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Friday, June 8, 2018

Jambukeswarar Temple, Nallicheri, Thanjavur

Jambukeswarar Temple, Nallicheri, Thanjavur
Jambukeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Nallicheri in Papanasam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamilnadu. The place is also called as Nandi Mangai. Presiding Deity is called as Jambukeswarar / Jambunathar and Mother is called as Akilandeswari. This temple is one of the 7 shrines associated with the Saptha Matrikas (Madhas / Mangais) around Ayyampettai / Pasupathi Koil area in the Thanjavur – Papanasam (Kumbakonam) route. This Temple is associated with Mother Vaishnavi.


Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
The Temple is facing west but the temple can be entered through southern entrance only. This is the only Temple faces west in all of the Saptha Mangai Sthalams. Presiding Deity is called as Jambukeswarar / Jambunathar. Generally, in Shiva temples, the shrine faces East; here the Lord faces West. This is also believed to be a Kshetram offering Mukthi, like Kashi. Hence the temple faces the cremation ground.


On the Sankata Hara Chaturthi day (fourth day in the waning period of the moon) in the Tamil month of Panguni, Surya’s rays fall on the Lord. Mother is called as Akilandeswari. Ambal is facing South as is the usual practice in most of the Shiva Temples. She is in standing posture. Vishnu Durga shrine in this temple is very popular.  Irattai Vinayagars can be found at the entrance of the Temple.


There are beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings of the Vowvaal (owl) mandapam. The Sthala Vriksham is Naval tree (Jambu) and this could be another reason for the name of the Lord Jambukeswarar. Theertham is Devakatha Theertham.  In addition to this Theertham, there is also one more well near the Lord’s shrine. 


Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 07.00 PM.
Festivals
Mahasivarathri in February-March, Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the festivals celebrated in the temple. This Temple is one of the seven places forming seven Holy Kshetras in and around Pasupathi Koil where the annual Saptha Sthanam festival is held in the month of Panguni. The Deities from the main temple Chakkarapalli are taken in a procession in very huge “kannadippallakkoo” weighing more than 2000 Kgs by bearers on bare foot over more than 40 Kms in two days nonstop except for few hours halt at Kudamurutti river sands for the fireworks show at 4 am.
Religious Significance
For brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Mathur Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Pasupathikoil Railway Station, 3 Kms from Pasupathikoil Bus Stop, 6 Kms from Ayyampet Railway Station, 15 Kms from Papanasam, 13 Kms from Thanjavur, 12 Kms from Thiruvaiyaru, 16 Kms from Thingalur, 14 Kms from Thirupazhanam, 29 Kms from Kumbakonam and 75 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Thanjavur – Kumbakonam Road. The temple is located at Nallicheri on the road which branches left from the Ayyampettai – Thanjavur road past the Pasupathi Temple. It is near both Soolamangalam and Ayyampettai.