Annamalaiyar Temple – Third Prakaram – Sthala Vriksham
(Magizha Tree)
In between the enclosure wall of the beginning of the
first prakaram on the eastern side and Thiruchutrumalikaipatti, there are three
Magizha trees on the southern second prakara. Vinayakas are seen under the Magizha
trees on the raised platform of the eastern side. Four round pillars and four
statues of Dakshinamurti stand close to a flat linga. During the Vasantha Utsava
the Linga is filled with water and flowers.
Boon cradles hanging from of cloth, and weighted with a
small stone, these pieces of cloth swing from the branches like miniature baby
cradles. They had hung there with great reverence by devotees asking for the
blessing of Lord Annamalaiyar. When the grace of the Lord is obtained, the
infant is taken to the temple. Then the cradle is removed and an offering is
made.
The Banyan Tree is the sthala vriksha (assigned tree) of
Arunachala and it is the tree that Arunagiri Yogi reportedly sat under. A young
Banyan tree is located in the Fifth Prakara. Previously there was a Banyan Tree
in the Third Compound but as the roots of that tree go very deep, to protect
the structure of the Sannidhi, 3 Magizha trees (which have shallow roots) were
planted in the Third Prakaram. It could be said that because of its central
location, that this tree (species Mimusops Elengi—Magadam Pu in Tamil) is now
regarded as the Sthala Vriksha, or Temple tree.
There are three such trees, and one of these may be about
a couple of centuries old. Devotees hang boon cradles made from cloth and
sometimes wood, from branches of the tree, when seeking the blessings of Lord
Annamalaiyar (often) for the boon of a child.
Amongst the trees on a raised platform are shrines of
Sri Dakshinamurti, an image of Lord Ganesha facing east and a four-pillar open
shrine of Sri Jambuskewarar Linga. During the Vasantha Utsavam the inset Siva
Lingam is submerged in water and amongst floral decorations during that
Festival, the Lingam appears to be floating.
Between these three trees and the wall of the fourth
enclosure there are about four stones in the pavement with inscriptions on
them. One among them bears on it the insignia of the Vijayanagar Kingdom, viz.,
Boar and Dagger. These stones may have found their way here during the
extensive repairs funded by the Nattukkottai.
On the wall opposite, about 10 feet from the ground,
there is a panel containing the statuette of a Thambiran; other panels in a
line depict the occasion of the Thambiran reviving the dead horse of the then
Chola King, which evidently died of snake bite. The snake is also shown in the
panel. Below these there is another statuette, in a niche, and it may be the
representation of the disciple of Thambiran.
Standing next to the platform with the trees there is a
circle (which has been marked on the ground) from where it is possible to view
all nine Gopurams of Arunachaleswarar Temple.