Knowledge Bank

What is Aksha?

In Vedic rituals such as Agnyadheya and Rajasuya, the game of dice is played. This is called Aksha.

Legend of Tiruvanaikoil Jambukeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu

The tale of Sage Jambu is integral to the origin story of the Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikoil, one of the five sacred halls where Shiva is believed to have danced. According to legend, Shiva, during deep meditation on Mount Kailas, was mocked by Parvati. Angered by this, Shiva sent Parvati to Earth to worship him at a sacred place. Parvati found a forest of Jamun trees on the banks of the Kaveri River. Using her divine power, she created a linga from water for her worship. In this forest, Sage Jambu was performing penance. One day, he offered Shiva a ripe and delicious Jamun fruit. Shiva ate the fruit and spat out the seed, which the sage swallowed as a gift from the deity. To his astonishment, the seed began to grow into a tree inside him. Shiva then instructed Sage Jambu to live in the forest of Jamun trees and predicted that Parvati, in the form of Akilandeswari, would come to worship the linga there. Sage Jambu moved to Tiruvanaikoyil, where the Jamun seed sprouted from his head and grew into a large Jamun tree. Under this tree, Akilandeswari worshiped the linga, establishing the sacred site of the Jambukeswarar Temple.

पिब रे रामरसं रसने पिब रे रामरसम् जननमरणभयशोकविदूरं सकलशास्त्रनिगमागमसारम् (पिब रे रामरसम्) शुद्धपरमहंसाश्रमगीतं शुकशौनककौशिकमुखपीतम् (पिब रे रामरसम्) piba re raamarasam rasane piba re raamarasam jananamaranabhayashokavidooram sakalashaastranigamaagamasaaram (piba re raamarasam)....