Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Sthala Puranam

Two attendants of Shiva, Malyavan and Pushpadanta, quarrelled and cursed each other. One was born as an elephant and the other as a spider.

The elephant bathed the lingam daily with water from the Kaveri. The spider spun a web over the lingam to keep off leaves and sun. The elephant thought the web was dirt and tore it down. The angry spider killed the elephant and died too.

Shiva freed both from the curse. The place is called Thiru-aanai-kaa, 'the sacred forest of the elephant'.

Another story says Parvati made a lingam of Kaveri water under a venn naaval (white jambu) tree and worshipped it. This is the Appu Lingam.

Speciality

• Appu (water) lingam among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams. A water spring flows from the sanctum, and it rises in the monsoon.
• Akilandeswari is a famous Goddess shrine here.
• At the noon (Uchikala) puja the priest dresses as a woman, as if the Goddess herself worships Shiva. A black cow called Karum Pasu is part of the ritual.
• Natyanjali dance festival is held here.

Sthala Vriksham (sacred tree)

Jambu / Venn Naaval (Syzygium cumini)

Festivals

• Natyanjali dance festival
• Annabhishekam (offering of cooked rice to the lingam)

How to reach

Before you go

• Dress modestly. Leave footwear outside the temple.
• Timings, ticket rules and dress codes change. Check the temple's own notice or website before you travel.
• Book darshan, rooms and special poojas only at the official counter or website, not through agents.
• Combine with Srirangam, the Ranganathaswamy temple, which is very close.

Prayers for this temple

• Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
• Shiva Gayatri (Rudra)