Jambunatha Ashtakamजम्बुनाथाष्टकं జమ్బునాథాష్టకం ஜம்புநாதாஷ்டகஂ ಜಮ್ಬುನಾಥಾಷ್ಟಕಂ જમ્બુનાથાષ્ટકં জম্বুনাথাষ্টকং ଜମ୍ବୁନାଥାଷ୍ଟକଂ ജമ്ബുനാഥാഷ്ടകം

{|| jambunAthAShTakaM ||}
By Shri Sridharavenkatesa
This hymn is about Jambunatha as Shiva is known at Jambukeswaram
(known as Tiruvanaikkaval in Tamil), a place of pilgrimage in
Tamilnadu. It is on the northern bank of the river Cauvery
and 5 K.M. north of Trichy. The temple is one of the largest
(having a spread of nearly 18 acres) and historic temples
in the country. It dates back to the 13th century and has been visited
by the great saivaite saints who had sung hymns on the presiding deity -
Lord Shiva in the temple. It seems that the temple was once a forest of
jambu trees and there was a Shiva linga under one of the trees. So Shiva
came to be known as Jambunatha or Jambukeswara. This is a Shiva temple
associated with one of the five great elements (viz.) water and so
called pancha bhoota sthalam (paMcha bhUta sthalam). The Shiva
lingam in the sanctum is always surrounded by water and so is known as
appu lingam (ap for water). The other places where Shiva is worshipped in
the form of the great elements are Chidambaram (space), Kalahasthi (air),
Tiruvannamalai (fire) and Tiruvarur (earth). The temple is known for
the historical inscriptions and magnificient architecture. It suffered
damages during the moghul invasion in the 14th century and worship in
the temple was disrupted. The temple was restored during the Vijayanagar