Pancha Mukheswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikoil, Trichy
Pancha Mukheswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thiruvanaikoil near Trichy City in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Pancha Mukheswarar and Mother is called as Thiripura Sundari.
Legends
Vishrawas had two sons, Kubera and Ravana. Their mothers
were different. They were against each other since childhood and this enmity
too grew to dangerous proportions when they grew. Kubera lost all his wealth
including his Pushpaka Vimana aircraft. Kubera prayed to Lord Mahadeva – Lord
Shiva for relief and recovery of his wealth. A voice said that Lord Maha Vishnu
would be born to Emperor Dasharatha as Sri Rama who would kill Ravana and that
his riches including the Pushpaka aircraft would reach him back. Kubera built a
Shiva temple on the banks of Cauvery, worshipped Lord Shiva as Raja Rajeswara.
With the grace of Lord Shiva, he got back his riches after the end of Ravana at
the hands of Lord Sri Rama.
The Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Pancha Mukheswarar. Lord
Pancha Mukheswarar graces the devotees from the sanctum sanctorum in Shiva Linga
form with four faces facing four directions and the Linga is accounted for the total
of five faces. As Lord is facing all directions, it is explained that he
protects devotees from all directions. The four Vedas are behind the Lord in
the form of Salagrama stones.
Lord Shiva is praised by the Panchakshara – five letter
Mantra – Na Ma Shi Va Ya representing His five faces – Sadashiva, Eeshana,
Tatpurusha, Vamadevam, Agoram and Satyojatham. The Adhomukha is upward which is
invisible. Mother is called as Thiripura Sundari. Mother is holding conches in
both upper hands and the lower two hands offer Abhaya – protection from fear –
to the devotees.
The shrines of Lord and Mother are opposite to each
other, a rare feature in this temple. As they are opposite to each other,
devotees can have the darshan of both simultaneously. It is believed that this darshan
ensures timely wedding to the devotee. Conch abishek is dedicated to both Lord
and Mother on Karthikai Mondays in November-December.
There is a shrine for Lord Rajarajeswarar, the prominent
deity of the temple. There is Nandhi and Bali Peeta before this sanctum
sanctorum. People worship Lord Rajarajeswara seeking wealth boon, as he was
worshipped by Kubera, the God of Wealth. The devotee also would get back what
he/she lost earlier.
Special abisheks are dedicated to Lord Kala Bhairava in
the east prakara on the Ashtami day – eighth day – following the full moon day.
The Linga, praised as Chatus Sashti Kaleswara and the Chatus Sashti Kaleswari
are nearby – that is the power of 64 (Chatus Sashti) are in a single Shivalinga
placed on a lotus shaped Avudayar – the stage or platform on which the Linga is
installed – in a hexagonal form.
There are 64 lines on the Linga representing the Chatus
Sashti philosophy. Devotees praise this form as Maha Sadashiva Murthy and
Ashtashta Linga Murthy. Sthala Vriksham is Maha Vilwa. There are 16 petals in a
single leaf of the Maha Vilwa tree.
Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from 6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and
from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Festivals
Monthly Shivrathris; Maha Shivrathri in February-March;
monthly pradoshas; Conch Abishek on Karthikai Mondays in November-December and Aippasi
Annabishekam in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
People pray to Lord and Mother for wedding, child,
health and wealth boons. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer
vastras.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 300 meters from
Thiruvanaikoil Jambukeswarar Temple, 1 Km from Thiruvanaikoil Bus Stop, 2 Kms
from Srirangam, 3 Kms from Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, 3 Kms from
Srirangam Railway Station, 5 Kms from Trichy Chathiram Bus Stand, 9 Kms from
Trichy, 13 Kms from Trichy Central Bus Stand, 13 Kms from Trichy Railway
Station and 14 Kms from Trichy Airport.