The Ucchi Pillayar Temple is
located in Rockfort, Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. It is perched on the top of
a huge rock and is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and according to a mythological
legend, this rock is the place where Lord Ganesh ran from King Vibhishana,
after establishing the Ranganathaswamy deity in Srirangam.
The temple was built in the 7th
century by the Pallavas of the Vijayanagara Empire and is a classic example of
Dravidian style of Temple Architecture. Though the Pallavas first cut the rock
and started the construction of the temple, it was later on completed by the
Nayaks of Madurai. It is 83 meters tall and is situated on the top of a rock
near Srirangam on the banks of river Kaveri and the access to the top is though
350 steep steps carved on the rock.
According to a legend after the
completion of the battle of Ramayana, Lord Rama gave Vibhishana (the brother of
Asura Ravana) a ‘vigraham’ (idol) of Lord Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu.
But the Devas wanted to stop Vibhishana, who was an Asura, to take an idol of
Lord Vishnu supreme form to his kingdom; hence they requested Lord Ganesh to
help them. On the way to his kingdom, Vibhishana stopped in Tiruchirappalli
located on the banks of river Kaveri. He decided to take a dip in the holy
water of the river and perform his daily rituals. But he could not keep the
vigraham of Lord Ranganatha on the ground because once placed on the ground, it
would get fixed in that place for forever. As he was searching for someone to
hold the idol while he would take bath, Lord Ganesh appeared in front of him in
the disguise of a young brahmin. And as Vibhishana took a dip in the water,
Lord Ganesh placed the vigraham firmly on the sands on the bank of Kaveri in
Srirangam. And as an angry Vibhishana chased the brahmin, he climbed on the top
of a nearby rock and when finally Vibhishana caught him, he stamped his head
with his powerful fist. That very instant Lord Ganesh revealed himself and told
an apologetic Vibhishana that the idol of Lord Ranganatha is destined to remain
in Srirangam. Interestingly, the dent on the head of Lord Ganesh can be still
seen on the idol.
The view from the top of the
temple is a spectacle to behold. One can see a panoramic view of Srirangam and the
entire city of Tiruchirappalli. The Gopurams of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple,
Jambukeshwar Temple, the majestic Kaveri and the Kollidam and the bridges
connecting Tiruchirappalli with Srirangam Island over Kaveri can also be
spotted. And specially the view on a moonlit night is mesmerizing and is a
pleasant delight for the mind and the heart. Due to its mystical aura and
magnificent rock architecture, it is an exemplary piece of architecture created
by the Pallavas and must be visited at least once in a lifetime.
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