Thread by @sk_diary1

Legend of the Sri Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari #Temple of Thiruvanaikoil
in a #sculpture
#storytimethread - 3 stories depicted

1-Devi Parvati mocked at Shiva’s penance for World betterment.Shiva wanted to condemn her act ,so directed her to go to the earth & do penance.

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Devi Parvathi(Akilandeswari) as per Shiva’s wish went to Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikoil) to do her penance.
Devi made a Lingam out of water of river Cauvery under ‘Venn' White Naaval tree( on top of Rishi Jambu) & worshipped. So, Lingam is known as Appu(Water) Lingam.

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Siva at last gave darshan to Akilandeswari & taught her Gnana.Devi &Shiva were like a Student n Guru in this temple,so no marriage conducted.Noon pooja is very famous - the ‘Archakar’(priest) dresses like a female( Akilandeswari) -does Pooja to Bhagwan Shiva in this temple.

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2-Two Siva Ganas -Malyavan & Pushpadanta-always quarrel with each other &fight for one thing or other.They
cursed each other to be elephant & spider.They both came to Jambu forest & continued to worship Shiva.Elephant performed Abhishek n puja to linga under Jambu tree daily.
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Spider constructed web over the linga to prevent dry leaves from dropping on it & prevent Sunlight directly felling on Shiva.
When elephant saw the web,thought that as dust on linga & tore them, cleaned Linga by pouring water.This happened daily. So Spider became angry.

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Spider crawled into trunk of the elephant and bit the elephant to death killing itself. Siva, moved by devotion of the two relieved them from curse.
As an elephant worshipped Shiva here, this place is known as Thiruanaikaval (Thiru , Aanai–Elephant, Kaa (Kaadu) – Forerst)
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3-Rishi Jambu who worshiped Shiva here. Shiva gave darshan & offered him a Naaval fruit (blackberry) as prasad. While consuming prasad,rishi swallowed seeds too as he thought it a sin.The seeds began to grow into a tree ,pierced his head thus leading to his salvation.

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Rishi Jambu prayed to Shiva that he should take his abode under that tree. Shiva accepted.Lingam is placed under the Venn naaval tree in this temple. Even today we can see that tree.So linga is called Jambukeshwara & the place is
called as Jambukeshwaram.
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All photos/pictures credit in this thread to respective owners.
Source text - dharisanam website
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Do read this #sculpture #storytimethread - About Jambukeswara #Temple, Thiruvanaikoil,Trichy,TN
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