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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Akshayapureeswarar Temple, Vilankulam, Thanjavur

Akshayapureeswarar Temple, Vilankulam, Thanjavur
The Akshayapureeswarar temple at Vilankulam in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and an art of the work achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture Built in 1335 AD to 1365 AD by Parakrama Pandyan in Vilankulam, it turned 700 years old.

Legends
Legend here is Lord Saneeswara worshipped Lord Shiva here on Poosam star and Tirthiyai Thidhi and Saturday for his lamed leg. While coming for the Lord Saneeswara fell down when his legs got stuck on the roots of the Vilam tree. From the place where Lord Saneeswara fell, a spring called Poosa Gyanavavi rose with force and brought Saneeswara to shore. Lord Shiva gave Dharshan to Saneeswara, blessed him with wedding and made his leg straight.

A Sidhar Poosa Marungar living in Saneeswara Loga (world) used to spill water from Sanivari Theertham to Shiva temples. It is believed that he still visit this temple daily. The Siddha has a rare power of visiting the world of Sun and the world of the Pithrus (departed ancestors) and is the Guru of the crows. It is believed that the Siddha is visiting the temple for worship daily.

Lord Saneeswara is of great importance here and gracing in the temple with His wives Jesta and Mandha called as 'Adhi Bruhat Saneeswara'. Hence this temple is a Parihara Sthalam for peoples born in Poosam Star. They are advised to visit this temple either on Poosam star or Tirthiyai Thithi or Saturday, perform Abishekam to Saneeswara with eight items and circumambulate (Pradhakshinam) temple eight times.

Combined with the names of Vila tree and the Gnanavari spring, the place came to be known as Vilankulam. Kulam is called as spring in Tamil.
Greatness of Temple
The adage goes that Poosa Padam brings friendship. Padam denotes Saturn. When his leg was affected, Saturn worshipped Akshaya Pureeswarar in the temple. This star is eighth in the list of 27 stars. Hence, they are advised to pray here on the star day or on the Akshaya Tthritiya day falling in the month of April–May for gaining all prosperity and health in life. They should also perform abishek to Sani Bhagwan with eight items as mentioned above (prayer commitment) and circumambulate the shrine eight times for lasting solutions for their problems. Even if the impact of Sani aspect would be severe, this prayer would help reduce the intensity of adverse look of the planet.

Vilankulam Saneeswara is sought by those facing debt burdens, distressed, frequent health problems, the handicapped and facing obstacles in marriage proposals. He is gracing in the temple with his consorts Jyeshta and Mandha in wedding form in the name of Aadhibruhat Saneeswara. He is all merciful in the temple. Mother Abhivruddhi Nayaki (mother granting all progress in life) ensures all development in life. There is no Navagraha shrine (shrine for 9 planets together) in the temple. Instead, Sani Bhagwan and his Father Sun grace from their respective shrines. Lord Vinayaka graces facing west. As he ensures success (Vijaya) to his devotees, He is praised as Vijaya Vinayaka.

Temple's Speciality
Sani Bhagwan (planet Saturn) graces in the temple facing south with his consorts Mandha and Jyeshta in wedding form.
Main temple
A first rectangular surrounding wall marks the outer boundary. The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses.

Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasizing the principle cult icons. The Karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge stone linga. The word Karuvarai means "womb chamber" from Tamil word karu for foetus. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner-most chamber. Sri Akshayapureeswarar Temple is one of the Abhimana Kshetram of Lord Shiva.

Presiding Deity – Sri Akshayapureeswarar with his consort Goddess Sri Abivruddha Nayaki
Sthalavruksham – Vilavruksham
Theertham - Poosa Gyanavavi

Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeswara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Lord Shaneeswara with his consorts Sri Mantha & Sri Jyeshta, Lord Surya, Bhairava, Nandhi, Lord Dakshinamurthy, Brahmma, Lingodhbava, Mother Durga, Mother Gajalakshmi, Nagar and Lord Nataraja.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. continuously.
Festivals
Mahasivarathri in February-March, Tirukarthikai in November-December and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Preferred Star
If Poosam Nakshatra people visit this temple during Saturdays along with poosam star day and Akshaya Tritiya and offering Abhishekam to Sani Bhagawan all their sorrows will disperse in air.
Prayers
Besides those belonging to Poosam star praying for removal of planetary afflictions, those handicapped and those suffering from leg pain and those facing obstacles in wedding proposals throng the temple for remedy. Poosam starrers are advised to perform abishek to Sani Bhagwan (planet Saturn) with eight objects as oil, panchamirtham, punugu a cosmetic paste, green coconut, milk, curd etc. They also have to circumambulate the shrine eight times.
Poosam starrers are advised to perform abishek to Sani Bhagwan (planet Saturn) with eight objects as oil, panchamirtham, punugu a cosmetic paste, green coconut, milk, curd etc. They also have to circumambulate the shrine eight times.
Contact
Sri Akshaya Pureeswarar Temple,
Vilankulam – 614 612, Peravurani Taluk,
Thanjavur District
Phone: +91 97507 84944, 96266 85051.
Connectivity
Vilankulam or Vilangulam is at a distance of less than 20 km from the town of Peravurani, in the district of Tanjore. You could also reach the place from the town of Pattukkottai, on the way to Rameswaram on East Coast Road. You could travel from Karaikudi or Pattukkottai to Peravurani, before you reach Vilankulam.
Vilankulam Vilakku is 30 km from Pattukkottai on the Rameswaram East Coast road. The temple is 2 km from Vilankulam Vilakku. Vilankulam can also be reached from Pudukkottai via Peravurani.
Nearest Railway Station: Peravurani
Nearest Airport: Trichy