Appu Lingam Sametha Sri Akilandeswari in Jambukeswaram

Akilandeswari:-

Akilandeswari temple at Thiruvanaikaval in Tamil Nadu is dedicated to goddess Akilandeswari, which is one of the forms of Goddess Parvati. According to legend Goddess Parvati was sent to earth to do a penance by Lord Shiva. She had offended the Lord and to win back his affection she had made a lingam known as “Appu Lingam” and started worshipping daily. Lord Shiva was pleased with her devotion and forgave her.

There is perennial oozing of water from under neath Sivalinga in the sanctum Sanctorum, which is emptied at regular intervals.

Lord Siva is said to have sat under a Jambu tree and done penance to have the darshan of Lord Vishnu in order to get rid of the sin of Brahmahatya(killing of a repository of Vedas).
Akilandeswari, the Mother of the Universe, is said to have worshipped the Lord in this temple.  Symbolically even today, at noon the priest, dressed in a saree, performs pooja to sri Jambukeswara.

It is said Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada consecrated the Thatanga(earrings) Chakra, now adorning the ears of the Devi.  Sri Adi Sankara installed a Ganapathy Vigraha in front of Sri Akilandeswari and this contained her Ugrakalai-malignant aspects.

Jambukeswaram (known as Tiruvanaikkaval in Tamil), a place of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu. It is on the northern bank of the river Cauvery and 5 K.M. north of Trichy. The temple is one of the largest (having a spread of nearly 18 acres) and historic temples
in the country. It dates back to the 13th century and has been visited by the great saivaite saints who had sung hymns on the presiding deity - Lord Shiva in the temple. It seems that the temple was once a forest of jambu trees and there was a Shiva linga under one of the trees. So Shiva came to be known as Jambunatha or Jambukeswara. This is a Shiva temple associated with one of the five great elements.

The Lord after eating the fruit spitted the seed. Jambu Munivar took and swallowed the seed, as it is sacred as the seed came from the Lord’s mouth. Immediately a 'Naaval' tree began to grow in the Saint's head. The Saint prayed to Lord Siva that He should take his abode under that tree.

The temple was restored during the Vijayanagar rule and the worship also revived. The goddess Parvathi in the temple has the name Akilandeswari. She is said to have meditated on lord Shiva here. Her shrine is very famous and attracts large number of visitors. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have visited the temple and worshipped the Lord and goddess here. Legend. As said earlier the Shiva lingam was under a jambu tree. Two devotees of Shiva were born as a spider and an elephant in the forest due to a curse. Both were regularly worshipping the lord in their own way. The spider would weave a web over the lingam to protect it from the falling leaves. The elephant brought flowers and water in its trunk for bathing the lingam before offering the flowers. But it would clear off the web the spider has built first. This act angered the spider very much. Soon a fierce fight broke out between the two resulting in the death of both. Pleased with their devotion Lord Shiva appeared before them and blessed them. Shince Shiva was worshipped by an elephant (aanai in Tamil) here the place is called Aanaikkaa.



Devi Parvati as a student:-

Lord Siva at last gave dharshan to Akilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnana. Devi Parvati took 'Upadesa' (lessons) facing East from Shiva, who stood facing West. So as the temples idols are also installed in the same direction. Such places are known as 'Upadesa Sthalams'.
As the Devi was like a student and the Lord like a Guru in this temple, there is no 'Thiru Kalyanam' (marriage) conducted in this temple for Lord & the Devi, unlike the other Shiva temples. As Akilandeswari worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple, even today at noon the 'Archakar' (priest) dresses like a female and does Pooja to Lord Shiva and 'Ko Maatha' (Cow).
This noon Pooja is very famous and pilgrims wait for this Pooja every day. Annabhishekam to Lingam (Abishekam with cooked rice) is a daily ritual at Thiruvanaikoil.


The Story of Elephant and Spider:-

'Malyavan' and 'Pushpadanta' were two Siva Ganas (Siva's disciples who live in Kailash). They always quarreled with each other and fight for one thing or other. During a quarrel 'Malyavan' cursed 'Pushpadanta' to become an elephant in earth and the 'Pushpadanta' cursed the 'Malyavan' to become a spider in earth.
Both the elephant and the spider came to Jambukeshwaram and continued their Shiva worship. The elephant collected water from river Cauvery and conducted Abhishekam to the lingam under the Jambu tree daily. The spider constructed his web over the lingam to prevent dry leaves from dropping on it and prevent Sunlight directly felling on Shiva.
The elephant saw the web constructed by the spider and thought that as dust on Lord Shiva and tore them and cleaned the Lingam by pouring water. This happened daily. The spider became angry one day and crawled into the trunk of the elephant and bit the elephant to death killing itself. Lord Siva, moved by the deep devotion of the two relieved them from their curses.

In the next birth the Spider was born as the King Ko Chengot Chola and built 70 temples and Thiruvanaikoil is the one among them. Remembering his enmity with the elephant in his previous birth, he built the Lord Shiva ‘Sannathi’(Sanctorum) such that not even a small elephant can enter. The entrance on the sanctorum of Lord Shiva is only 4 foot high and 2.5 foot wide.

Idol:-

The goddess of this temple is 'Akilandeswari' ('Amman'). The Amman is also called as Akilandanyaki. Akilandeswari is pronounced as 'Akilam - Aanda – Eswari' (Akilam – Universe, Aanda – Ruler, Eswari – Goddess).

Legend of the temple in a Sculpture in a Pillar in the temple:-

Lord Siva at last gave darshan to Akilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnana. Devi Parvati took 'Upadesa' (lessons) facing East from Shiva, who stood facing West. So as the temples idols are also installed in the same direction. Such places are known as 'Upadesa Sthalams'. As the Devi was like a student and the Lord like a Guru in this temple, there is no 'Thiru Kalyanam' (marriage) conducted in this temple for Lord & the Devi, unlike the other Shiva temples.
As Akilandeswari worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple, even today at noon the 'Archakar' (priest) dresses like a female and does Pooja to Lord Shiva and 'Go Maatha' (Cow). This noon pooja is very famous and pilgrims wait for this pooja every day. For the purpose of this pooja the temple is growing a 'Karam Pasu' (complete black color cow). Annabhishekam to Lingam (Abishekam with cooked rice) is a daily ritual at Thiruvanaikoil.

 It is said Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada consecrated the Thotongo (earrings) Chakra, now adorning the ears of the Devi. Sri Adi Sankara installed a Ganapathy Vigraha in front of Sri Akilandeswari and this contained her Ugrakalai -- malignant aspects .

Appu Lingam:-

This is Appu or water linga among the five lingas dedicated to five elements. -Pancha Bootha Kshetras There is perennial oozing of water from underneath the Shivalinga in the Sanctum sanctorum which is emptied at regular intervals.
As this temple represents water this is also called as 'Appu Sthalam' and the Shiva lingam ('Swami') here is called as 'Appu Lingam'.
Goddess Parvati made a Lingam out of water of river Cauvery (also called as river 'Ponni').
The Shiva Lingam is placed under the Venn naaval tree in this temple. Even today one can see that Venn Naaval tree at the temple, which is said to be many hundred years old.

Temple:-

Chola King “Ko Chengot Cholan” (He is also called as Chenkannan) constructed this temple in 1st Century B.C. Ko Chengot Chola had built 70 other Shiva temples all over Tamil Nadu and he is one among the 63 “Nayannmars” (Holy Saivite saints). Thiruvanaikoil temple was built according to ‘Saiva Aagama Sasthra’. According to Saiva Agamam, the temple reflects the human body and the idol of Lord Shiva is considered as the soul. Many other kings like Pandiyas and Nayakars of Madurai later renovated this temple.

The 2nd and 3rd praharams were built in 13th century A.D. and the 4th Praharam was constructed in the late 13th century A.D.

There is eight other “Kodi Maram” (flag masts) in this temple in the 3rd praharam. Apart from the main huge “Kodi Maram” in front of the Lord and one in front of Devi Akilandeswari. Thiruvanaikoil temple was built in an area close to 18 acres and measures 2500 feet by 1500 feet. The temple has five “Praharams”. All the temple “Madhils” (wall) are 35 ft. high and 6 ft. thick and measures 2436 feet by 1493 feet. The “Swami” (Shivalinga) is installed facing West and “Ambaal” (Akilandeswari) facing East.
The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and has five concentric walls and seven gopurams. It is built around a Siva lingam partly submerged in water that comes from a spring in the sanctum sanctorum. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple. The complex was built in the same time when Sri Ranganathaswamy temple was also built.

There are many mandapams in the temple, a 1000 Pillar, on the North West corner of the 3rd praharam and a 100 Pillar Mandapam on the North East corner of the 3rd Praharam, Vasanta mandapam (The mandapam is surrounded by pool of water where Lord Shiva and Goddess Akilandeswari are worshipped on summer evenings), Somaskandha mandapam, Nataraja mandapam, Trimurthi mandapam, etc. The thousand-pillared mandapam looks like a chariot.

Gopurams Raja Gopuram:-

This is the Gopuram in the West 5th Praharam (the main entrance). The other 3 entrances of 5th praharam have no Gopurams.

Sundarapandiyan Gopuram:-

The East Gopuram on the 4th praharam. Pandiya King Jadavarman Sundarapandian constructed this.

Mallappan Gopuram:-

This is the West Gopuram in the 4th Praharam. King Sandhirabendiran son of King AdhithayDevan built this in 1435 A.D.

There are nine Theerthams in this temple, all of which held very sacred.

Legend behind king’s red eyes:-

There was a story behind the king’s red eyes – When he was in his mother’s womb the palace astrologer predicted a sacred time to give birth to enable the newborn’s well being. The queen went into labor early, before the time predicted by the astrologer. The queen hence told the servant to hang her upside down for the time to come so that she could have a wise and virtuous son who could head the kingdom righteously. This waiting time inside the womb made the baby’s eyes red. After becoming the king, he build the temple for Siva and Goddess Akilandeswari in the name of Aanaikka (elephant protected) later days it changed to Thiruvanaikovil.

How to reach:-

By Air:-
The nearest airport is at Trichy (10-km).

By Rail:-
Srirangam is an important railway junction on the meter-gauge of Southern Railway and is well connected with the towns and cities of the state.

By Road:-
Srirangam situated on the National Highway No.45 on Tiruchirapalli-Madras route is well connected by road with the major towns and cities within and beyond the state. For local transportation taxis, auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and city buses are available.

Kasi Annapoorneswari Devi Shakthi Peetam,Kasi

Kasi Annapoorneswari:-

Varanasi is one of the famous pilgrim place in India. In this place you can see Kasi Viswanath Temple. It's one of the Jyothirlingam of Lord Parama Shiva, Annapurna Devi and you can see the goddess Parvathi Sakthi Peeta of Sri Kasi Visalakshi, the goddess sathi devi organ wrist has fell down in this area. People believes that Lord Parama Shiva has lived in this Varanasi. There are nearly 300 ghats in this location. Varanasi (Kashi, Banaras) has also been a great center of learning for ages. The city is very famous for Banaras Sarees. Among the mukthi sthal of Kasi, it is considered the holiest place due to the combination of Lord Parama shiva, Goddesses Annapoorna Devi, Kasi Visalkshi and River Ganga. In Hindu tradition, people strongly believes that whoever give up their life in Kasi attains Moksha.
The word ‘Anna’ means food and grains and ‘Purna’ means full or complete. It is believed that by worshiping this goddess one will never be out of food anytime in life. She is a form (avatar) of the Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and resides atop of Mount Annapurna. She is depicted with a jewelled vessel containing food in one hand and a spoon in the other to distribute the food to her devotees. Lord Shiva is normally depicted as begging for food to her with his skull begging bowl. Mata Sri Annapurneshwari Devi is the Goddess for the fourth day of Durga Navrathri. Goddess Annapoorna Devi (Bhavani Devi) is also the Supreme Goddess of the city of Kasi (now known as Varanasi), the city where moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth) could be attained. She is also referred to as ‘the Queen of Varnasi’.
The Birthday of this Goddess is observed as Annapurna Jayanti. This day falls on Margashirsha Purnima, the full moon day which falls in the month of Margashirsh.
Kasi is the place which helps the physical body to manifest consciousness to its highest level. Even Lord Shiva had begged alms from Goddess Annapurna. She is the supreme energy of Lord Shiva for achieving perfection in knowledge and renunciation. Annapurna is another form of Goddess Parvati who grants nourishment. She is the life force of Shiva. He is incomplete without Goddess Annapurna. To attain perfection in wisdom and renunciation, Shiva seeks her nourishment.

Her understanding teaches us that mysticism is about giving. The renunciation she teaches allows us to be in equability in every situations of life. Celestial Mother Annapurna nurtures us each day by giving us food for our bodies as well as sustaining our breathing and our lives in so many ways. We have to thank her for that entire she has given us in the earlier period and persists to do so in the current and will do, if it be her will in the future. It is a gorgeous gift to have the blessings of the mother, so have to thank Divine Mother from our heart.

Mother Annapurna inspires us to nourish others, to give our best, consistent in the wisdom that the greatest joy comes from renunciation. As we can free ourselves from attachment we experience more and more of the bliss of Sankara, the name of Shiva which literally means the cause of peace.


History of Annapoorneswari:-

Shiva and Parvati often played Dice in their conjugal abode on Mount Kailasa . Once to make the game more exciting and interesting, Shiva asked Parvati to bet her Jewels and he betted his trident. If he won, he would get Parvati’s jewels. If Parvati won, she would get Shiva’s trident. But Parvati won the game and Shiva lost his trident to her. Not to give up so easily, Shiva now betted his serpent in the next game. That also he lost to Parvati.

Then in a bid to win the consequent games that followed, he kept wagering all his possessions – his skull bowl, his rudraksha beads, his ash, his drum, his smoking pipe and even his loin cloth – he lost them all to Parvati in the Game of Dice.

Humiliated by his defeat, Shiva went off in seclusion to the Deodar Forest . Seeing his plight, Lord Vishnu offered to help and asked him to play again with Parvati assuring him that this time he would definitely win all the games of Dice, thus regaining back his possessions from Parvati.

So Shiva went back to Parvati and enticed her for another round of games. He won all of them but Parvati felt suspicious of Shiva’s sudden success, calling him a Cheat. Shiva outraged by the accusation, demanded an apology. It led to heated debates and hurling of insults and abuses between the couple.

Seeing their Commotion, Vishnu came to pacify them. He revealed to Parvati the secret of Shiva’s victories. He said that his spirit had entered the dice and that the dice didn’t work according to their moves but as per his wish. So neither Shiva had really won nor had Parvati actually lost. The game was an illusion and their quarrel was a product of their delusion.

On hearing Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati realised that life was like their game of dice – very unpredictable and beyond control.

Shiva told Parvati that the world is an illusion. Nature is an illusion. Matter is just a mirage, here one moment, gone the next. Even Food is just Maya.

Parvati, mother of all material things including food, lost her temper. “If I am just an illusion, let’s see how you and the rest of the world get along without me,” she said and disappeared from the world.

Her disappearance caused havoc in the cosmos. Time stood still, seasons did not change, the earth became barren and there was a terrible drought. There was no food to be found in the three worlds of Akaash, Pataal and Dharti. Gods, demons and humans kept suffering from the pangs of hunger. “Salvation makes no sense to an empty stomach”, cried the sages.

Seeing all the suffering, Parvati’s heart melted and she appeared at Kashi and set up a Kitchen. Hearing about her return, Shiva ran to her with all other hungry mendicants and presented his bowl in alms saying, “Now I realise that the material world, like the spirit, cannot be dismissed as an illusion.”

Parvati smiled and fed Shiva with her own hands.

Legend has it that Shiva made an agreement with Goddess Annapoorna that she look after life before death, ensuring that no one went hungry in the sacred city of Kasi, while he would ensure they received moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth & death). Annapoorna is Kasi's queen. She is known in the Kasi Khanda as Bhavani, the female shakti of Bhava, "Being," one of the names of Shiva. The name Annapoorna means "She of Plenteous Food." She is called the "Mother of the Three Worlds," and she promises to those who come to her what only a mother can give, naturally and freely - food.


Annapurna Devi temple:-

The most well-known temple dedicated to Goddess Annapurna is in Varanasi, U.P., India. Adjacent to the Sanctum of the Goddess is the Kasi Viswanath temple. The two are separated by only a few yards. Annapurna is regarded as the queen of Varanasi alongside her husband Vishweshwar (Shiva), the King of Varanasi.

Idol:-

Annapurna is described as holding a golden ladle adorned with various kinds of jewels in Her right hand and a vessel full of delicious porridge in Her left. She is seated on a throne.

Story:-

Sage Vyasa:-

Once, Sage Vyasa was visiting kashi and he had a difficult time getting alms in that city -he was so hungry that he got angry and put a curse obn the city that kashi will be impoverished for ever- there will be no wealth, knowledge, liberation for generations. but, sage vyasa did not give up... he continued to beg for alms till he reached a house where Shiva and Parvati had taken human form as a married couple. Parvati welcomed sage vyasa and served him a delicious feast. once sage vyasa's hunger was satisfied, he was immensely pleased - he removed the curse and said " kashi is the best place to live because one can get food and liberation at the same time."

>but lord shiva wanted to teach sage vyasa a lesson so he banished the sage from kashi.. permitting him to visit only on the eighth and fourteenth day of the fortnight, which are days reserved for the worshi[ of the Goddess and Shiva. In order tobe near at hand, Vyasa took up residence on the other side of river Ganges,where his temple may still be seen at Ramnagar.

Shankaracharya:-

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam composed by Shankaracharya is chanted by several devout Hindus around the world as a prayer for nourishment, wisdom, and renunciation. Before partaking of any food, Hindus chant the following prayer:

‘Oh Annapurna, who is always full, complete, and perfect. Beloved energy of Lord Shiva, for the attainment of perfection in wisdom and renunciation, give me alms, Parvati.

My mother is Goddess Parvati, my father is the Supreme Lord Maheswara (Shiva). My relatives are the devotees of Lord Shiva, and the three worlds are my Motherland.’

Annapoorna Devi Pooja:-

In the Annapurna stotram there is 1000 names of Annapurna Devi, which are chanted at the time of ‘Annapurna puja', which reverberates with different sounds. At the time of puja overjoyed children install the idol, women full of activity with ‘puja' preparations to men shouting instructions to workers set up pandals. And, the shiny eyes of all replicate the sense of being part of a big incident. It is mainly the puja of the women, because every woman is the ‘annapurna' in their own family. And the divine goddess put her blessings and potential to them as they can carry on their family with full vitality.


Types of Pooja:-

The place of worship is open from 04:00 am to 10:00 p.m Aarties are conducted early morning 12:00 noon & 08:30 & 10:00 p.m ,There is also annadanam daily at the temple premises in the afternoon where devotees can get free food.