Ucchi Pillayar Temple / Uchi Pillayar Temple / Arulmigu Uchi Pillaiyar Temple/ அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ உச்சிப்பிள்ளையார் கோவில், Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Ucchi Pillayar Temple at Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort was a part of the structural and Rock Cut cave  Shiva and Vishnu temples in Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, and Sivagangai Districts, on 21^st November 2021. As per the legend, this Pillayar was the main reason for the establishment of Srirangam, Sri Ranganathar temple, and the mark of Tiruchirappalli.

   

Moolavar: Sri Uchi Pillayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with the sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. No shrines are in the praharam. An eka tala nagara Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam and Vahana Moonchuru are in the Mukha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple is on the top of the hill (273 feet), also called Rock Fort – திருச்சி மலைக் கோட்டை, with a flight of 437 steps. This hill was mentioned in the Sangam literature as mud on the potter's wheel.

வேட்கோச் சிறாஅர் தேர்க் கால் வைத்த

பசு மண் குரூஉத் திரள் போல, அவன்

கொண்ட குடுமித்து, இத் தண் பணை நாடே. 10

திணை பாடாண்திணை; துறை இயன்மொழி.

சோழன் நலங்கிள்ளியைக் கோவூர் கிழார் பாடியது.

புறநானூறு 32

The small regional king Narayana Vembaiyyar Kon period inscription records this place as “Chiramalai”, Rajaraja Chozha’s inscription as “Chitrambar”, Thayumanavar and Arunagirinathar as “Chiragiri”.

Since there is no direct evidence available, it is believed that this temple may have been constructed by Pallavas during the 7^th Century, along with the Rock Cut Cave Temple at the top and bottom of this fort. As per the architectural style, this temple was reconstructed during the Madurai Vijayanagara Nayaks period. Fixing of granite slabs on the walls and laying of granite flooring have been done in recent years.

Walls and floors are paved with granite tiles

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Rama presented a Maha Vishnu’s reclining posture idol to Vibhishana as a gratitude for winning over Ravana in Sri Lanka. Since Vibhishana was an asura king, the Devas did not like Vibhishana to take Ranganathar to his Kingdom. So they sought the help of Vinayagar to stop Vibhishana. On the way to Sri Lanka, Vibhshana wishes to take a bath in the Kaveri before performing his daily rituals.  

Vibhishana was in search of somebody to hold Ranganathar. As planned, Lord Vinayagar appeared there as a Brahmin boy and agreed to hold. While Vibhishana was in the water, Vinayagar placed Ranganathar on the sand on the banks of the river Kaveri. After seeing this, Vibhishana got angry, chased him, and hit him on his head. Still, we can see the marking on Vinayagar’s head. Vinayagar ran on the Hill and disappeared. Realizing the play of Ganesha, Vibhishana prayed to be forgiven by him. Lord Ganesha blessed Vibhishana, and Ranganathar remained at Srirangam itself. This story is very similar to the Gokarneswara Temple. Later, a temple was built for Vinayagar during the Pallava period, on the top (Ucchi- உச்சி) of the hill, and called Ucchi Pillayar.

To decide who is great, Adhiseshan and Vayu lead the formation of this Hill. While Adhiseshan holds Mount Meru, Vayu tries to blow it from Adhiseshan’s hold. A piece of Mount Meru had fallen down on this place and formed this Hill.

POOJA AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Sankatahara Chaturthi days, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Tamil and English New Year days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The following landline number, +91 431 270 4621, may be contacted for further details.

Temple website: http://trichyrockfort.tnhrce.in/history.html

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the top of the Rock Fort.

The Uchi Pillayar temple is about

The Uchi Pillayar Temple is 2.2 km from Chatram Bus Stand, 6 km from Central Bus Stand, and Trichy Railway Junction, 324 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli Junction

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Shiva Temple

PC: Website

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---