The Three Temples of Tirukkachur

Traditional houses, wide pathways, scenic hills, fertile fields, large trees, beautiful ponds, ancient temples, the delight of heritage lovers, the paradise of history buffs, the holy site revered by the saintly poets and an enchanting village! My limited vocabulary does not allow me to describe this better. This article is about three ancient Shiva temples located in an extraordinarily charming hamlet called Tirukkachur.

I visited the village and wrote a detailed article about ten years ago. When I revisited the place this year, I could not find any improvement. Though the temples are well maintained, there are hardly any visitors.

Why does the site remain less explored? Why do even those who live in the nearby cities such as Chennai and Chenglepet ignore this place? After spending a few sleepless nights thinking about its plight, I decided to spend dedicated efforts to come up with a long and detailed article. I am sure this narration would reach thousands of people. At least a few among them would visit the temples and spread awareness about the same among their circles.

This article is the result of six months of hard work. To my knowledge, I have ensured no stone remains unturned and covered all aspects. Though I call it an article, it is no lesser than a book on its coverage and length.

16-pillared mandapa in front of Kacchapeswara Temple

Introduction

Tirukkachur is situated at a distance of 15 km from Chenglepet and 55 km from Chennai. Google Map location (coordinates) is provided at the end of the article.

The serene locality has three ancient temples of Lord Shiva, namely Marundeeswarar, Kacchapeswarar and Irandhiteeswarar. In these temples, he is depicted in five different forms/names.

Kacchapeswarar temple, the biggest among the three temples, was built by the Cholas with notable contributions by the Vijayanagaras. It is one of 276 temples revered in Devaram, called Paadal Petra Sthalam in Tamil. Marundeeswarar temple also belongs to the Chola period with many renovations done in the latter period.

Kacchapeswarar Temple Entrance

Legends

The holy site has many tales and legends. I have summarized all of them, as seen below.

Shiva's Grace on Vishnu

Samudra Mathana or the Churning of the Milky Ocean is a well-known episode of Puranic texts. The Devas formed an alliance with the Asuras to jointly churn the ocean to get the nectar of immortality called Amrita. They used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope. When the mount was placed in the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu came to their rescue. He incarnated as a Kurma (Turtle) and supported the mountain on his shell.

The legend of the village is connected with the episode mentioned above. Kurma, also known as Kacchapa, came to Oushadagiri (the hillock in this village) to get the blessing of Shiva enshrined here. Thus, he became powerful enough to support the mount with his back. Hence, Shiva Linga came to be known as Kacchapeswara, meaning the Lord of Kacchapa. Also, the village is named Kacchapur or Tirukkachchur. The holy pond is also called Kurma Teertha.

Vishnu in the form of Kacchapa worshipping Shiva

Pond of Amrita

The milky ocean was churned to produce Amrita, the drink that drinks immortality. It is said that Amrita got mixed up with the water of Kurma Teertha. Hence, it is also known as Amrita Teertha. Tyagaraja, who is enshrined in the temple, is called Amrita Tyagesa.

Installation of Tyagaraja by Mucukunda

Mucukunda was a celebrated king of Puranic times. He was the son of Mandhata and an ancestor of Sri Rama. As the Cholas claimed to be of the Solar dynasty, Mucukunda was also considered a Chola King.

According to a legend, the King helped Indra, the King of Devas, in the battle against Asuras. As a token of recognition, the King demanded the image of Tyagraja Swami from Indra. As it was in his daily worship, Indra did not want lose it. He made six other identical images and sought the King to select the right one. As the King picked up the right icon, the overwhelmed Indra gifted all the seven images of Tyagraja to the King.

Mucukunda installed seven images of Tyagaraja in and around Tiruvarur. All those seven holy sites are known as Sapta Vidanga Sthalams.

As an extension of the well-known legend stated above, the tale of Tirukkachur claims that Mucukunda got three more images from Indra and installed them in Tiruvottriyur, Tiruvanmiyur and Tirukkachur. Thus this village got its own Tyagaraja.

Tirukkachur Tyagaraja

Goddess' Grace on Indra

Cursed by a sage, Indra suffered from a disease. As per the advice from Narada Rishi, he sent Ashwini Kumaras to the hillock in this village called Oushadagiri to look out for herbs. (Oushada Giri means the hill of medicinal herbs).

Even after searching for long, the Ashwini twins could not find the required herbs. Shakti, the Goddess, felt pity for Indra. She graced upon them and helped to identify the exact herbs. Thus, Shiva in the hillock temple is named Marundeeswarar, and the Goddess is known as Irul Neekki Amman.

Marundeeswarar means the Lord of herbs. Irul Neekki means the Goddess who removes the darkness or black evils. She is also called Andakara Nivarani, the Sanskrit equivalent of Tamil name.

Shiva's Grace on Agastya

The sage Agastya is considered the founder of Siddha medicine. It is said that he got all

the medicinal prescriptions from Marundeeswarar, the deity of the hillock temple.

Oushada Teertha (deep well) in Marundeeswara Temple

Sundarar served by Shiva

Sundarar was a great devotee of Shiva and a prominent Nayanar. It is believed that this great devotional poet lived in the 8th century CE. A legend closely connects the site with him, who had written ten hymns on the deity of this village.

When Sundarar reached Tirukkachur, it was noontime. Exhausted after a long journey by foot, he was resting under the mandapa near the holy tank. He was terribly hungry. An aged Brahmin priest appeared there. Observing the plight of the poet, the aged person wandered begging through the streets of the village. Then, he served that food to Sundarar. Thus satisfying the hunger, he disappeared. Later, Sundarar realized that the man who begged and served him was indeed Lord Shiva.

Shiva begging food from villagers

Highlights

A Devaram Sthalam or a Paadal Petra Sthalam is a holy site of Shiva, which is mentioned in the works of Appar, Sambandhar and Sundarar, the Tamil Shaivite poets. All those hymns are compiled as "Devaram" by Nambiyandar Nambi in the 12th century CE. There are 276 such divine sites. Besides, many other important Shiva temples are casually mentioned in the hymns. They are called Vaippu Sthalams.

As Sundarar has revered Kacchapeswarar of this village in his ten hymns, this site becomes a Devaram Sthalam. It is 26th Paadal Petra Sthalam in the Tondai region. Besides, Appar has casually referred to this site in one of his hymns. Hence, it is also a Vaippu Sthalam.

There are three Shiva temples, namely Marundeeswarar, Kacchapeswarar and Irandhiteeswarar. Within the Marundeeswarar temple, Shiva is also found as Virundhitteeswarar and Tyagaraja. Thus, Shiva is found in five different names on this site.

The soil of the Marundeeswara temple is considered to have medicinal value, and the devotees take it to their homes.

Somaskanda form of Shiva is referred to as Tyagarja only in three temples in the Tondai region. Kacchapeswarar temple is one of those temples. Sometimes, people even call this temple Tyagaraja temple.

A different depiction of Lingodbhava

History

The earliest reference to the temple is from Devaram. Sundarar and Appar have revered the site in their hymns. Without referring to the tradition and purely based on the opinions of the historians, the period of Appar is 6th or 7th century CE, and that of Sunarar is 8th century CE. As two Nayanmars sang about this site, we could clearly understand that the temple must have existed in the 7th century CE. Also, the site should have been popular for many years before the period of Appar. It is not known whether the temple was a wooden temple or only the Murtis (sculptures) were there without a proper structure. The original temple might have been built by Pallavas or the earlier Kings of other dynasties who ruled the region.

Besides this literary evidence, there is no material evidence to date the temple to the 7th century CE or before that. If we go by the inscriptions, architecture and iconography style, we can date the Kacchapeswarar temple to the 10th century CE and Marundeeswara temple to the 12th century CE. Irandhitteeswarar temple is a small temple that must have been built in the 20th century CE, but the icon of Shiva Linga is ancient. Vijayanagaras have built many shrines and extended the temples. Ganesha's shrine, studded with many relief images, is a notable contribution by Vijayanagaras.

The oldest inscription is from Parantaka Chola dated 911 CE and the latest inscription is from the Vijayanagara King, dated 15th century CE.

A total of 63 inscriptions are found in the village. Two inscriptions are found in the Marundeeswara temple and one in Ganesha's shrine near the pond. All the remaining inscriptions are located in the Kacchapeswara temple.

40 out of 63 inscriptions are from the Chola Kings. The maximum number of them, say 22, are inscribed during Kulotunga Chola III's time.

16 inscriptions are from Pandya Kings. The identification of exact Pandya Kings is debatable. There are differences of opinion on their period among the scholars.

There are four inscriptions from Vijayanagaras, one from Sambuvarayar and one from Telugu Cholas.

Banyan tree is the sthala vruksham (holy tree of the site), and it is called Aala Maram in Tamil. Hence, the inscriptions and Devaram hymns call the temple of Kacchapeswarar as Aala Kovil. Accordingly, the deity is mentioned as Tiru Aalak Koilandar, Tiru Aalak Koyil Udaiyar, or Tiruvalakkoyiludaiya Mahadevar . The village was always referred to as Tirukkachur. However, the alternate name is found as Nittavinodanallur in two inscriptions.

The number of inscriptions from each King is listed below.

Parantaka Chola I - 1

Kulotunga Chola I - 3

Kulotunga Chola II - 2

Rajadhiraja Chola II - 3

Kulotunga Chola III - 22

Rajaraja Chola III - 9

Maravarman Sundara Pandya I - 1

Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I - 8

Unknown Pandya King - 2

Jatavarman Veera Pandya I - 1

Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandya I - 1

Jatavarma Sundara Pandya II - 3

Vijayaganda Gopala Deva - 1

Rajanarayanan Sambuvarayar - 1

Virupaksha I - 2

Narasinga Raya - 1

Unknown Vijayanagara - 1

A brief description of all the inscriptions in chronological order can be seen below.

16-pillared mandapa in front of Kacchapeswara Temple

Inscription # 1

Reference - Aavanam Edition 20, Published year 2009

Location - A slab near the east outer wall

Period - 911 CE

King - Parantaka Chola I

Language - Tamil

It records the gift of land.

Inscription # 2

Reference - A.R. No. 269 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - North wall of the main shrine

Period - 1074/75 CE

King - Kulotunga Chola I

Language - Tamil

The inscription starts with the meikeerti of the King and also mentions his queen Bhuvanamuludaiyal. It records the gift of 90 sheep to provide oil for lamps in the temple of Tiru Aalak Koilandar.

Inscription # 3

Reference - A.R. No. 266 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - West wall of the main shrine

Period - 1114/15 CE

King - Kulotunga Chola I

Language - Tamil

The incomplete inscription records the gift of a lamp and 90 sheep to meet the temple expenses. It mentions the deity as Tiru Aalak Koyil Udaiyar. It mentions other places like Manimangalam village.

Inscription # 4

Reference - A.R. No. 280 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1114/15 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a sandhyi lamp and three cows to the temple. The deity is mentioned as Tiruvalakkoyiludaiya Mahadevar and the village is mentioned as Tirukkachchur alias Nittavinodanallur.

Inscription # 5

Reference - A.R. No. 265 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - West wall of the main shrine

Period - 1135/36 CE

King - Kulotunga Chola II

Language - Tamil

It contains the meikeerthi of the King with "Bhoomevuvalar" and mentions his queen name as Bhuvanamulududaiyal. It records the gift of a lamp to the deity Tiruvalakkoyiludaiyar.

Steps to Oushadagiri well - Marundeeswarar Temple

Inscription # 6

Reference - A.R. No. 267 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - North wall of the main shrine

Period - 1139/40 CE

King - Kulotunga Chola II

Language - Tamil

It contains the meikeerthi of the King, as seen in the previous inscription. It records the sale of land and subsequent arrangement of permanently lighting the lamps in the temple with that amount.

Inscription # 7

Reference - A.R. No. 261 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - North wall of the main shrine

Period - 1171 CE

King - Rajadhiraja Chola II

Language - Tamil

It records a gift of the tax paid in oil to provide the expenses of the temple connected with the lighting of lamps. It mentions the deity as Tiruvalakkoyiludaiyar of Tirukkachchur. It states that the gift was made by the assembly of the oil mongers gathered in a temple in Kanchi.

Inscription # 8

Reference - A.R. No. 262 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26

Location - North wall of the main shrine

Period - 1178/79 CE

King - Rajadhiraja Chola II

Language - Tamil

It records a gift of land for arranging the lighting of lamps in the temple. The deity is mentioned with the same name as seen in the previous inscription. It further provides the details of the sub-division. It states that Tirukkachchur was part of Chenkundra Nadu in Kalattur Kottam of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam.

Inscription # 9

Reference - A.R. No. 263 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the main shrine
Period - 1178/79 CE
King - Rajadhiraja Chola II
Language - Tamil

It records a gift of certain bronze vessels.

(Please note that the period of this inscription is as per my interpretation.)

Inscription # 10

Reference - A.R. No. 288 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1180/81 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of two Sandhi lamps and some amount of money.

Year inscribed as 1914 - when the steps were built for Oushadagiri well

Inscription # 11

Reference - A.R. No. 289 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1182/83 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of two Sandhi lamps and some amount of money.

Inscription # 12

Reference - A.R. No. 271 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1187/88 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a Sandhi lamp to the temple.

Inscription # 13

Reference - A.R. No. 275 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1190/91 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of 32 cows and a bull to provide one ulakku of ghee every day to the temple.

Inscription # 14

Reference - A.R. No. 297 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - East wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1192 century CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The inscription records the gift of a sandhi lamp.

Inscription # 15

Reference - A.R. No. 276 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1197/98 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of land.

Nardana Ganapati - Relief Image - Marundeeswarar Temple

Inscription # 16

Reference - A.R. No. 278 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 12th century CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a lamp.

It is a damaged inscription. The details of the exact date was lost. The period is given as per my interpretation.

Inscription # 17

Reference - A.R. No. 281 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1199/1200 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a nanda lamp, 32 cows and one bull to the temple.

Inscription # 18

Reference - A.R. No. 287 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1200/1201 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of two Sandhi lamps and some amount of money.

Inscription # 19

Reference - A.R. No. 295 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - East wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1200/01 century CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The inscription records the provision of irrigation facilities to the lands in Ambarpakkam, which was a devadana of the temple.

Inscription # 20

Reference - A.R. No. 292 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1202/03 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The incomplete inscription talks about a gift.

Shiva begging and serving Sundarar

Inscription # 21

Reference - A.R. No. 299 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - East wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1206/07 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The incomplete inscription records the gift of two sandhi lamps.

Inscription # 22

Reference - A.R. No. 298 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - East wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1210/11 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The incomplete inscription records the gift of a sandhi lamp.

Inscription # 23

Reference - A.R. No. 290 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1212/13 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of 67 veli of land to the temple to mitigate the situation that was caused due to the dwindling of devadana lands and the resultant impact in daily worship and repairs.

Inscription # 24

Reference - A.R. No. 291 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - Beginning of the 13th century CE (details of the exact year are lost)
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records a gift of some amount of money.

Inscription # 25

Reference - A.R. No. 285 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1205/06 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a sandhi lamp and 24 sheep to the temple.

Kacchapeswaar Temple surrounded by dense trees

Inscription # 26

Reference - A.R. No. 283 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1213/1214 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of lands from two different villages by the King to the temple.

Inscription # 27

Reference - A.R. No. 284 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1214/15 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a sandhi lamp and some amount of money to the temple.

Inscription # 28

Reference - A.R. No. 274 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1214/15 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the failure of crops and subsequent trouble to the villagers.

Inscription # 29

Reference - A.R. No. 279 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1214/15 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It appears to be a copy of a previously recorded inscription with a few variations.

Inscription # 30

Reference - A.R. No. 282 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1217/1218 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

It is an incomplete inscription that records an order.

Kartikeya with bow and arrow - 16-pillared mandapa

Inscription # 31

Reference - A.R. No. 316 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - Detached stone built into the south wall of mandapa in front of Anjanakshi Shrine
Period - 13th century CE (Exact year is lost)
King - Kulotunga Chola III
Language - Tamil

The fragmentary inscription records the installation of the image of Tirunavukkarasar in the temple of Tiruvalak Koyiludaiya Nayanar of Tirukkachchur alias Nittavinodanallur. It further provides the details of the location of the village. Tirukkachur belonged to Chenkundra Nadu in Kalattur Kottam in Jayankonda Chola Mandalam.

Inscription # 32

Reference - A.R. No. 293 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 13th century CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

The fragmentary inscription talks about a gift.

Inscription # 33

Reference - A.R. No. 270 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26 / Epi Indica XI
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1218/19 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of two Sandhi lamps and money towards the expenses of lighting the lamps regularly.

Inscription # 34

Reference - A.R. No. 294 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1221/22 century CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

The damaged inscription talks about a gift of land by the King.

Inscription # 35

Reference - A.R. No. 273 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1227/28 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of certain utensils to the temple.

Ganesha - 16-pillared mandapa

Inscription # 36

Reference - A.R. No. 264 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26 / Epi Indica XI
Location - North wall of the main shrine
Period - 18th December 1229 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records a gift of a lamp to the temple. It mentions the alternate name of the village as Nittavinodanallur in Chenkundra Nadu in Kalattur Kottam of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. The deity is mentioned as Tiruvalakkoyiludaiyar.

Inscription # 37

Reference - A.R. No. 272 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1229/30 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a Sandhi lamp to the temple.

Inscription # 38

Reference - A.R. No. 296 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - East wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1232/33 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

The inscription records the gift of a sandhi lamp and some amount of money.

Inscription # 39

Reference - A.R. No. 277 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1233/34 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records a gift of a lamp and some amount of money.

Inscription # 40

Reference - A.R. No. 309 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - West wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1234-35 CE
King - Maravarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a village called Nariyanpakkam.

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Sundarar - Kacchapeswarar Temple

Inscription # 41

Reference - A.R. No. 303 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 25th February 1257 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a bull or a cow.

Inscription # 42

Reference - A.R. No. 60 of 1932-33 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 12
Location - South wall of inner prakara
Period - 10th August 1256 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of 195 kuli of land. It mentions the site as Tiruvalak koyiludaiya nayanar temple in Tirukkachchu in Chenkundra Nadu, a sub-division of Kalattur Kottam in Jayankonda Chola Mandalam.

Inscription # 43

Reference - A.R. No. 304 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1258 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of land made by the trustees of this temple to another temple. It mentions the deity as Tiruvalakkoyiludaiya Nayanar.

Inscription # 44

Reference - A.R. No. 319 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26 / Epi Indica XI
Location - North wall of Vigneshwara Shrine near the Tank
Period - 9th May 1258 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of 23 veli of land done by three individuals to Narpattennayira Vinnagar Emberuman of Tirukkachchur. Interestingly, from this inscription, we understand that there was a Vishnu temple in this village during the Pandya period.

Inscription # 45

Reference - A.R. No. 305 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 24th June 1258 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a nanda lamp placed over a brass figure of a woman (called Pavai Vilakku in Tamil) to the temple. The woman named Urranachchi who made this donation had earlier donated 30 cows and a bull, it states.

Vijayanagara-era Maha Ganapati Shrine - Kaccapeswarar Temple

Inscription # 46

Reference - A.R. No. 317 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - Detached stone built into the south wall of mandapa in front of Anjanakshi Shrine
Period - 13th century CE (Exact year is lost)
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

The fragmentary inscription just briefly glorifies the King. Other details are lost.

Inscription # 47

Reference - A.R. No. 306 of 1909
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 13th century CE
King - Pandya King (name is lost)
Language - Tamil

It records the gift made by two individuals. The name of the Pandya King is damaged.

Inscription # 48

Reference - Aavanam Edition 20, Published year 2009
Location - North-west corner of the outer prakara wall
Period - 13th century CE
King - Pandya
Language - Tamil

It is a small inscription with the fish symbol of Pandyas.

Inscription # 49

Reference - A.R. No. 310 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - West wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1260-61 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the King's gift of two veli of land to two priests of Tiruvegamamudaiya Nayaranar temple in Kanchipuram.

Inscription # 50

Reference - A.R. No. 307 of 1909
Location - West wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1260s CE
King - Jatavarman Veera Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It fixes the rate at which certain taxes on cattle need to be collected.

Marundeeswara Temple Mandapa and Hills of Tirukkachur

Inscription # 51

Reference - A.R. No. 315 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the outer prakara
Period - 14th February 1263 CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It refers to the atrocities committed by certain people in Uttipakkam village and the punishment meted out to them. It states that their properties were confiscated and gifted to the temple.

Inscription # 52

Reference - A.R. No. 314 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1265-66 CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It refers to the gifts of lamps made during the periods of three or four earlier kings.

Inscription # 53

Reference - A.R. No. 308 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - West wall of the outer prakara
Period - 20th August 1268 CE
King - Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of cattle and a lamp.

Inscription # 54

Reference - A.R. No. 311 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the outer prakara
Period - 31st May 1279 CE
King - Vijayaganda Gopala Deva (Telugu Chola)
Language - Tamil

It mentions about the sale of a village.

Inscription # 55

Reference - A.R. No. 286 of 1909
Location - North wall of the mandapa in front of the main shrine
Period - 1289/90 CE
King - Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandya I
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of lands from three villages.

Ashwini Kumaras praying to Marundeeswara

Inscription # 56

Reference - A.R. No. 300 of 1909
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1289/90 CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya II
Language - Tamil

It mentions about the King fixing taxes to be paid by the weavers and oil mongers.

Inscription # 57

Reference - A.R. No. 302 of 1909
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - 1289/90 CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya II
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of 30 cows and a bull.

Inscription # 58

Reference - A.R. No. 301 of 1909
Location - South wall of the outer prakara
Period - Later 13th century CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya II (probably)
Language - Tamil

It mentions that Poyyamozhi Mangalam was the proprietary village of Perunambi entitled Muttamil acharya, the descendant of Sattanar.

Inscription # 59

Reference - A.R. No. 268 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26 / Epi Indica XI
Location - North wall of the main shrine
Period - 17th October 1350 CE
King - Rajanarayanan Sambuvarayar
Language - Tamil

It records the gift of a garden with Punnai trees by a priest of Pushpagiri to the temple.

Inscription # 60

Reference - A.R. No. 312 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the outer prakara
Period - 11th August 1442 CE
King - Virupaksha I (Vijayanagara)
Language - Tamil

It talks about two families that were dedicated to the service of the temple. It mentions the deity as Tiruvalaikkoyiludaiya Nayanar. The Geographic details are recorded as Tirukkachchur in Chenkundra Nadu in Kalattur Kottam of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam.

Navagraha mandapa with vimana - Marundeeswara Temple

Inscription # 61

Reference - A.R. No. 313 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - North wall of the outer prakara
Period - 26th February 1445 CE
King - Virupaksha I (Vijayanagara)
Language - Tamil

It mentions about two families who rendered their services to the temple hereditarily.

Inscription # 62

Reference - A.R. No. 318 of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South and East walls of Marundeeswara Temple
Period - 14th May 1489 CE
King - Narasinga Raya (Vijayanagara)
Language - Tamil

It records the foundation of a new village called Marundukku Nadayapuram on the hill at Tirukkachchur.

Inscription # 63

Reference - A.R. No. 318-A of 1909 / South Indian Inscriptions Vol 26
Location - South and East walls of Marundeeswara Temple
Period - 15th century CE
King - Vijayanagara
Language - Tamil

The fragmentary inscription records a tax-free gift. The name of the King and the details of the year are lost.

The rare depiction of Chandikeshwara with four heads

Three Temples

As stated earlier, there are three Shiva temples in Tirukkachur. Kacchapeswarar temple is the biggest one. It occupies an area of about 1.7 acres. Outside the temple complex, there are a few mandapas and shrines. They are not included in this area measurement. A vast pond covering about 1 acre of land is located near the temple.

At about 1.5 km from the Kacchapeswarar temple, Marundeeswarar temple is situated. It is also a big temple. Including the garden area, the entire temple complex occupies around 0.55 acre.

At about 300 m from Kacchapeswarar temple, Irandhitteeswarar temple is located. It has just a single shrine. It is a tiny temple, like any roadside temple.

Kacchapeswara Temple Entrance and 16-pillared Mandapa

Kacchapeswarar Temple

Kacchapeswarar Temple is the most prominent, the biggest, and the oldest temple of Tirukkachur. As stated already in the "Legend" section, as Vishnu in the form of Kacchapa prayed to Shiva Linga of this temple, Shiva is called Kacchapeswara. The temple has an equally significant shrine of Tyagaraja. Hence, it is also known as the Tyagaraja temple. The historical name is Tiru Aalak Kovil.

Kacchapeswara

The presiding deity, Kachchapeswara, is in the form of a Shiva Linga of about two feet high. He is enshrined in an east-facing Garbha griha (sanctum).

The main shrine consists of Garbha griha, Antarala, Ardha mandapa and Maha mandapa.

At the entrance of Antarala, small images of Siddhi Ganapati and Subramanya are situated.

Kacchapeswarar Temple Interior Compound Wall and Anjanakshi Shrine Vimana

Maha mandapa

There are many sub-shrines located in Maha mandapa. The shrine having the processional images is noteworthy. The large-sized bronze images of Somaskanda are beautiful. Ganesha, Uma-Mahesvara, Anjanakshi and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena are the other utsava deities that are found here.

The small bronze images of four Saivite saints namely, Appar, Sundarar, Sambandhar and Manickavasagar, called Nalvar, and the later period saints namely, Meikanda Sivam, Umapati Sivam, Maraignana Sivam and Arunantha Sivam are too found in the same south-facing shrine.

A lot of gigantic sized vahanas are also kept in this mandapa.

Maha mandapa has an entrance in the south direction instead of the east. An artistically beautiful stone window separates Nandi from the mandapa in the east.

Nandi Vahana

Koshta Murtis

The beautiful and ancient stone images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are Koshta Murtis found on the outer wall niches of the sanctum.

Ganesha in Koshta

Inner Prakara

The inner prakara (circumambulation) has many sub-shrines and icons.

Surya and Chandra are found in two corners facing the main shrine.

The south-facing shrine with the big images of Natarja, Sivakami and Manickavasagar is noteworthy.

A big icon of Ganesha called Gnana Ganapati is situated in the southeast corner. On the northeast side, there is Subramanya flanked by Valli and Devasena.

The corridor right behind the sanctum has many Shiva Lingas, such as Jwarahareswara, Kalatheeswara, and his consort, Marga Sahaheeswara, Nagalinga, Ramanatha, Nagaraja and Viswanatha.

Chandikeswarar is found near Durga's niche image. The four Saivite saints named Nalvar are located in a separate shrine.

The pillars of the Maha mandapa and the prakara are mostly circular in shape. Some of them have tiny carvings. The walls are studded with an incredible number of inscriptions.

Dakshinamurti in Koshta

Anjanakshi

Anjanakshi is the presiding Goddess of the temple. She has four arms and is in the standing posture. Her icon is around five feet high.

The shrine faces the south direction and it has its own Ardha mandapa, Maha mandapa, prakara and Koshta (niches) on the outer walls. However, the niches have no images installed.

Kacchapeswara's shrine and Anjakshi's shrine are connected by a Mukha mandapa. This mandapa has its entrance in the south.

Vishnu in Koshta

Tyagaraja

Outside the afore-mentioned Mukha mandapa, there is a mandapa named Nakshatra Mandapa. It has 27 pillars representing 27 stars.

The western end of Nakshatra mandapa has the shrine of Tyagaraja. As stated already, it is one of the very few shrines of Somaskanda form (Shiva seated with Uma and infant Skanda) known as Tyagaraja.

This shrine is too famous that people even call the entire temple Tyagaraja Temple. Ubaya Vidangar is the other name of the deity.

The shrine has a small Mukha mandapa and a prakara.

Brahma in Koshta

Maha Ganapati

On the vast outer prakara, the shrine of Maha Ganapati is situated at the southwest corner. The shrine is an architectural marvel done during the Vijayanagara period. The Mukha mandapa has many beautiful miniature bas-relief images. The life history of Sundarar is depicted in the story-telling mode in series of panels. Narasimha fighting with Hiranya, Shasta seated on an elephant and Gaja Samharamurti are some of the important relief images found here.

Maha Ganapati Shrine

Virundhitteeswarar

In the middle of the north outer prakara, a Shiva Linga is enshrined in an east-facing shrine. He is called Virundhitteeswarar. The name signifies the fact that he served a feast to his devotee Sundarar. Sundarar is found nearby in a separate shrine.

Virundhitteeswarar

Other Structures and Icons

In the northwest corner of the outer prakara, the shrine of Subramanya is located. Subramanya is flanked by Valli and Devasena. There is a Mukha mandapa in front of this shrine built by the Vijayanagara Kings.

A four-pillared mandapa is located in the southern outer prakara, precisely opposite Anjanakshi's shrine. Another four-pillared mandapa is situated in the northeast corner.

Bhairava and Kondrai Amman are the other deities found in the outer prakara.

Instead of the entrance, there is a stone window found outside the Mukha mandapa. Nandi mandapa, dhwajastambha (flagstaff), and bali peetha are seen one after the other facing towards the window. Here, there is a four-pillared mandapa. The sculptures of Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena are found on either side of the window. Besides, there is a small but beautiful relief image of Ganesha found here.

Vimana of Kacchapeswara

Entrance and Outside Structures

The east-facing entrance of the temple has just a base and no tower. If Vijayanagaras managed to complete constructing the tower for this colossal temple, it would have been a feast to our eyes.

Adjacent to the entrance, the vast pond is situated. It is known as Kurma Teertham. A 16-pillared mandapa with pillars studded with many interesting sculptures is found.

On the other end of the street, there is a shrine of Ganesha facing the main temple.

Typically, all other temples would have a temporary shed for Ratha (cart). However, here we have a permanent structure made of stone as the shed for Ratha. It is found near the shrine of Ganesha.

Gaja Samhara Murti - Maha Ganapati Shrine

Marundeeswarar Temple

Marundeeswarar Temple, located at about 1.5 km from Kacchapeswarar temple, is the second prominent temple of the village. The moderately big temple is situated atop a hill and hence it is also called "Malai Kovil" (the word "malai" means mountain in Tamil). The equivalent name of the deity in Sanskrit is Oushadagireeswarar.

Marundeeswarar

About three feet high Shiva Linga known as Marundeeswarar, is enshrined in the west-facing sanctum.

The shrine consists of Garbha griha (sanctum), Ardha mandapa and Maha mandapa.

At the entrance of Ardha mandapa, the old sculptures of Ganesha and Subramanya are found.

Maha mandapa is small and it has gateway in the south direction instead of the west.

There is a stone window facing Nandi, dhwajastambha and bali peetha located on the other side of the wall on the west side.

Marundeeswara Temple Entrance

Irul Neekki

The Goddess named Irul Neekki Amman is enshrined in a separate west-facing shrine.

Other Structures and Icons

In the prakara there are shrines for Gnana Ganapati and Bhairava. Both are old sculptures.

Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are Koshta Devas. All these icons are recently installed. I wonder what happened to the original images.

Chandikeswara is noteworthy. He has four heads and four arms, which is unusual. He is called Chaturmukha Chandikeswara.

A few images of Nagas are found near the Ganapati shrine. A broken old sculpture of Shanmukha and a Nandi are kept under a holy tree.

A small mandapa is situated near the Ganapati shrine.

Navagraha and a beautiful 16-pillared mandapa with a unique Vimana are located a little behind the shrine of Irul Neekki. The mandapa appears to have been built or renovated in 1949 CE.

There is a small but old mandapa that connects the temple entrance and main shrine. However, the sculptures on the pillars appear to be new.

Oushada Teertha

A deep well along with steps to reach down, is found within the temple enclosure. It is called Oushada Teertha. Based on the date inscribed deep down the well, it looks like the steps were built in 1914 CE.

Entrance

The temple has a south-facing entrance without a tower. A small mandapa is located in front of the gate.

Irandhitteeswarar Temple

At about 300 m from Kacchapeswarar temple, the third temple of the village named Irandhitteeswarar is located. Irandhitteeswarar means the Lord who begged and served food to his devotee.

It has just a single shrine. Shiva Linga appears to be old, but the temple is a new structure.

Irandhitteeswara Temple

Devaram

As already stated, this temple is a Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam (meaning, a holy site revered in Devaram). Sundarar has composed ten verses, as part of the 7th Tirumurai of Devaram. The Patikam reference numbers are from 7.041.1 through 7.041.10. (Devaram is classified into Tirumarais and each Tirumurai is sub-divided into Patikams.)

My little knowledge and lack of time do not allow me to translate these divine hymns into English. Hence, they are provided below in the Tamil script.

முதுவாய் ஓரி கதற முதுகாட்
டெரிகொண் டாடல் முயல்வானே
மதுவார் கொன்றைப் புதுவீ சூடும்
மலையான் மகள்தன் மணவாளா
கதுவாய்த் தலையிற் பலிநீ கொள்ளக்
கண்டால் அடியார் கவலாரே
அதுவே யாமா றிதுவோ கச்சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.1

கச்சேர் அரவொன் றரையில் அசைத்துக்
கழலுஞ் சிலம்புங் கலிக்கப் பலிக்கென்
றுச்சம் போதா ஊரூர் திரியக்
கண்டால் அடியார் உருகாரே
இச்சை யறியோம் எங்கள் பெருமான்
ஏழேழ் பிறப்பும் எனையாள்வாய்
அச்ச மில்லாக் கச்சூர் வடபால்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.2

சாலக் கோயில் உளநின் கோயில்
அவைஎன் தலைமேற் கொண்டாடி
மாலைத் தீர்ந்தேன் வினையுந் துரந்தேன்
வானோ ரறியா நெறியானே
கோலக் கோயில் குறையாக் கோயில்
குளிர்பூங் கச்சூர் வடபாலை
ஆலக் கோயிற் கல்லால் நிழற்கீழ்
அறங்க ளுரைத்த அம்மானே.
7.041.3

விடையுங் கொடியுஞ் சடையும் உடையாய்
மின்னேர் உருவத் தொளியானே
கடையும் புடைசூழ் மணிமண் டபமுங்
கன்னி மாடங் கலந்தெங்கும்
புடையும் பொழிலும் புனலுந் தழுவிப்
பூமேல் திருமா மகள்புல்கி
அடையுங் கழனிப் பழனக் கச்சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.4

Nakshatra Mandapa

மேலை விதியே விதியின் பயனே
விரவார் புரமூன் றெரிசெய்தாய்
காலை யெழுந்து தொழுவார் தங்கள்
கவலை களைவாய் கறைக்கண்டா
மாலை மதியே மலைமேல் மருந்தே
மறவே னடியேன் வயல்சூழ்ந்த
ஆலைக் கழனிப் பழனக் கச்சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.5

பிறவாய் இறவாய் பேணாய் மூவாய்
பெற்ற மேறிப் பேய்சூழ்தல்
துறவாய் மறவாய் சுடுகா டென்றும்
இடமாக் கொண்டு நடமாடி
ஒறுவாய்த் தலையிற் பலிநீ கொள்ளக்
கண்டால் அடியார் உருகாரே
அறவே யொழியாய் கச்சூர் வடபால்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.6

பொய்யே உன்னைப் புகழ்வார் புகழ்ந்தால்
அதுவும் பொருளாக் கொள்வானே
மெய்யே எங்கள் பெருமான் உன்னை
நினைவா ரவரை நினைகண்டாய்
மையார் தடங்கண் மடந்தை பங்கா
கங்கார் மதியஞ் சடைவைத்த
ஐயா செய்யாய் வெளியாய் கச்சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.7

ஊனைப் பெருக்கி உன்னை நினையா
தொழிந்தேன் செடியேன் உணர்வில்லேன்
கானக் கொன்றை கமழ மலருங்
கடிநா றுடையாய் கச்சூராய்
மானைப் புரையு மடமென் னோக்கி
மடவா ளஞ்ச மறைத்திட்ட
ஆனைத் தோலாய் ஞானக் கண்ணாய்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.8

காதல் செய்து களித்துப் பிதற்றிக்
கடிமா மலரிட் டுனையேத்தி
ஆதல் செய்யும் அடியார் இருக்க
ஐயங் கொள்ளல் அழகிதே
ஓதக் கண்டேன் உன்னை மறவேன்
உமையாள் கணவா எனையாள்வாய்
ஆதற் கழனிப் பழனக் கச் சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே.
7.041.9

அன்னம் மன்னும் வயல்சூழ் கச்சூர்
ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானை
உன்ன முன்னு மனத்தா ரூரன்
ஆரூ ரன்பேர் முடிவைத்த
மன்னு புலவன் வயல்நா வலர்கோன்
செஞ்சொல் நாவன் வன்றொண்டன்
பன்னு தமிழ்நூல் மாலை வல்லா
ரவர்என் தலைமேற் பயில்வாரே.
7.041.10

The temple is also a Devara Vaippu Sthalam. Appar has casually mentioned this site in his hymn, which is recorded in 6th Tirumurai. (Reference no - 6.70.4)

எச்சில் இளமர் ஏம நல்லூர்
இலம்பையங் கோட்டூர் இறையான் சேரி
அச்சிறு பாக்க மளப்பூர் அம்பர்
ஆவடு தண்டுறை அழுந்தூர் ஆறை
கச்சினங் கற்குடி கச்சூர் ஆலக்
கோயில் கரவீரங் காட்டுப் பள்ளி
கச்சிப் பலதளியும் ஏகம் பத்துங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே.