The name 'Anbialanthurai' for this 132'nd Paadal Petra Shivasthalam in Trichy District is derived from the combination of the town name 'Anbil' and the temple name 'Alanthurai'. The temple's striking architectural centerpiece is its soaring 5-tiered gopuram gateway tower. Inside, in an east-facing sanctum, resides the swayambhu (self-manifested) linga of the presiding deity SathyaVageesar. This deity earned the additional name of BrahmaPureeswarar due to being worshipped by Brahma himself. Within the temple there are sannidhis for Saptha Matha, Bikshadanar, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Bhairavar, Muruga and the nine planetary deities (Navagrahas).
A unique and beloved idol in this temple is 'Sevi Saitha Vinayaka', or the "Ganesha who lent his ear". The endearing story behind this sculpture relates that when Tirugnanasambandar visited, the Kollidam river was in spate, preventing him from entering the temple. Undeterred, Sambandar stood at a distance and sang a pathikam praising God Shiva. Vinayaka was so delighted by Sambandhar's hymn that he tilted his ear to better hear the distant divine music. A skilled sculptor immortalized this charming scene of Ganesha sitting cross-legged, one foot tucked under, blissfully savoring the song. This marvelous statue can still be admired in the temple today. Anbialanthurai is an especially significant pilgrimage place for those with hearing impairments, who come to seek the blessings of 'Sevi Saitha Vinayaka'.
Anbil, though diminutive in size, boasts a remarkably rich and storied history that belies its modest stature. It was here the Anbil copper plates were unearthed. The Anbil copper plates are a collection of important Chola-era copper plate inscriptions. These plates, particularly those issued by Sundara Chola, record land grants and details about the services rendered to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple. The plates are a valuable source of information about Chola administration and history, including the lives of the Chola kings and their interactions with their subjects. Aniruddha Brahmarayar who was born here, was a leading minister in the court of the Chola emperor Parantaka II.
The gateway tower
Sevi Saitha Vinayaka
Dakshinamurthy
Sowndara Nayaki Sannidhi
Brammapureeswar Sannidhi
2'nd Entrance