Thiruvanaikaval

Infobox Mandir


creator = Kochenga Chola
proper_name = Thiruvanaikaval
date_built = 10th century AD
primary_deity = Jambukeshwara (Shiva) and His Consort: Akilandeswari (Parvati)
architecture = Dravidian architecture
location = Trichi, Tamil Nadu

Thiruvanaikal or Thiruvanaikaval is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli or Trichy, India and adjacent to the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. It was built by Kocengannan also called Kochenga Chola, who was one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago.

Panchabhoota Sthalam

It is one of the five major Shiva temples (Panchabhoota Sthalams), representing one of the five major elements - Water.

The five elements are Earth (Tamil: "nilam"), Water (Tamil: "neer"), Fire ("neruppu"), Sky/ space (Tamil: "aagayam") and Wind (Tamil: "Kaattru"). The other Panchabhoota Sthalams are located at Chidambaram (sky/ space), Kalahasti (wind), Tiruvannamalai (fire) and Kanchipuram (earth).

Mythology

During the construction of the temple, the King decreed that every household shall send one man to work in the temple's construction. There was an old lady in the village who did not have any son to send for this holy job and hence she was sad that she cannot contribute to such a holy opportunity.

So she requested a vagabond who used to sleep in her "thinnai" (a place/ small stage outside one's home where vagabond or travelers can retire for a night. Also the place where the village folks chit-chat) if He will do the job in place of her honor, in exchange for a sweet (rice-based) dish, the "puttu" or "pittu" for which she is famous for in the whole village. Lord Shiva who is in the guise of the vagabond accepts the offer reluctantly because He is lazy to work.

At the construction site of the prakara, Lord Shiva sings and dances merrily without working properly. This irritates the construction supervisor who whips Him on his back. This whip injury is felt immediately by all people in the world who all writhe with pain and hence the depression running along one's back representing the spine. Henceforth, the supervisor and the King realized their folly and begged His forgiveness. This story is referred to as the pittukku man sumantha kathai.

The greatest of works related to this temple include Tiruvanaikaval and Kilvelur Akshyalingaswamy temple.

The Temple

The main deity, Jambukeswara representing the element Water, sits under a Jambu tree over a small stream that engulfs the deity during the rainy season. The goddess Akilandeswari is one of the most famed forms of Parvati along with Meenakshi and Kamakshi.

The massive outer wall - "Vibudi Prakara", stretching over a mile, is said to have been built by Lord Shiva Himself, working along with the laborers. The temple is known as one of the hosts for the annual Natyanjali festival of the classical Indian dance.

Goddess Akilandeshwari's Sannathy

The "Sannathy" of the goddess Akilandeshwari along with the "Sannathy" of Prasanna Vinayaka is in the shape of the "Pranava manthra" called "Om". It is believed that people who go round the sannathy (which is in the shape of "Om") 12 times and for one full mandala (48 days) will get the blessings of the goddess Akilandeshwari and have a good, healthy and wealthy life.

See also

* Kalahasti temple
* Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchi
* Chidambaram Temple
* Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

External links

* [http://www.thiruvanaikoil.com Thiruvanaikoil]