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{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
| image = File:Tiruvanaikaval5.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = Tamil Nadu# India
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|51|12|N|78|42|20|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| state = Tamil Nadu
| district =
| location = [[Trichy]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Jambukeshwara ([[Shiva]])
Akilandeswari ([[Parvati]])
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals =
| architecture = [[Tamil Architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 2nd century AD {{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
| creator = [[Kochchenganan|Kochengat Cholan]]
| website =
}}

'''Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval''' (also '''Thiruvanaikal''', '''Jambukeswaram''') is a temple of [[Shiva]] in [[Tiruchirapalli district]], in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], India. It is one of the five major [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu]] representing the [[Mahābhūta]] or five elements; this temple represents the [[Water (classical element)|element of water]], or ''neer'' in Tamil.<ref name="tourist">[[#Tourist|Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu 2007]], pp. 76-77.</ref> The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground stream.<ref name="Ayyar"/>In the temple, Shiva is worshipped as Jambukeshwarar and his consort Parvati as [[Akilandeswari]].

It is one of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]s and has inscriptions from the [[Chola]] period.

== Legend ==
Once Parvati mocked Shiva's penance for betterment of the world. Shiva wanted to condemn her act and directed her to go to the earth from [[Kailasa]] (Shiva's abode) to do penance. Parvathi in the form of Akilandeswari as per Shiva's wish found Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikoil) to conduct her penance. She made a ''[[lingam]]'' out of water of river [[Cauvery]] (also called as river Ponni) under the Venn Naaval tree (the Venn Naaval tree on top of the saint Jambu) and commenced her worship. The ''lingam'' is known as Appu Lingam (Water Lingam).<ref name="Hastings">[[#Hastings|Hastings 1916]], pp. 475-476</ref> Siva at last gave ''[[Darśana|darshan]]'' to Akilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnana. Akilandeswari took ''Upadesa'' (lessons) facing East from Shiva, who stood facing west.<ref name="Ayyar">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1991]], pp. 439-441</ref><ref name=Giri>{{cite book|title=108 Thennaga Shivasthalangal|language=ta|publisher=Giri Trading Agency Private Limited|isbn=978-81-7950-707-0|last=R.|first=Ponnammal|pages=15–23}}</ref>

[[File:Srirangam Jambukeshwara temple 5.jpg|The second precinct of the temple with pillars.|200px|left|thumb]]
There were two Shivaganas (Shiva's army who live in [[Kailash]]): 'Malyavan' and 'Pushpadanta'. Though they are Siva Ganas they always quarrel with each other and fight for one thing or other. In one fight 'Malyavan' cursed 'Pushpadanta' to become an elephant on earth and the latter cursed the former to become a spider on earth. The elephant and the spider came to [[Thiruvanaikaval]] and continued their Siva worship. The elephant collected water from river Cauvery and conducted ablution to the ''lingam'' under the Jambu tree ([[Eugenia jambolana]], the java plum tree) daily.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Srirangam (Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu)|journal=Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend, Thames & Hudson|year=2002|location=London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson|url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/thhll/srirangam_tiruchirapalli_district_tamil_nadu/0|via=Credo|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The spider constructed his web over the ''lingam'' to prevent dry leaves from dropping on it and prevent sunlight directly falling on it. When the elephant saw the web and thought it was dust on ''lingam''. The elephant tore them and cleaned the ''lingam'' by pouring water and the practice continued daily. The spider became angry one day 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 an elephant worshipped Siva here, this place came to be known as Thiru Aanai Kaa (''thiru'' means holy, ''aanai'' is elephant, ''kaa'' (''kaadu'') means forest).<ref name="Ayyar"/> Later the name 'Thiruaanaikaa' become 'Thiruvanaikaval' and 'Thiruvanaikoil'.

As an outcome of having committed a sin by killing the elephant, in the next birth, the spider was born as the [[Kochchenganan|King Kochengot Chola]] (kotchengannan cholan meaning red-eyed king) and built 70 temples and this temple is the one among them.<ref name="Ayyar"/> The account of the Chola building seventy temples along with this temple is mentioned in [[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]].<ref name=Diwakar>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Macherla|last=Diwakar|location=Chennai|year=2011|edition=1st|page=150|isbn=978-93-83440-34-4|publisher=Techno Book House}}</ref> Remembering his enmity with the elephant in his previous birth, he built the Siva ''Sannathi'' (sanctorum) such that not even a small elephant can enter. The entrance on the sanctorum of Jambukeswara is only {{convert|4|ft|m|order=flip}} high and {{convert|2.5|ft|m|order=flip}} wide.<ref name="Ayyar"/>

== Architecture ==
[[File:Jambukeswarar 01.jpg|left|thumb|View of the temple Complex]]
[[File:Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple --252x300.jpg|thumb|View of the temple entrance]]
The massive outer wall covering the fifth precinct, known as the ''Vibudi Prakara'', stretches over {{convert|1|mi|km|order=flip}} and is {{convert|2|ft|m|order=flip}} thick and over {{convert|25|ft|m|order=flip}} high.<ref name="Hastings"/><ref name="hunter">[[#Hunter|Hunter 1908]], pp. 109-110</ref> Legend maintains that the wall was built by Shiva himself, disguised as a laborer and working with the human laborers.<ref name="Ayyar"/> The fourth precinct contains a hall with 796 pillars and measures {{convert|2436|ft|m|order=flip}} by {{convert|1493|ft|m|order=flip}}.<ref name="imperialgazetteer1908v28p29"/> It also has a small tank fed by perpetual springs.<ref name="hunter"/> The third enclosure is {{convert|745|ft|m|order=flip}} by {{convert|197|ft|m|order=flip}} surrounded a wall {{convert|30|ft|m|order=flip}} high. This area has two ''gopurams'' (gateway towers) {{convert|73|ft|m|order=flip}} and {{convert|100|ft|m|order=flip}} tall, a coconut ''thoppu'' and a small water tank.<ref name="imperialgazetteer1908v28p29"/> The second enclosure is {{convert|306|ft|m|order=flip}} by {{convert|197|ft|m|order=flip}}, a ''gopuram'' {{convert|65|ft|m|order=flip}} high and several small shrines.<ref name="imperialgazetteer1908v28p29"/> The inner most enclosure measuring {{convert|126|ft|m|order=flip}} by {{convert|123|ft|m|order=flip}} has the sanctum.<ref name="imperialgazetteer1908v28p29">[[#Imperial Gazetteer of India|Imperial Gazetteer of India]], pp. 28-29</ref>

{{multiple image
| caption_align = center
| header_align = center
| align = left
| total_width = 350
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Tiruvanaikaval4.jpg
| image3 = Tiruvanaikaval9.jpg
| footer = Images of various gateway towers in the temple
}}
The sanctum sanctorum is a square structure, found independently situated at the center of the innermost enclosure. There is a [[vimana (tower)|vimana]] on the roof of the sanctum. The structure is open on three sides, with a shallow moat separating it from the circumambulatory path of the innermost enclosure. The sthala-vriksham, or holy tree here is the White [[Jambuka]] (Tamil: வெண் நாவல் மரம்) ([[Syzygium cumini]]), found growing along the south-eastern wall of the sanctum sanctorum. The trunk of the tree is protected by a walled structure. The western side of the sanctum, from where the deity is viewed, is continuous with a large closed hall, the Mukha Mantapa, containing four-pillars and housing a bronze idol of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]. The Mukha Mantapa has a large, ornate western door gilded with silver that forms the principal entrance. There are two additional entrances to the Mukha Mantapa on the southern and North Eastern sides as well. A set of three steps descend to the level of the sanctum sanctorum from the Mukha Mantapa.
The deity is viewed through a stone window that forms an integral part of the western face of the sanctum sanctorum. The window has nine viewing apertures, believed to represent the [[Navagraha]]. There is a panel in bas-relief over the window depicting the sthala puranam: The jambuka tree growing out of the meditating sage Jambu's head on the extreme right; the linga of Jambukeswarar under the tree; a spider and an elephant worshiping the [[lingam|linga]] along with the Goddess [[Parvati]] who stands to the left of the linga. The sanctum sanctorum is divided into the Ardha Mantapam or Antaralam (whose western wall bears the window) and the [[Garbhagriha|Garbha Griha]] where the deity of Jambukeswarar is housed. Entrance into the Sanctum is through a small door on the southern wall, about {{convert|4|ft|m|order=flip}} in height. The Ardha Mantapa is about {{convert|4|ft|m|order=flip}} X {{convert|4|ft|m|order=flip}} and contains an idol of Goddess Parvati on the right side of the door to the Garbha Griha. Devotees are admitted in groups of six into the Ardha Mantapa during sevas like Abhishekam or on payment of a small fee. The Garbha Griha is a wider structure compared to the Ardha Mantapa. At the center, the Brahma Sthana, is the self-manifested linga of Jambukeswarar. The upper conical part of the linga is of the color of copper, whereas the yoni-bhaga or the pedestal is of black granite. A brass ring is seen at the point of attachment of the linga to the pedestal. The height of the linga is about {{convert|3|ft|m|order=flip}} from the floor of the sanctum. The Garbha Griha and the Ardha Mantapa are unadorned from the inside, the only source of illumination within the sanctum being ghee lamps.
A stream of water (a water spring from the Kaveri river) emerges from the linga, which is usually demonstrated as the soaking wet clothes in which it is draped. The water flow increases significantly during the Monsoon.
The main deity of the temple is [[Jambukeswara]], representing the element water. Jambukeswara is depicted sitting under a [[jambul|jambu]] tree, which grows over a small stream that engulfs the deity during the rainy season. The temple is also considered the abode of goddess [[Akilandeswari]], one of the forms of the goddess Parvati. The greatest of works related to this temple include Tiruvanaikaval and [[Kilvelur]] Akshyalingaswamy temple.

=== Goddess Akilandeshwari's shrine ===
{{see also|Akilandeswari}}
[[File:Siva Lingam at Jambukesvara temple in Srirangam.JPG|200x200px|left|thumb|A lingam inside the temple]]
The temples idols are installed opposite to each other - Such temples are known as ''Upadesa Sthalams''. As Akhilandeshwari (Parvati) was like a student and Jambukeswara (Shiva) like a [[Guru]] (teacher) in this temple, there is no ''Thiru Kalyanam'' (marriage) conducted in this temple for Shiva and Parvathi, unlike the other Shiva temples. The sanctum of the goddess Akilandeshwari and the sanctum of Prasanna [[Ganesha|Vinayaka]] are in the shape of the ''pranava manthra'' called "[[Om|Aum]]" in Tamil script. It is believed that the Amman in the temple was in deep anger hence during one of [[Adi Shankara]]'s visits he installed the Prasanna [[Ganapathy]] idol right opposite to her sanctum and installed a pair of [[Sri Chakra]] thaatankas (ear-rings) to reduce her anger.<ref name="Ayyar"/>

The sculpture of [[Ekapada|Ekapada Trimurti]], an aspect of Shiva with the deities [[Vishnu]] and [[Brahma]] emerging from it, is present in the temple, which can be seen only in [[Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvottiyur]].<ref name="tourist"/><ref name="Ayyar"/>

There are lot of inscriptions from various [[Chola dynasty|Chola kings]] from 11th - 12th century indicating grants to the temple.<ref name="Ayyar"/> The temple was widely expanded by [[Hoysala]] king, Someswara, the son of Vira Narasimha.<ref name="hoy"/> During 1236-37 CE, he built a lot of shrines namely Vallaliswara, Padumalisvara, Vira Narasingeswara and Somleswara evidently named after his grandfather Ballalla II, grandmother Padmaladevei, father Vira Narasimha and aunt Somala Devi.<ref name="hoy">[[#Yadava|Yadava 2006]], p. 103</ref> The 7-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'' is also believed to have constructed by the Hoysala king.<ref name="hoy"/> There are separate shrines beyond the temple compound namely ''Aadhi'' having a typical structure as the main shrines. The temple and its pagodas were subject to frequent conquest between French and English forces between 1751 and 1755 CE.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=749}} The temple is being widely maintained by [[Vellalars]] and the [[Nattukottai Chettiar|Nattukottai Nagarathar]]s during the 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref>[[#ASI|Archaeological Survey of India 1902–03]], p. 20</ref>

==Religious significance==

[[Pancha Bhoota Stalam|Pancha Bhoota Sthalam]] ([[Sanskrit]]: पञ्चभूतस्थलानि ''Pañcabhūtasthalāni'') refers to the five Shiva temples,<ref name="Ramaswamy">[[#Ramaswamy|Ramaswamy 2007]], pp. 301-302</ref> each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature - space, air, fire, water, earth.<ref>''A dictionary, Canarese and English''William Reeve, Daniel Sanderson</ref> ''Pancha'' indicates five, ''Bhoota'' means elements and ''Sthala'' means place. All these temples are located in [[South India]] with four of these temples at [[Tamil Nadu]] and one at [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five ''[[lingams]]''<ref name="Ramaswamy" /> and each of the ''lingams'' representing Shiva in the temple have five different names based on the elements they represent. In the Thiruvaanaikaval temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of water (Appu Lingam). The other four manifestations are Prithivi Lingam (representing land) at [[Ekambareswarar Temple (Kanchipuram)|Ekambareswarar Temple]],<ref name="Knapp">[[#Knapp|Knapp 2005]], p. 121</ref> Akasa Lingam (representing sky)<ref name="Ramaswamy"/> at [[Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram]],<ref name="Knapp" /> Agni Lingam (representing fire)<ref name="M.K.V.">[[#M.K.V.|M.K.V 2007]], p. 37</ref> at [[Annamalaiyar Temple]]<ref name="Knapp" /> and Vayu Lingam (representing air) at [[Srikalahasti Temple]].<ref name="Knapp" /><ref>[[#Bajwa|Bajwa 2007]], p. 271</ref>

==Culture==
In the third enclosure, there is a coconut grove having a small tank where the processional idol of the neighbouring [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Sriranganathaswamy Temple]] was used to be brought one day a year. As the goddess [[Akilandeswari|Akhilandeshwari]] worshipped her husband Lord Shiva in this temple, even today at noon the 'Archakar' (chief priest) dresses like a female and does [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] to Jambukeswara and [[Cattle|Cow]].<ref name="tourist"/> The noon pooja is very famous and a host of pilgrims attend it every day. A special variety of black cow, called ''Karum Pasu'' is used for the occasion. ''Annabhishekam'' to ''lingam'' (ablution with cooked rice) is a daily ritual performed in the temple. The temple is one of the hosts for the annual [[Natyanjali]], a festival of [[classical Indian dance]]. The temple has also a school for training [[nadhaswaram]], a classical pipe instrument in Tamil Nadu.

There is a legend that [[Parvati]] as Akhilandeshwari worshipped Shiva here and installed the idol in the sanctum. Following the legend, a priest performs the [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] every day. It is believed that the saint [[Adi Shankara]] offered ear rings with a [[Sri Yantra]] carving on it to goddess Akhilandeshwari. There are a total of nine waterbodies associated with the temple.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|pages=22–23}}</ref>

[[Muthuswamy Dikshitar]], the 18th century composer of [[Carnatic music]], is said to have composed a song on the presiding deity of Jambukeshwar and three songs on the presiding deity of Akhilandeshwari in the Jambukeshwarar Temple here.
{| class="wikitable"
!''[[Kriti (music)|Kriti]]''!!''[[Raga]]''!!''[[Tala (music)|Tala]]''
|-
|''Jambupathe Mam Pahi''||''[[Yamunakalyani]]''||''Tisra Ekam''
|-
|''Akhilandeshwari Rakshamam''||''[[Jaijaivanti|Dwijavanti]]''||''[[Adi tala]]''
|-
|''Akhilandeshwaryai Namaste''||''[[Arabhi]]''||''[[Adi tala]]''
|-
|''Sri Mataha Shiva Vamanke''||''Begada''||''[[Adi tala]]''
|}

[[File:Thiruvanaikaval.jpg|thumb|The Thiruvanaikaval Ther (Car festival), carying the processional idol of Jambukeswarar.]]

==Administration==
The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tnhrce.org/hrce_act_1959.html |title=Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 |access-date=3 August 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206095720/http://www.tnhrce.org/hrce_act_1959.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Srirangam Jambukeshwara temple 4.jpg|The second precinct of the temple
File:Srirangam Jambukeshwara temple 1.jpg|The second precinct of the temple
File:Srirangam Jambukeshwara Temple 2.jpg|The gateway of the temple
File:Srirangam Jambukeshwara temple 3.jpg|A sculpture inside the walls of the temple
Image:tiruvannaikkaval4.jpg|The Towering Rajagopuram with one of the Temple Cars
File:Indien Sriramgam Jambukeshwara Kirtimukha Halsbandsittich.JPG|Thiruvanaikaval Kirtimukha top of gopuram with a [[Rose-ringed parakeet|ring-necked parakeet]] sitting next to it
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated |year=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=tiruverumbur+temple&pg=PA248|ref=Ayyar}}
*{{cite book |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |title=Historical dictionary of the Tamils |year=2007|publisher=Scarecrow Press, INC.|location=United States|isbn=978-0-470-82958-5|ref=Ramaswamy}}
*{{cite book |last=Knapp |first=Stephen |title=The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination |year=2005|publisher=iUniverse |location=NE |isbn= 978-0-595-35075-9|ref=Knapp}}
*{{cite book |last=M.K.V. |first=Narayan |title=Flipside of Hindu Symbolism: Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism |year=2007 |publisher=Fultus Corporation |location=California |isbn=978-1-59682-117-0|ref=M.K.V.}}
*{{cite book |last=Bajwa |first=Jagir Singh |author2=Ravinder Kaur |title=Tourism Management |year=2007|publisher=S.B. Nangia |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-313-0047-3|ref=Bajwa}}
*{{cite book |last=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu |title=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu|year=2007|publisher=T. Krishna Press |location=Chennai |isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGxbJqdEQrwC&q=thiruvanaikaval&pg=PA76|ref=Tourist}}
*{{cite book |last=Hunter|first=Sir William Wilson |title=Imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 23|year=1908|publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=635DAAAAYAAJ&q=jambukeswaram&pg=PA109|ref=Hunter}}
*{{cite book |last=Yadava|first=S.D.S. |title=Followers of Krishna: Yadavas of India|year=2006|publisher=Lancer Publishers and Distributors |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-7062-216-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p69GMA226bgC&q=jambukeswaram&pg=PA103|ref=Yadava}}
*{{cite book |last=Archaeological Survey of India |author2=G. R. Thursby |title=Annual report of the Archaeological Department, Southern Circle, Madras|year=1903|publisher=Government Press |location=Madras |ref=ASI}}
*{{Cite EB1911|editor-last=Chisholm |editor-first=Hugh |date=1911 |wstitle= Srirangam |volume= 25 | page= 749; see penultimate line |quote= Not far distant is the smaller but more beautiful Jambukeswaram, a temple dedicated to Siva.}}
*{{cite book |title= Encyclopædia of religion and ethics, Volume 8|year=1916|first=James|last= Hastings|author2=John Alexander Selbie |author3=Louis Herbert Gray |isbn=9780567065087 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5D4TAAAAYAAJ&q=jambukeswaram&pg=PA475|ref=Hastings}}
*{{cite book |title= Imperial Gazetteer of India |volume=5|year=1881|first=W.W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14kIAAAAQAAJ&q=jambukeswaram&pg=PA28|last=Hunter}}
{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Sri Jambukeshwara Temple}}

{{Tiruchirappalli}}
{{Shaivism}}
{{Shiva temples}}
{{Temples_around Tiruchirappalli}}

[[Category:Shakti temples]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Tiruchirappalli district]]
[[Category:Pancha Bhoota Stalam]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:Maadakkoil]]
[[Category:Chola architecture]]
[[Category:Dravidian architecture]]

[[ca:Thiruvanaikaval]]
[[es:Thiruvanaikaval]]
[[hi:अकिलन्देश्वरी मन्दिर, तिरुवनैकवल]]

Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval - Revision history

ErinChamberlin3 at 15:37, 28 February 2026