Thiruvanaikaval
 |
Thiruvanaikovil
Aanaikaval | |
|---|---|
  Thiruvanaikovil Location in Tiruchirapalli | |
| Coordinates: 10°51′09″N 78°42′23″E / 10.85250°N 78.70639°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Time zone | UTC+5.30 (IST) |
Thiruvanaikaval (Thiru+Aanai+kaval) or Thiruvanaikoil is a neighbourhood in the city of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated on the northern banks of the Kaveri river, on the Srirangam Island.
Description
The island [Thiruvanaikaval-Srirangam] is surrounded by river kaveri (southern) and river kollidam (northern), The Kollidam is the northern distributary of the Kaveri River. The Jambukeswarar temple is located here. The temple's presiding deity is Lord Shiva (Jambukeshwara) and the goddess is Sree Akhilandeshwari. It is revered as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalam (Water). There is a freshwater spring underneath the Shiva Linga. It is believed that Jambul fruit will be ripening every day from the tree in the temple and the same will be served for the Deity as the first offering. Sri Adi Shankara is said to have visited this shrine and has done the Tatankya (Ear Rings) Pratishtha for the goddess to ensure that she remains in a Sowmya Rupa. It is also the birthplace of the world-renowned Nobel Laureate C. V. Raman . The king who built the temple gave wages to his sculptors for building the fifth Prakara of the shrine by way of Vibhuti instead of gold coins. The entrance of the garbhagriha is so small that an elephant cannot enter inside. The Sthala Vriksha is Jamun tree. Like Meenakshi and Kamakshi temple Goddess Akhilandeshwari is famous in this temple.