought trepidation amongst the deities. Inconsolable Lord Shiva carried the lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati and wandered on the Earth for several years. The functions of Trinities to protect the Universe were shattered. All the deities were frightened about the terrible consequences and appealed to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’ dice chopped off the lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati into several parts to diffuse the grief of Lord Shiva and each part fell into the different parts of the Earth. The places where the body parts of Goddess Sri Sati fallen on the Earth were turned into ‘Shakthi Sthal/Shakthi Peedam’.


This temple remains open from 7.00AM to 1.00PM in the morning and 3.00PM to 8.00PM in the evening.
 
 
Please visit the link below to know more details about this temple :

 
 
Jai Ambey Ma !!
 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!

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