The Visit to this temple was a part of “Trichy Heritage Walk” organised by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே- Group”, to the Historical Chozha period temples, in and around Trichy aka Tiruchirappalli, scheduled on 20th & 21st March 2021. Even-though they were contributed by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular. This temple gains its popularity after Maha Siddhar Sri Sivaprakasa Swamigal atma peedam and sunai Murugan temple are established.
Moolavar : Sri Jambunathar Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some of the salient features of this temple are....The Rock cut cave temple is facing west. Stucco image of Ambal and an elephant ( Devasena ) worshiping Lord Shiva and Jambu Maharishi’s penance under a tree are on the entrance arch. Main cell is with a Shiva Linga. The depth of the other two cells less. The cave is with Sanctum and a mandapam. The front mandapa was extended latter. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in front of the cave temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvathi are on the top of the entrance. Smaller cells has Vinayagar, Jambukeswarar in the form of bas-relief and Jamburishi. In another cell, Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu and Dakshinamurthy. Navagrahas, Suriyan and Chandran are in the mandapam. Vinayagar and Sri Valli Subramaniyar, Athmanayaki ( Devasena ) Sannidhis, are in front of the cave temple. Ambal Akilandeswari is in a small shrine just opposite to the cave. Ambal is in standing posture with Abhaya varada hastham. 
ARCHITECTUREThe Rock Cut cave consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. Mukha mandapam was built at a latter date. Dwarapalakas are in front of the mukha mandapam entrance. 2 smaller cells are also scooped on both sides of the sanctum. A Stucco nagara Vimana was built on the rock just above the Sanctum sanctorum.
The Dakshinamurthy belongs to early Chozhas’ period. Dakshinamurthy is with Jadabaram and sitting in Veerasana posture on a simhasana wearing pathra kundala, Rudraksha mala and Yagnopaveetha. A Crescent moon is shown on the Jadabaram. The upper hands hold Snake and deer and lower left hand hold the chuvadi / palm leaves bundle and right hand is in Chin mudra. The Banyan tree behind Dakshinamurthy was sculptured beautifully. Squirrel, snake, akkamala and Pokkanam are shown on the banyan tree,
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSAs per the inscriptions recorded, this place was called as Thiruvellarai and Lord Shiva was called as “Sriyanaikkal Perumanadigal”. The Shiva rock cut cave was scooped during Nandhivarman. Earliest inscription of Thiruvellarai Shiva ( Thiruvaanaikkala Perumanadigal ) - rock cut cave temple belongs to Pallava king Nandhivarman-III ie 9th century."ஸ்வஸ்தி ஶ்ரீ பாரத்வா...லக ப்ரந்மாக்ஷத்ரு குலோத்பவ பல்லவ மஹாராஜ.... ரமேஸ்வரநாகிய ஶ்ரீ தந்தி நந்தி வர்ம..."
Rajakesarivarmar’s 25th reign year ( Adithya Chozha ) inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which a gift of 30 cows were gifted by Sembiyan Mazhava nattu KoRRan.
Kovi Rajakesarivarmar’s 2nd reign year inscription of the wall of the cave records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp at Thiruvanaikalil Bhattarakar 25 kalanju Gold was endowed by Marudan Achchan of Sankarapadi Village Thiruvellarai.
Parantaka-I’s period inscription records the gift of a land purchased from a Brahmadeya Village by an individual to Lord Thiruvanaikal Perumanadigal of Thiruvellarai for prayer and offerings.
Another Kovi Rajakesarivaraman’s period inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam and to feed the same to a Brahmin well versed in Vedas after pooja on every noon by Sathuvay Kanjan Damodharan for which 70 Kalanju Gold was gifted.
The Pandya King Maranjadayan period inscription records the endowment of the king by himself for burning 2 perpetual lamps for which 120 Kalanju Gold was gifted to this temple.
The Koparakesarivarman’s 9th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 25 Kalanju Gold was gifted to this temple by Kumaran Kon of Idaikattur in Kiranur Nadu a division of Pandya nadu, who was an officer under Chozha King.
The Koparakesarivarman’s 9th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which a land was gifted to the temple after purchase for 3 Kalanju Gold to God Ambar Nattu Ambar Thirumakalathu Mahadevar, by Vanarayan Arangan Madevan. 
LEGENDSThis legend is related to Devasena, wants to have special place in the heart / Chest of Lord Muruga Peruman, similar to Mahalakshmi did a penance and got a place on the chest of Maha Vishnu. Also She was little upset over the Marriage of her with Muruga is not celebrated like Valli marriage with Muruga. So Devasena requested Muruga peruman the way to fulfil her wishes. Lord Muruga told that the best place to do Thabas / Penance is a cave where Lord Shiva blesses his devotees in Bhooloka.
So Devasena came to Bhooloka in the form of ordinary woman and worshiped Lord Shiva of many temples. She was not happy till She reached Thiruvanaikaval. There She had seen Ma Parvati was doing milk abhishekam to a Shiva Linga kept in the open ground. The milk from cows udder was flowing freely. Devasena fallen down at the feet of ma Parvati. Ma Parvati blessed her and told that her half of her penance will be completed if She found out the Devotee, where Lord Shiva wants to rest in his heart. So Devasena continued towards north. When She was taking bath in Kaveri, had seen a bright light or the jothi which comes from a cave. On reaching there She found a Maharishi was doing a Penance. When She was about to wake him, the maharishi opened his eyes. Devasena fallen down at the feet of maharishi. The Maharishi immediately realised that she is none other than Devasena and called her as “Athma Nayagi”. The Vennaval Thondan Maharishi fallen down at the feet of Devasena.
The Maharishi told that as per Lord Shiva’s instruction, he is doing this penance. The penance will be completed once he was touched by shadow of an Uthama Pathni. He further told that his wish was fulfilled by the consort of Lord Muruga Devasena’s shadow touched him. Immediately Lord Shiva with Parvati, Lord Muruga and Devas appeared before them and blessed Devasena. Lord Muruga gave her a place in his chest.
The Maharishi was originally called as Vennaval Thondan. After this incidence he was called as “Jambu Maharishi”. Since Jambu Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva of this rock cut cave is called as Jambukeswarar. Jambu maharishi did this penance on Lord Shiva to attain Mukthi. Lord Shiva and Parvathi gave darshan and Mukthi to the Jambu Maharishi.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from Regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 10.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 18.00 hrs.CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACHThis cave Temple is about 1 KM and just back side of the Thiruvellarai Maha Vishnu temple and the Swastika Well.The Rock Cut cave temple is about 19 KM from Main Guard Gate, 26 KM from Tiruchirappalli, 69 Km from Thanjavur, 100 KM from Kumbakonam and 321 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway station is Tiruchirappalli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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