Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort | Architecture | History

Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort

The Ucchi Pillayar temple is made within the typical Dravidian-style architecture and is devoted to Lord Ganesha. It is a really interesting legend related to it. It is located in the bustling city of Trichy, Tamil Nadu. There is a 7th-century temple built atop a 273-feet high rock that’s believed to be a few billion years old. There's an old fort built atop Capitol Hill too, and therefore the hill derives its name from it – Rockfort.

Architecture

At the top of the rock, the Rock Fort temple stands 83m tall. The graceful rock was first cut by the Pallavas but it had been the Nayaks of Madurai who completed both the temples under the Vijayanagara empire.

The temple is situated at the highest of the rock. The temple has an inspiring rock architecture and it is mystic in its nature. The Ganesha temple is far smaller with access through steep steps carved on the rock and provides a shocking view of Trichy, Srirangam, and therefore the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. Thanks to its ancient and impressive architecture created by the Pallavas, the temple is maintained by the Archaeological department of India.

History of Ucchi Pillayar Temple

As per Ramayana, Sri Lanka n King Vibheeshana attended the Pattabhishekam of Sri Ram at Ayodya and returning towards Sri Lanka. He received an idol of Lord Vishnu as a gift from Sri Ram. Though Vibheeshana was a lover of Rama, by birth he's an Asura therefore the Deva’s don’t want him to hold the Lord Vishnu's idol. In order that they visited Ganesha and asked him to assist out. Ganesha has promised them he will do something to prevent the Vishnu idol.

On the way of his return, Vibheeshana saw a flourished land on the banks of River Cauvery and therefore the beautiful gardens surrounded by it. He decided to require rest as he had already traveled an extended distance. He has been told that he shouldn't keep the idol on the bottom and if he does it, he won’t be ready to take it back. So he was wondering whether someone can carry the idol as he wanted to require rest.

Lord Vinayaka formed himself as a cowherd boy and came to Vibheesana. The King then requested Ganesha to carry the idol until he wakes up and Ganesha agreed. As soon as Vibheeshana slept Ganesha kept the Vishnu’s idol on the bottom and ran to the nearby Rock and rested on top of it. 

Later when the King awakened and when he tried taking the idol back he couldn’t. The place where the Lord Vishnu got placed by Ganesha, christened because of the Srirangam. Therefore the Rock where Ganesha took his seat, is that the Rockfort Ganesha Temple.

Thayumanar swamy history

As per mythological stories, a woman named Rathinavathi lived during this region. During her pregnancy time, she had informed her mother to return and help her. But she was living on the other side of the Cauvery River. While Rathinavathi was waiting, suddenly there was a arrive at the River. Her mother wasn't ready to cross the river and reach her daughter.

Rathinavathi got the pain and her mother didn't reach yet. She didn’t know what to try to next aside from praying to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came as a nurse and helped Rathinavathi to deliver the baby. When the first mother has reached after several hours, everyone realized that the nurse who came and helped was God. As Lord Shiva has played the role of mother to Rathinavathi he's called Thayumana Swamy (In Tamil Thai means mother).

Temple Timings: 6.00 am to 8.00 pm

Address : Sri Malaikkottai ucchi pillayar temple, Trichy– 620002.

Telephone Number : +91-431-270 4621

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