01Jalandhara and the Tulasi
The Shiva Purana tells of Jalandhara, born from the fire of Shiva’s third eye cast into the ocean, who grew mighty and drove the devas from heaven, guarded by the virtue of his wife Vrinda. When that protection was gone, Shiva, come as an old Brahmin, drew a circle on the ground with His toe and asked the asura to lift it; Jalandhara raised it and the disc cut him down. Where Vrinda gave up her life, the temple says, Shiva made the Tulasi grow, and its leaves comforted Vishnu; so Tulasi is the sthala vriksha, rare in a Shiva temple. The panchaloha Jalandharavadha Murti holds the chakra in His right hand. Sambandar’s ten verses are the 108th hymn of the second Tirumurai.
About 11.5 km from Tiruvarur; turn off the Mayiladuthurai road at Surakkudi. The Chakra tirtham is in front. The Dharmapuram Adheenam runs the temple; Masi Magam brings the Brahmotsavam.
