30248016004_962b12e11b_b, Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort, Trichy
30248016004_962b12e11b_b, Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort, Trichy

Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort, Trichy

Date built:–
Deity:Ucchi Pillayar
Architectural style:Dravidian architecture
Major festivals–
Locale:Rockfort
District::Trichy
Address:Ucchipillaiyaar Temple,Trichy – 620 001
Phone
 Ucchi Pillayar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaga located at Rock Fort Temple Complex in Trichy City in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. The Rockfort temple complex has three shrines, two of which are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, one at the foot and the Ucchi Pillayar Temple at the top, and the Thayumanavar Temple between them. The Thayumanavar temple, the largest of the three, houses a shrine for Amman (the Goddess) as well as the main deity. Mythologically this rock is the place where Lord Ganesh ran from King Vibishana, after establishing the Ranganathaswamy deity in Srirangam.
According to epigraphic evidence, the hill fort temple was built during the rule of Mahendra Pallava-Gunaparan in the 6th century. Uchi Pillaiyar Temple is located on the peak of the Rock Fort hill. The shrine is at a height of 273 ft. and you have to climb over 400 steps to reach the pinnacle. One has to cross Sri Thayumanavar temple, which is located half way to the peak. Though the climb is a bit difficult, the soothing cool breeze gears up our energy to climb without much strain. A panoramic view of the entire Thiruchi and Srirangam Temple from the Uchi Vinayakar temple is just amazing.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains from Morning 06.00 A.M to Evening 08.00 P.M.

Festivals

Six worship services are offered each day here. This well-endowed temple celebrates the annual Brahmotsavam in Chithirai. Aadi Pooram and the float festival in Panguni are also of significance here. 15 days Chithirai (April-May) car festival; 12 days Teppa Thiruvizha in Panguni (March-April); Summer festival on the hills during Vaikasi (May-June); Navarathri in Purattasi September-October); Skanda Sashti in Aipasi (October-November) 13 day Vinayaka Chaturthi festival and Aadippooram 8 days festival in July August are the festivals very grandly celebrated in the temple. Also, Tamil and English New Year days, Deepavali, Pongal days are devotionally observed with special Pujas. The Skanda Sashti festival dedicated to Ganesha’s brother, Muruga or Karthikeya, in Aipasi (October-November), six days after Deepavali is grandly celebrated.

Prayers

Any undertaking whether domestic, religious or professional, started after praying Lord Uchi Ganapathy is sure to go progressively, profitably and happily. Devotees perform abishek to Lord Vinayaka with milk and offer garlands made of a grass called Arugampul.

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Lord Vinayaga plan to retain Vishnu Idol in Srirangam:

Vibhishana, was the younger brother of the Asura King Ravana who ruled Lanka. Lord Rama in the epic of Ramayana rescues his wife Sita, who was kidnapped and held by Ravana, with the help of Sugriva and Hanuman defeated him. In this war, the moral and truth-abiding brother of Ravana, Vibishana aids Rama in his battle against his brother. Ultimately Rama wins the war and as a token of love, he gives Vibishana a Vigraham (idol for worship) of Lord Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu.

Vibhishana, though he supported Rama, was basically an Asura, hence the Devas (who are arch rivals to Asuras as per Hindu mythology) wanted to stop this idea of an Asura taking Lord’s supreme form to his Kingdom. They request the help of the Remover of obstacles and God of learning, Lord Vinayaka and the Lord accepts the plan. Vibhishana, while on his back to his Kingdom, goes through Trichy, and wanted to take his bath in the river Kaveri and do his daily rituals.

However, he is perplexed as the deity, once kept in land, can never be removed and has to be in that place forever. As a solution, Vibishana tries to find someone to hold the deity while he was taking bath. He finds the Lord Vinayaka under disguise of a cowherd boy. As per the plan, when Vibishana is fully into water, Vinayaka takes the deity and keeps it firmly in sand, in the banks of Kaveri. On seeing this, the angry Vibhishana chases the boy, to punish him, and boy keeps running and climbs over the rock near the Kaveri bank. Vibhishana finally reaches the boy and hits him on the fore-head.

One can see a pit in the forehead of the idol even today. The little boy then reveals himself to be Vinayaka. Vibishana immediately apologizes and the Lord gives him his blessings, reveals that the idol is destined to remain in Srirangam and sends him off to Lanka. This is similar in many regards to the story of Lord Ganesha in Gokarna with Ravana in the same Ramayana period.

The place in which the Ranganatha deity was kept was later covered in deep forests, due to disuse and after a very long time, it was discovered when a Chola king chasing a parrot found the deity accidentally. He then established the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam as the largest temple complexes in the world. Meanwhile, the Pallavas built the Vinayaka temple and the Thayumanaswami temple, in the rock which Vinayaka used to escape Vibishana.

Association with Manicka Vinayagar:

Uchi Pillayar is always associated with Manicka Vinayagar at the foothills. It is a general worship practice to pray obeisance with Manicka Vinayagar before visiting Uchi Pillayar.

Ancient Names:

This place was also known as Sirappalli, Rishabachalam & Dhakshina Kailasam during ancient days.

Tirishiramalai:

According to Hindu mythology, the city Tiruchirappalli derives its name from legend associated with the Thayumanaswami Temple. Demon Tirishira (demon with three heads) was on penance on Lord Shiva. Though many years passed, Lord Shiva delayed his darshan to test his purity. He threw two of his heads in fire and was about to throw the third, Lord appeared before him and restored his two heads. As requested by him, Lord Shiva agreed to stay here in the name of Thirisira Nathar (based on demon Tirishira story). The place came to be known as Tirishiramalai, now changed as Trichy.

Thiri Sikarapuram:

There are also stories that since there are three peaks on Rock Fort, occupied by three Gods Shiva, Parvathi & Vinayakar (Uchi Pillaiyar), the place was called Thiri-sikarapuram and later called Tirisirapuram.

Contest between Adisesha and Vayu:

A furious contest arose between Adisesha and Vayu to decide the supremacy of their prowess. The condition was to shake violently Mount Kailash.  Defeating Adisesha, when Vayu broke the mount, the top of the Kailasam was disturbed by Vayu (air) and thrown in three places and this is considered one among them and that is why this is called Dakshina Kailasam. The other two places are Kalahasthi and Tirikonamalai (Srilanka).

Photo Gallery

How to Reach:

The temple is located at top of the Rockfort Temple Complex. Rockfort is located at about 5 Kms from Trichy Central Bus Stand, 1.5 Kms from Chatiram Bus Station, 5 Kms from Trichy Railway Station, 4 Kms from Woraiyur, 14 Kms from Thiruverumbur, 4 Kms from Srirangam, 7 Kms from Thiruvanaikoil, 6 Kms from Trichy and 10 Kms from Trichy International Airport. Lots of buses ply from both Central & Chathram bus stands of Trichy. One can get down at Main Guard Gate or Teppakulam to reach Rockfort.

Contact Details

Ucchipillaiyaar Temple,
Trichy – 620 001
Phone: +91 431 270 4621 / 270 0971 / 271 0484

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