Akshayapureeshwarar Temple – A Must Visit Temple on the Day of Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be as auspicious as any other Hindu festival in India. The word “Akshaya” means eternal or never diminishing. Tritiya means the third day. Akshaya Tritiya is normally celebrated on the third Lunar day in the month of April/May (Chithirai). There are many popular beliefs related to Akshaya Tritiya Day. Few are listed below:
- Sri VedaVyasa started the recitation of the great Epic Mahabharata before Lord Ganesha on this day.
- Lord Krishna visited Pandavas and blessed Draupadi with the Akshaya Paathira.
- Sudama (Kuchela) visited Lord Krishna with a handful of Aval (Poha) on this day and he was blessed with wealth by Krishna in return.
- Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born on this day.
- The Kubera who is considered as the treasurer in Heaven received His wealth from Lord Shiva on this day.
It is strongly believed that it is an auspicious day for starting any new ventures like starting a business, starting a construction or even getting married. Any venture that is initiated on this day will grow and bring wealth and prosperity. Some of them also believe that it would be auspicious to buy gold on this day.
Apart from these beliefs, now comes our part of knowing about the temple that needs to be visited on this day of Akshaya Trithiya. A must visit temple on the day of Akshaya Tritiya is the Shri Abhivruddhi Nayaki sametha Shri Akshayapureeshwarar Temple. The temple is located in a place called Vilankulam in Thanjavur District. As the name suggests, the God and the Goddess bestows their devotees with the abundance of prosperity and health in their life when worshiped wholeheartedly.
As per the Sthala Purana, the temple is closely associated with the planet Saturn (Sani). It is said that His son Yama (the God of Death) hit him on his leg and so he was lamed. So Saneeshwaran started on a pilgrimage to all Shiva temples for remedy. When he reached this place, he got stuck in the roots of the Vilva Tree and he fell down. As he fell down, a spring called Poosa Gyanavavi rose with force and brought Him to the shore. Lord Akshayapureeshwar granted Darshan to Saneeshwaran and he blessed him with the wedding and also made his legs straight. On that day, it was a Saturday (Sani’s own day) combined with Poosam Star and Akshaya Tritiya. So, this temple is also considered as the Parihara sthala for the people who are born in Poosam Star. Combined with the names of Vilva tree and the Poosa Gyanavavi spring, the place is called Vilankulam (Vilan – Vilva, Kulam – spring).
Lord Saneeshwara has greater importance and he is gracing in this temple in the wedding form with his consorts (wives) Jeshta and Mandha. The Saneeshwarar of the temple is called the Adhi Bruhat Saneeshwara and he is facing the South. The main God is Lord Shiva and he is called by the name Akshayapureeshwar. This temple is one of the Abhimana (Desired) Sthala for Lord Shiva. The Goddess is called Abhivruddhi Nayaki. As the name suggests, she is considered as the Mother who grants all the prosperity and development in the lives of the people who worship Her. There is no Navagraha shrine in this temple. Instead of that, we have separate shrines for Lord Saneeshwara and his Father Sun God.
Saneeshwara was relieved from his difficulties by worshipping Lord Shiva on a Saturday with Poosam Star combined with Akshaya Tritiya. So it is considered auspicious for the people who are born on Poosam Star to visit the temple either on a Saturday or on Poosam Star or on Akshaya Tritiya Day falling in the Month of April-May. The Poosam star is the 8th Star in the list of 27 stars. So Poosam starrers are advised to perform abhisheka to Lord Saneeshwara with Eight different items such as Oil, Panchamrutham, Punugu (a cosmetic oil), coconut water, milk, curd etc. They also have to come around the temple eight times. By doing so, it is strongly believed that all their sorrows will disappear and they will gain all the prosperity and health in life.
Besides the Poosam Starrers, others who are suffering from any sort of pain and facing a delay in their marriage proposals also visit this temple on the day of Akshaya Tritiya and perform special Pooja for Akshayapureeshwarar and Abhivruddhi Nayaki.
