Trichy Malaikottai
Sri Thayumanavar Swamy - Uchi Pillayar
| Thayumanavar - Mattuvar Kuzhalammai-(file picture) |
The Rockfort or Malai Kottai ( a literal translation) is a huge rocky hill and has fort built on the rock by Vijayanagar Empire and later fortified by the British. According to geologists, this rocky mountains dates back to 3500 billion years old.The rock fort now houses three shrines, two of which are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, one at the foot called Manika Vinayaga temple and one at the top of the rocky hill called the Ucchi Pillayar Temple (Ucchi-in the top).The Thayumanavar Temple is midway around 100 ft above the ground level. The Thayumanavar temple, the largest of the three, has a sannidhi for Amman and moolavar Thayumanavar in a Lingam form.,
| Rock Fort |
Thayumanavar Temple: According to a legend, a woman named Rathnavathi, in an advanced stage of pregnancy was in labor, she requested her mother to come over. Her mother could not reach on time because of heavy floods in the river Cauvery. As delivery time came closer, Rathnavathi prayed to Lord Shiva. Shiva took the form of Rathnavathi's mother and helped with her safe delivery,afterwhich Shiva vanished.Rathnavathi's mother arrived later and both daughter and mother realised that it was Lord shiva in the form of the mother who came to help her deliver the child. Thus Shiva in this temple came to known as Thayumanaswamy (The God who became the mother).
Even today , devotees pray to Thayumanaswamy for the safe delivery of their daughters and offer a whole stalk of green bananas after the safe delivery.
This temple is one of the ancient Shiva temples and one of the most important of the 274 Shiva sthalams.This temple is said to be constructed by Mahendra verman during 7th Century AD. We can see many beautiful art work inthe ceiling and the walls. We can also see the monolithic art of chain hanging from the ceiling, and a lion with a rolling ball inside his mouth that are mind blowing stone art works.
| Uchi Pillayar - (file photo) |
Ucchi Pillayar Temple:
Uchipillayar literally means 'Pillayar - Ganesha at the top '(of the hill). After your darshan at the Thayumanavar sannithi, you have to ascend around more than 400 plus steps to reach the top of the hill where the sanctum of Lord Vinayaka is situated. The steps are a little bit steep and may be difficult during the afternoon. The ideal time to ascend is early morning before 10 am or after 4 pm.
As per legends,King Vibhishana, the pious and truth abiding brother of Ravana, who supported King Rama in the battle against his brother Ravana. After destroying Ravana, Lord Rama gave Vibishana an idol of Lord Ranganathan (Vishnu). Devas wanted to stop this idea of an Asura King taking Lord Vishnus idol to his Kingdom. They sought the help of Lord Vinayaka. Vibhishana, on his way back to Sri Lanka, passed through a place (now known as Trichy), and wanted to bathe in the beautiful river Cauvery. But as per a divine condition,the idol he has been carrying, once placed on land, can never be removed, and will remain in that place forever.
Vibishana looked around for someone to hold the deity while he took bath and he saw Lord Vinayaka, disguised as a cowherd. When Vibishana entered the river, the cowherd placed the idol on the ground near the banks of Cauvery. Vibhishana saw this and in a fit of rage chased the boy, but the boy ran to the top of a rocky hill nearby. Vibhishana caught the boy and hit him on the fore head. (Devotees can see a small dent in the forehead of the idol even today). The cowherd then revealed himself as Lord Vinayaka . Vibishana fell at the Lord's feet.Ganesha explained that the idol of Ranganatha that Vibishana was carrying, was destined to remain in the place near the river Cauvery, which is now called Srirangam.
The place in which the Ranganathan idol was kept was later covered in the forests and it is said that it was discovered when a Chola king chasing a parrot found the deity accidentally. He then consecrated and built the Sri Rangam Ranganathaswamy Temple.History shows that the Pallavas built the Vinayaka temple and the Thayumanaswamy temple, in the rocky hillock where Vinayaka tried to escape Vibishana.
Atop the hill at the temple, one can have a beautiful view of the Trichy town and beyond. The idol of Lord Ganesha is quite big and beautiful. He is said to sit at the top of the hill and watch over the devotees. Devotees, who come here with a prayer, always gets their wishes fulfilled.
| Teppakulam (Temple Tank) |
The temple tank or the Theppa Kulam is situated to the North of the Rockfort temple. During the day before Panguni Uthram (Phalguna - mid march to mid April), float festival is celeberated, where many devotees from nearby places participate.
There are many shops around the temple tank where people throng to buy trinkets,electronic goods,fabrics, fresh vegetables and fruits.
Important Festivals: The daily poojas are performed six times a day. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi.
Temple location The Rockfort is visible from almost every part of the city's north.The temple is situated at around 8 kms., north of Tiruchirappalli city.
Temple Timings The Uchipillayar Vinayaka temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. The Thayumanaswamy temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
How to reach? This is well connected by many local town buses,auto rickhaws and taxi cabs.Where to Stay? There are many good hotels at all budgets in Trichy.
Other notable temples nearby Nachiar Koil Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple is one of the 108 vaishnavite divya desams,an ancient Shiva temple Panchavarnaswamy temple,SriRangam Ranganathan Temple Thirukkarambanoor in UthamarKoil ,another one of the 108 divya desams are in the near vicinity of within 10 kms.
Contact
Executive Officer,
Thayumanaswamy Temple
Trichy - 620002
Phone 0431 - 2704621
E.mail : thiruchyrockforttemple@gmail.com
Useful data
State: Tamil Nadu
District: Trichy
Famous for: Pilgrimage
Languages: English,Tamil
Best Season: Throughout the year. Summer( from May to July) could be very sultry when the mercury shoots to 40 degree celsius.
Weather: Summer 33-42°C, Winter 16-28°C
Altitude: Sea level
