about rockfort

Tiruchirappalli Rockfort, locally known as Malaikottai, is a historic fortification and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is located in the city of Tiruchirappalli, on the banks of river Kaveri, Tamil Nadu, India. It is constructed on an 83 metres (272 ft) high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside, the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort and the Thayumanaswami Temple, Rockfort. Other local tourist attractions include the famous Pallava-era Ganesha temple and the Madurai Nayak-era fort. The fort complex has witnessed fierce battles between the Madurai Nayakas and Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, Carnatic region and Maratha Imperial forces. The fort played an important part during the Carnatic Wars, helping lay the foundations of the British Empire in India. The Rockfort is the most prominent landmark of the city.

Among all the temples where shiva temples raised gracefully, 274 temples were adorned by saiva ceremonious songs saivaite saints.This temple is situated in the middle of the Tiruchirappalli town on the banks of the river Kaveri . The deity of this temple named Thayumanavar was glorified by saints Appar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar through their songs. The God of this temple is named as Mattuvar kuzhalammai.This temple is 1000 years old.According to hindu mythology there was a competition between Vayudevan and aadhiseshan as to who is mightier than the other . During the fight aadhiseshan covered the Mahameru mountain by his body and challenged vayudeva to release it if he could. In that fight the great meru mountain fell in to three pieces and each fell in three different places. one of such pieces is Tiruchira hills and others are Trikona malai and kalahasthi hills. The main deity of this temple is Sevvanthinathar. Once a woman devotee by name Rathnavathi lived near the temple who had deep faith in Lord Shiva invited her mother to help her during the time of delivery of her child. Her mother could not come and attend her since there was heavy flood in kaveri river at that time Since Rathnavathi sincerely prayed the Lord to help her, the Lordhimself came in guise of her mother helped her during the delivery of the child and then disappeared .Her family members began to know this fact only after her mother came and told that he could not come at that time due to heavy flood of kaveri and that it was that the Lord only came in guise her mother and helped her. After this incident the Lord came to called as Thayumanavar (ie) The Lord became the mother also.

lord thayumanavar

Arulmigu Thayumanavar Temple is situated in the Hill area which is in the Heart of Thiruchirappalli Town, taluk and district. This temple is 1400 years old . This temple was constructed at the height of 273 feet with 417 steps when no modern machines and instruments were available. This temple stood as a classic example of old traditional architectural and sculpture excellance of Tamil Nadu. This temple is a standing proof of the planning efficiency of our forefathers to build a temple at the peak of a Hill.

The temple is constructed in three stories, the sanctum sanctorum of uchi pillaiyar (Lord ganesha at the top) and the sanctum sanctorums of both Thayumanavar and Mattuvar kuzhalammai are in the middle of the hill temple. A carved cave temple built by Mahendra varma Pallavan is on the way to uchi pillaiyar temple. Thus it is learnt that this temple was built in during seventh Century AD. This temple was subsequently renovated and expanded by various rulers Chozha , Pandiya Naiyakkar and Viyanagara Kings. The stones for the construction of the temple were known to have brought from kodumbalur village near Tiruchirappalli.This temple&rsquos main deity is giving darshan stands towards the west . Besides Shiva and Ambal statutes,there were stone statues of jurakeswarar , Bairavar,Idumbar ,63 Nayanmars , the four important Saints and kotravai in the temple. Dakshnamoorthy appears in penance style in sitting position in this temple. This temple is at a distance of 10 Kms from Airport and 5 kms from Railway station.This temple is away from 5 KM from Central Bus stand and 1 KM from Chatram Bus stand.

pooja and darshan timings

Around 12.00 noon every day, 200 persons are provided with annadhanam to sevarthis and the general public visiting the temple. Tables and chairs are provided to sit and eat food. Special annadhanam with vada, payasam and appalam is provided during the festival days and special occasions. Purified drinking water facility has also been provided.

pooja and darshan timings

deities

Manikka Vinayagar
Thayumanaswamy
Uchi Ganesha

specialties

In modern times, the fort is maintained and administered by the Chennai Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India. The fort is one of the prominent tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu. In 1849 there was a stampede at the Rockfort Uchipillayar temple and approximately 500 people died as per Nandanthai Vazhi,Kavery book written by Thi.Janakiran-Sity duo. The cause of stampede is unknown.

Mother Eason :-
It is called Thayumanaswamy because the Lord himself came as a mother in the temple and gave birth. Women who pray here will have a healthy delivery.

Dhanagupta lived with his wife Rattinavati in Trishiramalai. Rattinavathi, who had a happy marriage with Dhanagupta, worshiped Sevvanthinatha, who was ensconced in Trisiramalai every day, and became a mother. She informed her mother to come and see the delivery soon after delivery. On the way to Trishiramalai from Poombukar with the medicines and oil required for the delivery of the mother and daughter, the arrival of the mother was blocked at the north bank due to the flooding of the Cauvery.

She prayed to Sevvanti Nath, whom she worshiped, as the mother did not come even though the time was approaching for giving birth. At that time, Sevvanti Nathere took on the role of a mother and took care of the mother and the newborn baby for seven days after taking proper care of Rattinavati who was suffering from exhaustion. The true mother came to the Cauvery river. She was stunned as to who was the real mother of the two. The Lord, who came as a mother, disappeared and fell in the sky and appeared as the left-hand vehicle.

From that day Trisiramalai was known as Thayumanavar of Sevvanthinathar. It is still celebrated as Chettiben medicine in the Chitrai Perundruvizha.

If pregnant women remember the Mother Swami and chant Sukaprasava Slokam thrice daily with devotion, Sukaprasavam will occur. It can be seen that those who have delivered a healthy child come and offer milk and bananas to Swami and worship them every day.

location

Arulmigu Thayumanaswamy Temple, Rock Fort, Thiruchirappalli - 620002, Thiruchirappalli District.

Phone Number : 04312704621
Malaikkottai Thayumanavar Temple in Tiruchirappallai also known as Sirappalli has old pride and legendary fame. This temple is called as south kayilayam and its main deity had been first called as Malaikkolunthureesar, then as Sevanthi nathar and later called as Thayumanavar since he came in the guise of mother and did the delivery of child of a woman devotee.The hill where the temple is built is also called as Thiruseera malai ,Thirusera malai,Muththalai malai and Bhirmagiri malai. The Area in which the temple is situated was called as Thirusirapuram before the temple was built. Legends told that a demon called Thirusiran prayed the Lord and obtained many boons and this place thus came to be called Thirusira puram. Legends narrated that there was a competition to decide who is superior than the other between vaayu bhavan and Aadhiseshan when praying the Lord Siva at Kailash.At one stage Aadhiseshan encircled the entire kailayala hill by his body and challenged vayu bhavan to release the hill if he could.Vayu Bhavan could unleashed a small part of the hill only even after changed himself as a big storm. Such part of the hill fell into three parts in the world and among those the first one was Thirukalathi hill, the second one Thirikona hill and the third one was Thirusira hill. The demon Thirisaran built a sanctum for the naturally formed lingam (Suyambu Lingam) and worshipped the deity and thereby this temple came to be called Thirisarapuram . The Lord was first called as Malaikolunthunaathar.

Then he was worshipped by sage Sarama by offering sevanthi flowers and he was therefore be called as Sevanthi nathar later. Once the sage warned the thieve after knowing that the flowers to be offered to God were stolen by him. He complained before the Chozha king as the thieve did not bother his warning. Since the king also did not punish him, he appealed before the God himself .The legend told that idol who so far faced east got wild turned towards west and destroyed Uraiyur of chozha kingdom by creating sandstorm and so the deity stood facing west from that onwards.Later Siva calm down at the request of Vekkali amman. As Ravanan abducted Seetha, Rama waged a war against him and Vibishnan the brother of Ravananan helped Rama during the war. When Vibishnan returned after attending the Ramas coronation ceremony , an idol of Ranganathana swami a replica of Vishnu was presented to him by Rama out of affection.Vibishnan wanted to install the idol in Lanka. While Rama presenting this idol he specifically told vibishnan not to place the idol on ground and if he did he could not remove it from that place . While on his way to Sri lanka Vibishnan landed in the evening after crossing Kaveri river to do his daily rituals. The devas of indra loka who averse to the idea of vibishnan, Ranganatha idol to be taken to Srilanka, prayed to Lord vinayagar in this respect. Lord vinayagar at the request of the devas appeared as a cowboy before Vibishnan. Knowing that the idol Ranganathaswami should not be placed on the ground, Vibishnan searched for a man to hand over the idol just to keep it on hand for some time. till he finished his daily rituals . He saw the cow boy and asked him to keep the idol for some time When vibishnan immersed in water to take bath, the cowboy placed the idol on the ground. Knowing this, vibishnan ran to catch the cowboy, but he could caught him only at the top of the hill. When vibishnan put a sting on the head of the cowboy , Lord vinayagar then changed to his original appearance and blessed him .He also explained that the idol had to be established in between two banks of the river Kaveri which has been already determined.Vibishnan regretted for his mistake and sought apology from the Lord.The place where Lord Vinayagar placed the idol is now called as Srirangam.