| Description:
This Shivastalam is one of the 7 Saptastanam Temples of Tiruvanaikkaval.
Shiva here is referred to as Aranya Vitankar. This temple is located 20 km away from
Tiruchirappalli & about 5 km from Bhikshandar Kovil. It is
considered to be the 61st in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola
kingdom located north of the river Kaveri. Legends:
Shiva is said to have blessed Vasishtar with a vision of the cosmic dance and the dance
hall here is known as Ratna Sabha. Shiva is said to have blessed Tirunavukkarasar
(who had arrived from Tirupachilasramam with a sumptuous meal on a banana leaf (Painneeli
- Vaazhai). It is here that Yama is believed to have worshipped Shiva, to retrieve his
power over mortal souls, after Shiva vanquished his powers at Tirukkadavur
in saving Markandeyan.
The Temple: This is a vast temple with 4 prakarams a 100 pillared
hall, and a Vinayaka Vasanta Mandapam among other mandapams.The 3rd prakaram houses
Sorudaiya Eeswarar, Viswanathar. The second prakaram houses the stalavriksham.. The
outer walls of the temple have been built with a certain variety of rock obtained locally
that has the texture of a tiger's skin. The 'Pulivarikkal' is said to have been used in
response to a devote by name Vyagrasooran who had assumed the form of a tiger.
There are 2 shrines to Ambaal here.There are no navagrahams here, only 9 pits adjacent
to the Dwajasthampam. The vast tank to the north of the temple is the Deva
Theertham, while the Vishala Theertham is a well. There is a shrine to Yama in the third
prakaram.
Inscriptions dataing from the prriod of Rajendra Cholan and his descendants are seen in
this temple.
Festivals: Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of
Chittirai.Appar's association with Shiva here is celebrated even today in the month of
Chittirai (Aries) - Avittam. |
