Pushya is the star of Lord Sri Saneeswarar. According to the Siddhas, the inner meaning of Pushya is "to gain the affection through the glorious feet of God." Sri Saneeswarar incurred a foot injury as Yama, the God of Death, kicked Sri Saneeswarar, leaving him with a disabled foot.
To remedy his ailment, Sri Saneeswarar began begging for grains, which he then cooked and fed to the poor. He also made offerings and prayers to Lord Shiva at the sacred shrine of Vilankulam. Sri Saneeswarar received the grace of Shiva at this temple and his foot was healed.
Those born under Pushya will gain the affection of Lord Sri Saneeswarar at this temple. This is where Lord Shiva revealed himself as Lord Akshayapureeswarar. He was present for Sri Sanesswarar and he is always present at this temple. People born under Pushya have abundant luck and if they offer prayers at this shrine, they will easily attain the benefits of penance.
Sri Saneeswarar can provide longevity and remove worries so that people may live in happiness. It is especially beneficial for people in the major or minor period of Saturn (Shani) to make an offering to Sri Saneeswarar to remove the evil effects committed during their previous lifetimes. Foreigners born under Pushya nakshatra should visit this temple once a year and circumambulate the temple, from left to right, eight times. This will eliminate problems with the planet Saturn.
It is recommended to anoint Lord Sri Saneeswarar with sandal paste and offer sesame sweets. Giving the sweet food to poor people at the temple is another remedy for any afflictions of Saturn. Unexpected health problems, chronic ailments and, large debt problems due to health treatment can be eliminated by making offerings at the Vilankulam Lord Sri Saneeswarar Temple.
The Akshayapureeswarar Temple is located at Vilankulam in Thanjavur district - Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Shiva and a great art work achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture Built in 1350 AD by Parakrama Pandyan in Vilankulam, it turned 700 years old.
If Poosam nakshatra people should visit this temple during Saturdays and poosam star day and Akshaya Tritiya and offering Abhishekam to Sani Bhagawan all their sorrows will disperse in air. Besides those belonging to Poosam star praying for removal of planetary afflictions, those handicapped and those suffering from leg pain and those facing obstacles in wedding proposals throng the temple for remedy. Poosam starrers are advised to perform abishek to Sani Bhagawan (plant Saturn) with eight objects as oil, panchamirtham, punugu a cosmetic paste, green coconut, milk, curd etc. They also have to circumambulate the shrine eight times.
The place is closely associated with Planet Saturn. His son, Yama the God of Death hit him on his leg and became lame. Saturn began a pilgrimage to all Shiva temples for remedy. When he came here, he fell down struck by the roots of Vila tree. It was a Saturday (Shani's own day) combined with Pushyam star and Akshaya Trithiya indicating prosperity.
As he fell, the spring Poosa Gnanavavi, hidden till then, rose with force and took him up. Lord Akshaya Pureeswara granted darshan to him and blessed Shani with wedding. His leg became straight. Combined with the names of Vila tree and the Gnanavari spring, the place came to be known as Vilankulam. Kulam-spring. A Siddha, Poosa Marungar by name, living in Shaneeswara Loka (world), used to spill the Sanivari theertha on the springs of Shiva temples.
Shaneeswara has importance in such temples. The Siddha has a rare power of visiting the world of Sun and the world of the Pithrus (departed ancestors) and is the Guru of the crows. It is believed that the Siddha is visiting the temple for worship daily.