The Lord manifested Himself in the form of a torch from the Shivalinga brought for the consecration.
The Jyotirlingeswarar temple is located in Keezh Kondayampettai, 1 km east of the Thiruvannaikaval bus stand in Trichy.
This temple faces east. After passing the facade, there is a large Mahamandapam, with a Peetha and Nandi in the middle. On the right side is the shrine of Goddess Jyotheeswari. The Mother is standing and facing south. The sanctum sanctorum next to the Mahamandapam is arranged in an octagonal shape. Lord Jyotirlingeswarar is facing downwards on the Linga Thirumeni. The Peetha of the Lord is circular in shape.
Administrators who wandered in search of the Linga
The administrators who decided to build a temple in Keezh Kondayampettai wandered in search of a Shivalinga to consecrate. No matter how hard they tried, problems and obstacles kept arising in getting a Shivalinga.
In this situation, information was received that there was a Shivalinga in a village called Thiruvalarcholai near Thiruvanaikkaval, that no worship was being done to it, and that its owner only lit a lamp there once a day. Hearing this, the administrators went to the place in person.
There, they explained the reason for their visit to the person who only lit a lamp for the Lord once a day. They also asked him hesitantly if he could give them the Shivalinga. The person’s answer then caused surprise and astonishment.
He said that he had come to know about their arrival in a dream the first day and that he had been instructed by God to give you the Shivalinga. Accordingly, he handed over the Shivalinga to the people who had come.
The administrators, who received this with joy, were planning to name the Lord they would enshrine in the temple they were building as Thiruneeeswarar.
Appearance in the form of a torch
However, when they returned to their home after receiving the Shivalinga, the Lord manifested Himself in the form of a torch from the Shivalinga. Therefore, they named the Lord Jyotirlingeswarar as the divine name.
The sanctum sanctorum is decorated with five gold coins, Navagraha stones, and a Chidambara wheel in an octagonal shape, and the Linga is installed on top of it. The structure of the sanctum sanctorum has been created so that the mental expressions and mental vibrations of the devotees who go and worship in the sanctum sanctorum are reflected in the Shiv Chidambara wheel installed under the Linga and reach the Lord in the form of Jyotirlingeswarar.
Octagonal shape
If we say ‘Om’ in any of the small holes in the walls in the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest directions of the sanctum sanctorum, that sound will echo in all four directions.
There are doors on all four sides of the temple sanctum sanctorum. It is the belief of the devotees who come here that the Lord grants the desired wishes to those who worship the idol of the central Isa, the eastern Tatpurusha idol, the southern Agora idol, the western Satyojata idol, and the northern Vamadeva idol, according to the darshan of the Thirumoolar.
If we worship the gopuram kalash of the temple from outside, it is equivalent to worshiping the original god. Because there is a hole directly above the original Jyotirlinga and straight to the kalash.
The Lord who blesses here is Jyotirlingeswarar and Panchamuka Isavar. That is, he blesses as Rishabaruda Somaskandar in the middle, as Samharar in the east, as Dakshinamurthy in the south, as Umamaheswarar in the west, and as Eka Padara (Nataraja idol) in the north.
Considering that all beings in this temple are the form of Shiva, the temple procedures have been set up in such a way that all devotees can touch and worship the source, and devotees can anoint and worship the Lord during the worship hours. The goddess blesses in the name of Jyotheeswari.
Festivals
On the left side of the sanctum sanctorum, Lord Vinayaka and Lord Murugan bless the Lord. On the north side, there is a meditation hall for Vallalar. In this meditation hall, food is provided to about 2,000 people on Thai Pusam and on October 5, the birthday of Vallalar.
Annabhishekam is performed to the source on the full moon day of Aippasi. Hundreds of devotees participate and benefit from this.
108 Sangabhishekam is performed to the Lord on Mondays of the month of Karthigai. The festival of lighting the lamp on Karthigai Thirunal in the month of Karthigai, Mukkani Abishekam on the full moon day of Avani month, and Abhishekam and Aradhanas before sunrise throughout the month of Margazhi are conducted. The special Aradhanas and Annadhanam held on Thaipusam are very special.
On Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi, Aaru Kala Puja is performed, and special Pujas are performed on the month Pradosham and Pournami. On Akshaya Tritiya, Thirukalyana Mahotsavam and the Lord-Goddess Veediyula are held.
Two daily Pujas are performed here. The temple is open from 6 am to 8 pm.
