Anbil Aalanthurai

Padal Petra Sthalams, Tiruchirapalli District

God

Sathyavageeswarar (also Brahmapureeswarar, Aalanthuraiyar) facing east, Suyambu (self occuring) Lingam

Goddess

Soundarya Nayagi, facing south

Other Deities

Sevi Saitha Vinayagar, Muruga with consorts, Saptha Kanniyar, Pitchadanar, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Bhairava, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durga, Nataraja, Surya, Chandran, Vishnu

Anbil Aalanthurai is an east facing temple situated on the north bank of the Kollidam River with a 5 tier Rajagopuram at the entrance. The holy pond is south of the temple and has 5 wells in it. Some beautiful carvings including a snake passing through a pillar, entwined snakes with Lingam in the middle and Muruga worshiping Shiva are seen here at Anbil Aalanthurai.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Chandra Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Aal (Banyan – Ficus benghalensis)

History

Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar (7th Century CE) have visited and rendered Thevaram Hymns for the lord here at Anbil Aalanthurai. Anbil Aalanthurai temple is said to have been built by Parantaka Chola and is believed to have been a Madakovil (level up from the ground) earlier to that.

Legend

The Vinayaka here at Anbil Aalanthurai is said to have slanted his head to listen to the song of Thirugnanasambandar who rendered it from the other side of the Kollidam river and thus his appearance and name here – Sevi (ear) Saitha (slant to hear) Vinayakar.

Directions

Anbil Aalanthurai is about 20 kilometers from Thiruchirapalli and after Lalgudi. A 108 Divya Desam Temple is also nearby.

Stay and Food

None locally. Lalgudi has a few restaurants and the one opposite the bus stand (Sathyamoorthy) is advisable.

Padal Petra Sthalams