Tamil Nadu: Pillaiyar Temple decks up on Ganesh Chaturthi

Arulmigu Uchchi Pillaiyar Temple in Tiruchirappalli of Tamil Nadu has been decked up on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Pillaiyar Temple is immensely popular as the deity has its abode at a height of 273 ft, a reason why the temple is called ‘Uchchi Pillaiyar’.

Trichy (Tamil Nadu):On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, Arulmigu Uchchi Pillaiyar Temple in Tiruchirappalli of Tamil Nadu has been decorated and decked up and a special 100 kg 'modak' has been prepared to be offered to the lord.

In Tamil Nadu, Ganesh known as Pillaiyar is very popular and his temples are ubiquitous across the state. But, Pillaiyar Temple is immensely popular as the deity has its abode at a height of 273 ft, a reason why the temple is called ‘Uchchi Pillaiyar’. Uchchi in Tamil means pinnacle and Pillaiyar is another name of the lord. In fact, one has to climb 437 steps to reach the heavenly place. There is also Thayumanavar temple nearby which makes Tiruchirappalli all the more interesting.

Legend has it that Ganesh took the form of a crow and flew to Kodagu hills where sage Agasthya was engaged in penance and hurtled down his kamandalu full of water so that the parched lands down south could get their thirst quenched, this gave birth to the Kaveri river. It is said that the Ganesh then came and settled atop the granite mountain to keep a watch on the flow of the river.

“Mostly shrines on hillocks are either of Perumal (Lord Vishnu) or of Murugan (Karthikeya). This is the only shrine for Vinayaka (Lord Ganesh) on a hill. Moreover, the granite mount resembles the shape of the lord,” Balasubramanian, the priest who recites the sacred hymns in Tamil at the Thaayumaana Swami temple said.

Yet another legend has it that Lord Ganesh appeared in the form of a boy before Vibhishana, carrying a replica of Rama (Ranganatha) on his return from Ayodhya after the coronation, on the banks of Kaveri. Vibhishana entrusted the statue and said it should not be laid on the ground and he went for a bath. But, before he could come back, the urchin had left it on the ground. Thereafter, the statue could not be lifted.

Vibhishana went up to the granite hillock where Ganesh appeared and made it clear that he had come to install Ranganatha on the banks of the Kaveri. Even now, the deity at Sri Rangam, Ranganatha in a reclining posture, has his eyes set towards Sri Lanka.

“The colossal granite mount is more than a billion years old according to geological studies. Around the rock is the fort and hence it is called rock fort. It is an ancient rock and has been immortalised in the identity of Trichy. The fort has witnessed many battles of historical importance. Well, whatever be the history or legend, the belief that Pillaiyar is maintaining a vigil on the flow of Kaveri still resonates,” said Vijayakumar, an amateur historian and president of the District Stamp Vendors Association.