Sri Kachabeswarar Temple / Virunthitteswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு கச்சபேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Thirukachur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 26^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam at Thirukachur, of Thondai Nadu. This temple is on the base of a small hill also called Alakkoil, since the sthala Vruksham is a Kal-ala tree (Banyan Tree). As per Kanchi Purana, this place was called “Adhi Kanchi”.  There is also a Shiva temple on the top of the Hill, and Lord Shiva is called Marundeeswarar, and the details will be written at last. This is one of the Shiva temples, where Thiyagarajar is in a separate sannidhi. Sekkizhar narrates the arrival of Sundarar with his disciples after Thirukazhukundram  Sudar Kozhuntheesar to Thirukkachur. After walking a long distance, Sundarar was very tired and hungry. Knowing this, Lord Shiva in the form of old Anthanar, begged for food and gave it to Sundarar and his disciples.

    

   வன்தொண்டர் பசிதீர்க்க மலையின்மேல் மருந்தானார்

    பின்தங்கு வெண்தலை ஓடுஒழிந்து ஒருவெற்று ஓடுஏந்தி

    அன்று அங்கு வாழ்வார் ஓர் அந்தணராய்ப் புறப்பட்டுச்

    சென்று அன்பர்முகம் நோக்கி அருள்கூரச் செப்புவார்

    

    மெய்ப்பசியால் மிகவருந்தி இளைத்திருந்தீர் வேட்கைவிட

    இப்பொழுதே சோறுஇரந்து இங்குயான் உமக்குக் கொணர்கின்றேன்

    அப்புறம்நீர் அகலாதே சிறிதுபொழுது அமரும் எனச்

    செப்பி அவர் திருக்கச்சூர் மனைதோறும் சென்று இரப்பார்.

Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Also, in one song, he mentions that the complete hill with Marundeeswarar Temple on the top, itself is a medicine.

   

     முதுவாய் ஓரி கதற முதுகாட் டெரிகொண் டாடல் முயல்வானே

    மதுவார் கொன்றைப் புதுவீ சூடும் மலையான்  மகள்தன் மணவாளா

    கதுவாய்த் தலையிற் பலிநீ கொள்ளக் கண்டால் அடியார் கவலாரே

    அதுவே ஆமா றிதுவோ கச்சூர் ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே

    மேலை விதியே வினையின் பயனே விரவார் புரமூன் றெரிசெய்தாய்

    காலை யெழுந்து தொழுவார் தங்கள் கவலை களைவாய் கறைக்கண்டா

    மாலை மதியே மலைமேல் மருந்தே மறவேன் அடியேன் வயல் சூழ்ந்த

    ஆலைக் கழனிப் பழனக் கச்சூர் ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே

Moolavar  : Sri Kachabeswarar,  Sri Thiyagaraja Swamy,

                 Sri Virunthitteeswarar, Sri Virunthittavarathar.

Consort    : Sri Anjanakshi Amman.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a temple tank on the right side, and the Sri Vinayagar temple is in front. In between, there is a 16-pillar mandapam. There is a base (mottai gopuram) of the Rajagopuram on the east side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam under a small mandapam are after the mottai gopuram. Moolavar is of swayambhu and short. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu (in place of Lingothbavar), Brahma, and Durgai. There is a moat around the sanctum sanctorum; this may be due to the rise of the outside ground level. The Urchavar is Thiyagarajar. 

In the inner prakaram Naalvar, Gnana Ganapathy, Choleeswarar, Sri Kalatheeswarar, Sri Maheswarar, Sri Markasahaeswarar, Nagalingam, Nagarajan, Ramanatheswarar, Kasi Viswanathar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.

In the outer praharam Maha Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar,  Virunthiteesar, Sundarar and Bhairavar. Sri Thiyagesar is in front Nakshatra mandapam and facing east. The Nakshatra mandapa has 27 pillars to signify the 27 Stars. Thiagarajar here is Upaya Vidangar and believed that Lord Shiva danced for Mahavishnu.  The Mandapa was constructed during the Vijayanagara period. The pillars have the bas-reliefs of various deities, which include Mahavishnu’s Kachaba avatar, Anjaneyar, etc. The entrance to the Moolavar sannidhi is on the south of the Nakshathra mandapam.

Ambal Anjanakshi Amman is in a separate temple-like sannidhi with a circumambulation path. Ambal is facing south in a standing posture. Urchava vahanas are kept  in maha mandapam.

In the 15^th century, Arunagirinathar also praises Murugan of this temple, in another temple’s hymn, hence this temple is a Thiruppugazh Vaippu Sthalam.    

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since the 8^th Century, Sundarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple; the temple might have existed before the 6^th to 7^th Century Pallava Period. Later, the temple was reconstructed during the Chozha period and further contributions from the Vijayanagaras.  

The inscriptions recorded  (AR 261 to 319 of 1909) belong to Kulothunga Chizha-I, Rajadhirajan, Rajara-II, Kulothunga-III, Pandya King Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, Jadavarman Sundara Pandyan, Maravarman Veera Pandyan, Vijayanagara Kings Ariyanna Udayar’s Son Viruppanna Udayar, and Saluva King Narasinga Rayar. As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Thiru Aalakoil Udayar. The place was called Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Kalathur Kottathu, Chengundra Nattu, Thirukachur. Rajaraja-III (?), 14^th year reign inscription mentions that this place was also called Nitha Vinotha Nallur.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s  inscription records the installation of Thirunavukkarasu Thevar. Another 35th-year reign inscription records that the order of Nandhivarman gave a gift of land measuring 67 veli to this temple.

Jadavarman Sundara Pandyan period inscription records the donation of the village Mannarkudi as a devathanam, and it also mentions Thevaraththu Eeswaramudayar Temple.

One inscription mentions the Muththamizh teacher called Sathanar, whose knowledge was applauded, and his disciple Perunambi, a Kaniyudayar (landlord..?), was a member of Kachur Kadikai (Highly knowledgeable person’s Sabha)

Rajaraja-II or III’s 8th-year reign inscription records that oil Merchants assembled at the temple and came to a decision that the oil extractors of Thirukachur and Kanchipuram Thirukkattupalli, to  supply oil to the temple for the lighting of Lamps.

Ref:

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - 12.

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - 19.

3. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - 26.

4. Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1909

 

LEGENDS

The Devas and Asuras churned the milk ocean to get the Amrit with hill Manthara/Mount Meru as a churner and Vasuki as the rope. Due to the weight,  Meru Hill starts to sink into the ocean. Mahavishnu took the Koorma – Kachabam – Tortoise avatar and held his back. Before holding the Meru Hill, Mahavishnu came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get strength. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Kachabeswarar.

In another legend, Sundarar, after traveling from long distance, reached the temple around noon. Went inside the temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. He was very tired and hungry, so he slept in the mandapa. On seeing him, Lord Shiva, as an old Brahmin, begged food from the village and gave it to Sundarar.  Sundarar, after he became normal, searched for the old man and found him nowhere. He realized that the old man was nothing but Lord Shiva and sang hymns in praise of Shiva.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The annual festival is being celebrated during the Chithirai month. On the fifth day, Lord Shiva's Chin mudra vaibhavam is a special one in this temple.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Brahmotsavam on Chitra Pournami (April-May), Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Skanda Sashti, Thiru Karthigai, Thiruvadirai, Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, and on all pradosham days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is open between 08.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and evening from 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs. 

CONTACT DETAILS :

Archakars  Murali and Shanmugam may be contacted for more details, and Pooja on their land line number 04427463514, and the office number is     044 27464325.

Alternatively, the mobile number can also be contacted at +9193811 86389 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

SP Koil or Singaperumal Koil is on the bus and train route from Chennai to Chengalpattu after Maraimalai Nagar.  Get down at Singaperumal Koil.

Route no 82c passes through the main road from Chengalpattu to Sriperumbudur. From the bus stop, the village is about a km.

An auto facility is available from the Singaperumal Koil bus stop.

The temple is about 25 km from Tambaram, 34 km from Chennai Airport, 48 km from Koyambedu, and 52 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Singaperumal Koil, and the biggest station is Tambaram. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Viruntteesar Sannadhi ( விருந்திட்டீசர் சன்னதி )

Sundarar sannadhi

Vinayagar Sannadhi

SRI MARUNDEESWARAR TEMPLE / ARULMIGU MARUNDEESWARAR TEMPLE,  THIRUKACHUR MALAI KOIL

This temple is on the top of the hill, and believed that Sundarar also visited this temple and sang Hymns along with Kachabeswarar. About a km from the base, the temple is the Kachabeswarar temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Marundeeswarar , Sri Oushadeeshwarar

Consort    : Sri Irulneeki Ambal , Sri Anthakaara Nivarani.

Some of the important details of this temple are…..

The temple faces west with an entrance mottai gopuram from the South. Balipeedam, New Dwajasthambam, and Nandhi mandapam are on the west, and Lord Shiva will be visible through jala (Jala). Vinayagar and Subramaniyar are in front of moolavar Sanctum.

In koshtam Durgai, Brahma, Sri Mahavishnu in place of Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy, and Vinayagar. Bas-reliefs of  Dwarapalakas, Ambal, Sundarar, Appar, Pattinathar, Vallalar,  Vinayagar, and Dhandapani are on the mandapam pillars.

In the outer praharam sannadhi for Gnana Ganapathy, Nagars, Chathurmuga Chandeswarar (Brahma mugam – a special in this temple only), Bhairavar, Suryan, and Navagrahas.

Ambal Sri Irulneeki Amman is in a separate sannadhi in standing posture and facing west. Theertha well is the oushatha well with steps constructed beautifully.

Two kala pooja is being performed with the effort of Sri Kuzhandhai Swamikal and Sri Veerasamy Swamikal.

HISTORY: 

The temple was built during the  Kulothunga-I period. There are no inscriptions found. The Rajagopuram was constructed after the arrival of the new disciple to Sri Kuzhandhaivel  Swamikal.   

LEGEND : 

Aswini Devars worshiped Lord Shiva and Ambal for the medicinal herb “Palai Athipalai“  to cure their diseases. Lord Shiva gave this hill as “The hill earth itself a medicine“. When Sundarar came to this temple after girivalam, Iraivan served food after getting it from the villagers as picksha (Yasakam).

Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence Chandikeswarar is in the form of Brahma Chandikeswarar with Chathur mugam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

A Well with steps at the top of the Hill

Lingothbavar

Chatur Mukha Chandikeswarar

Iranthitteesar Sannadhi (இரந்திட்டீசர் சன்னதி) middle of the Hill 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---