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The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream and in spite of pumping water out, it is always filled with water.

Mother Ambica is praised as Akhilandeswar - Ruler and Protector of the world. This place is one of the Shakthi Peetas. It is said that Ambica performs puja to Lord during middays. The priest performing puja to Mother at this time, dresses himself in sari and wears the crown of Ambica, comes to Lord's shrine with music plays to perform the midday puja thus showing Ambica Herself praying to Lord.

He performs abishek to Lord and Gomatha (cow) and returns to Ambica shrine.It is also said that Mother Ambica performed penance on Lord here in the month of Aadi-July-August, hence Fridays in Aadi is celebrated grandly.Mother graces as Mahalakshmi in the morning, as Parvathi in the afternoon and as Saraswathi in the evening.

There are no doors in the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Jambukeswara but a stone window with nine holes. Devotees have to worship the Lord through these holes only. The nine holes of the window represent the nine outlets in the human body which we have to keep under control while worshipping Lord Shiva.

While traditionally Annabishek is performed on the full moon day in Aipasi-October-November, the ritual is followed here on the full moon day in Vaikasi-May-June. On the Aipasi Poornima-full moon day Lord is covered with sacred ash.Lord played a miracle here too as He did many in Madurai. A Chola king while constructing the fifth corridor-prakara of the temple, had to meet his enemy in war.

Though duty compelled him to go to war, his mind was in the temple construction and with Lord. Lord Shiva came to the place in the guise of Vibhuti Chitthar and completed the work. Hence, this prakara is named Vibhuti Prakara and the walls around as Tiruneetran Tirumadhil. In the early days, Mother Ambica was in a frurious form. To control the fury, generally a Sri Chakra installed at the feet of the Goddess.

Of the Shiva Ganas serving Lord in Kailash, two of them, Pushpadanda and Maliavan began to fight with each other to decide their rank in the service of Lord. At a stage, they cursed each other to be born as a spider and elephant.

Maliavan was born as spider and Pushpadanda the elephant. Both prayed here for relief but not without fighting each other. The spider entered into the ear of the elephant to kill it. Lord Shiva granted salvation to elephant only and made the spider to be born again for its attempt to murder.

Spider was born to Chola king Subaveda and queen Kamalavathi. He was the Chola king then as Kochengat Chozhan. He built Mada temples to Lord Shiva in which elephants cannot enter. He also renovated this temple preventing entry of elephants. There is a shrine for this king in the temple. It is also noteworthy that Wedding Festival (Tiru Kalyanam) is not celebrated in the temple.

Lord Muruga appears furiously on the banks of Jambu. Theertha with a demon under His feet. Saint Arunagiriar prayed to Him that he should be protected from thoughts of lust etc. Lord Muruga has thus a demon under His feet personifying lust. This is a very rare form of Lord Muruga.

Temple Timings:

The temple is opened from 5.30 a.m. to 1.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Temple Festivals:

Panguni Brahmmotsavam in March-April and Aadi Pooram and Fridays in July-August are the festivals elaborately celebrated in the temple.

Thiruvanaikal is one of the five major Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu (Panchabhoota Sthalams) representing the Mahabhuta or five great elements,this temple represents the element of water.

Mother Maha Saraswathi graces the devotees from behind the Lord's shrine in a standing form but without Veena. Nearby is Chandra the Moon with Karthika and Rohini. Other important shrines are that of Lord Panchamukha Vinayaka (with five faces) and Sani Baghwan with Jeshtadevi.

Kubera Linga worshipped by Kubera is on the bank of Jambu Theertham to whom abishek is performed with three fruits-plantain, mango and jack on Aani Poornima day-full moon in June-July.

Devotees pray for unity among husband and wife, for good matches for virgins, high yield in farming and for plenty of water for living.

Mother Ambica was born as a human as directed by Lord Shiva. She made a Shiva Linga with the waters of River Cauvery. Lord appeared on the Linga and granted darshan to Mother. This is a miracle place. Of the Pancha Bhudas, the place became Appu sthala-water sthala.

A sage Jambu by name performed penance in this place on Lord Shiva. Lord granted darshan to the sage and offered Naaval fruit (called blackberry) as Prasad. While consuming the Prasad, the sage swallowed the seeds too as he thought it a sin to spit the seeds.

Reaching the stomach of the Rishi, the seeds began to grow into a tree and pierced his head thus leading to his salvation. Naaval is called Jambu in Sanskrit. The Water Linga created by Mother Ambica is under this tree. As Lord granted salvation to Sage Jambu, He is praised as Jambukeswarar.

Do's:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.