275 Thevara Shivasthalam !! Thirukachur – Thiru Kachapeshwarar/Thiru Amrutha Tyagarajar Temple !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara  Sankara !!

 

Thirukachur Kachapeshwarar/Thiru Marundeeshwarar Temple is one of the 275 Thevara Shiva Sthalam of Lord Shiva located in Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District.  There three temples situated within the precincts of the main shrine Thiru Kachapeshwarar, Thiru Virundheeshwarar/Irandheeshwarar/Virudhitta Ishwarar at the foot of the hill and Thiru Mrundeeshwarar Temple at the hilltop. 

Presiding deity – Moolavar - Thiru Kachapeshwarar/Thiru Marundheeshwarar with his consort Goddess Anjanakshi Amman/Irulneeki Thayar/Sundaravalli Thayar.  Utsavar – Amrutha Tyagarajar

Vimanam – Gajabrushta Vimanam

Theertham – Marundhu Theetham (Herbal tank)

Worshipped by – Ashwini Kumaras, Saint Sundarar, Saint Arunagirinathar

Mangalasasanam – Saint Sundarar sung praising Lord Shiva in this temple.  Saint Arunagirinathar sung priaising the glories of Lord Subramanya here.

Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Anjanakshi Thayar, Lord Chandikeshwara with four face, Lord Bhairava

Festivals – Chithirai Brahmostavam and Chitra Pournami on the hill temple of Lord Kachapeshwarar.  Masi Brahmostavam, Girivalam and Padi Puja and Thirukarthikai are celebrated on the temples at the foot hill. 

Sthalvruksham – Banyan tree and Jackfruit tree

Thiru Sundaramurthy Nayanar after visiting Lord Vedagirishwarar at Thirukazhukundram, he preceded to this sacred place before Kanchipuram.  Sundarar and his group of holy men were tired of hunger and thirst when they reached Thirukachur.  They solemnly decided to relax in a temple premise here.  At this point of time, an old Sanyasin appeared before them from nowhere and requested them to stay behind for a while; he advised them that he will be back any time with food for them.  After saying so, the old man left the temple premise with a bowl for alms (Thiruvodu) in his hand.  Sundarar waited with utmost reverence for the old sanyasin.   Shortly, the Sanyasin arrived with enough food on his bowl and served Sundarar and his group of holy men at his heart’s content.   Sooner, they finished their meal and found that the Sanyasin was nowhere to be seen.  Sundarar passionately sung praising the compassion of Lord Irandheeshwarar/Virundheeshwarar in his beautiful verses.  Thus, the Lord has got his name ‘Irandeeshwarar’/Virundheeshwarar (A generous host for his devotees) in this temple; the most compassionate Lord went to receive alms to feed his fervent devotee in this sacred land.

Another legend has that Deities and demons decided to churn the milky ocean in order to attain the elixir of Immortality.  Mount Mandara was used as the center pole and Serpent Vasuki as its rope, the churning of milky ocean was instigated.  Soon Mount Mandara was started to sink and it created an impediment of their task.  Lord Vishnu arrived in this sacred land; he created a tank and prayed to Lord Shiva.  Lord Shiva was pleased at the devotion of Lord Vishnu and blessed him triumph in his endeavor as ‘Katchapa’ –Tortoise.  Thus, the presiding deity of this temple was known as Kachapeshwarar.

There is an interesting legend associated with the Marundheeshwarar shrine situated atop the hill.  Lord Indra was afflicted with an illness due to a curse.  Ashwini Kumaras arrived in this sacred land at the divine instruction of Maharishi Narada in search of herbs.  They prayed to Lord Tyagaraja and his consort Goddness Anjanakshi in this land.  The compassionate Lord instructed Ashwini Kumaras the place where the herbs located at the hilltop.  Unfortunately, the whole area was engulfed with the darkness and it created an obstruction in their mission to locate the herbs. Goddess Anjanakshi/Irulneeki Thayar dispensed lights on this hill and removed all the obstacles.  At last, Ashwini Kumars found the herbs Bala and Athibala, consequently Indra was got rid of the curse.   

It is believed that whoever worships Goddess Anjanakshi Thayar in this temple would be cured from the eye related illnesses and Lord Marundeeshwarar would provide good health and prosperity in their life.

This temple remains open from 8.00AM to 11.00PM in the mornings and 4.30PM to 8.00PM in the evenings.

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara!!

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!