Thiruvanikaval-Panchabootha Sthalams (Five Elements Temple-Water)

Faith Mysticism

oi-Staff

By Super

Monday, May 21, 2012, 12:39

All that is manifested or created has the five elements for their essence which has given rise to the worship of the Lord representing them. It also portrays the all perversive attribute of the manifested form of the Lord who is actually formless, thereby free of any attributes; an energy that is ever existent. Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda while talking of the five elements included in Hindu worship, says bathing in holy rivers is to realize this existential energy through water. The Panchabootha Sthalams or the 'Five elements temples' sanctify the southern part of India of which the temple o f Jambugeshwawar/Jambukeswarar of 'Thiruvaanaikaval' signifies 'Water' of the five elements.

The Legend
It is said that a spider, elephant, Goddess Parvati and a saint received the grace of the Lord by offering worship to Him in Thiruvaanaikaval. .

As per the legend, it is said that Lord Shiva had manifested Himself in the form of a Shivalingam under a Jambu tree in a forest near a water body called Chandratheertha. Two devotees born as an elephant and a spider started offering worship to the Lord in their own ways. The elephant washed the Lingam with the water brought in its trunk and with flowers from the Jungle. Hence the name 'Thiruvaanika or 'Thiruvaanaikovil', 'Aanai' meaning elephant in Tamil. Later it evolved as 'Thiruvaanaikaval'. The spider weaved a cobweb around the Lingam to serve as a protection against the withering leaves and dust.

The worship of the spider and the elephant seemed to intrude in their personal modes of worship. The elephant's washed away the spider's web which resulted in hostility between each other. This instigated the spider to get into the trunk of the elephant to punish it which led to the death of both. The elephant was said to have attained eternal bliss while the spider was reborn as the King Kochenkannan in the Chola family of Uraiyur.

The Karmas or actions of the past births abounds to be Samskaras that are said have an impact on the present life as well. This served to be true in the case of Kochenkannan as well. After leading a kingly life, he resorted to constructing temples of Lord Shiva. It is said that the Thiruaanaikaval or Tiruaanaika was also constructed by Him. All the temples erected by the King are said to have constructed in a such a fashion denying access to elephants owing to the impact of the previous birth.

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