திருவானைக்காவல் ஜம்புகேஸ்வரர் கோயில்Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Sthala Mahātmyam

At Thiruvanaikaval, Shiva is enshrined as Jambukeswarar, the Appu Lingam of the water element. A perennial underground spring keeps the sanctum floor moist, water seeping around the lingam even when drained, embodying its watery nature. The sthala legend tells of two of Shiva's attendants, cursed to be born as an elephant and a spider, who each worshipped a lingam that had formed beneath a jambu (white rose-apple) tree; from the elephant's worship (aanai) the place is called Thiru-aanai-kaa, the sacred elephant grove. The goddess Akilandeswari, 'Ruler of the Universe', once fierce, was pacified when Shiva took her as disciple; Adi Shankara is traditionally said to have installed Sri Chakra earrings (tatanka) to calm her. Uniquely, the two shrines face each other as guru and disciple, making this an upadesa sthalam. Each noon a priest dressed as Akilandeswari performs the Ubhaya Kamadhenu puja to the Lord. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam praised in the Tevaram.