Thayumanaswami Temple, Rockfort, Thiruchirapalli (#123)
Updated: Aug 26
தாயுமானசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், மலைக்கோட்டை, திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி
Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple Thayumanaswami Temple
High above the city of Thiruchirapalli, on the ancient rock formation that dominates the city, this Paadal Petra Sivan Temple has been built onto the living rock. The geological age of the exposed granite is several billion years old and has been home to human habitation since prehistoric times. The temple has been here at least since the early 7th century, when Thirugnanasampanthar and Appar venerated it in the Thevaram. It likely predates that time by centuries..
The story goes that once there lived a young woman at the base of the hill, who was an ardent devotee of the Lord. When she was pregnant, her mother who lived on the other side of the River Kaveri was to attend to the delivery of her child. But the river was in spate and the mother could not cross the river when the young woman went into labor. An old woman miraculously appeared and took the place of the mother and safely delivered the baby. When the actual mother later appeared, the mysterious old woman had disappeared. It is believed that the Lord himself came as the old woman and henceforth he was called Thayumanavar (தாயுமானவர்), "he who also bacame the mother". The Lord faces west while the Kodithambam or flagstaff is on the east. There is an interesting story about this too. It is said that there was once an old sage who grew a garden of Sevvanthi flowers or Chrysanthemums and presented it to the Lord everyday. The Chola king, who ruled from nearby Uraiyur (now a suburb of Thiruchirapalli) grew a liking to the Chrysanthemums and started taking them for the palace use which very much distressed the sage, which in turn angered the Lord. He turned away from the king's palace and caused a sandstorm that covered it. Thus the Lord is also known as Sevvanthinathar. The temple is also associated with the 18th century erudite Saivite scholar and saint, Thayumanavar who was named after the Lord here and dedicated his life to the temple.
The temple is on an east-west axis with the Lord facing west. It is a two-tier temple with the goddess Mattuvarkuzhali (மட்டுவார்குழலி) Amman on the lower level and Thayumanavar in a large Sivalingam form on the upper level. The temple is at a height of about 150 feet with the summit of the hill at 273 feet. It is a steep climb of about 258 steps. There are three active temples on the hill. The small Ganesha temple at the base is called the Manikka Vinayakar and it is customary to worship there before making the climb. The Ganesha temple at the top is known as the Uchipillayar temple. The hill is believed to be in the shape of a sitting Nandhi. The main theertham is the Brahmatheertham which is a large tank in the middle of town. The Sthalavirutcham is the Vilvam. The climb up has a number of smaller shrines and temples excavated into the rockface. As you ascend, you reach a point where turning left takes you to the Thayumanavar temple and you reach the Uchipillayar by turning right and climbing further up.
The hill itself has evidence of Pallava influence and it is possible that the Pallava king Mahendravarman I initiated the first major construction of the Sivan temple. There might have been an earlier Jain structure. Pandiyan, Chola and Vijayanagar influnces are evident. But the majority of the construction seen today is from the Nayakkan era. The various mandapams including the Nootrrukkal Mandapam or One Hundred Pillared Hall seen to the left just before reaching the Thayumanavar temple contain some exqusite sculptural art from that period.
The major festival is the Chithirai Brahmotsavam in April/May. Many other festivals are celebrated throughout the year. The temple is open from 6.00 am and 12.00 pm and then from 4.00 pm and 8.30 pm.
The temple is celebrated in Thevaram by Thirugnanasampanthar and Thirunavukkarasar. Thus it is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is the 6th Paadal Petra Sthalam on the south bank of the Kaveri and the 123rd overall.
Thirugnanasampanthar sang thus:
நன்றுடை யானைத்தீய திலானைநரை வெள்ளே
றொன்றுடை யானையுமை யொருபாக முடையானைச்
சென்றடை யாததிருவுடை யானைச்சிராப் பள்ளிக்
குன்றுடை யானைக்கூற என்னுள்ளங் குளிரும்மே.
(The mere mention of HIm, who is all that is good, who is nothing that is bad, who rides a spotless white bull, who has Uma as part of him, who has a limitless wealth of good qualities and who owns the hill of Chirapalli, soothes my heart) Thevaram 1.98
Thirunavukkarasar says:
மட்டு வார்குழ லாளொடு மால்விடை
இட்ட மாவுகந் தேறு மிறைவனார்
கட்டு நீத்தவர்க் கின்னரு ளேசெயும்
சிட்டர் போலுஞ் சிராப்பள்ளிச் செல்வரே.
(The Lord who together with Mattuvarkuzhali, joyfully rides a bull, blesses those who have renounced their worldly bonds, is like a sage who has attained the ultimate knowledge and he is the Lord of Chirapalli) Thevaram 5.85
The temple is part of the Rockfort complex in the heart of the city of Thiruchirapalli. Thiruchirapalli is 332 km to the southwest of Chennai and is well connected by modern highways, rail and air. It has an international airport. We visited in January 2005, July 2012 and August 2026. We were based in Thiruchirapalli or Trichy.
Sources: Dinamalar Temples - Sri Thayumanava Swami Temple
P.K Nambiar, K.C. Narayana Kurup, Census of India 1961. Volume IX. Part XI -D. Temples of Madras State: Thiruchirapalli and South Arcot pages 198-199
Thevaram
Shaivam.org
Courtesy Google Maps
Comments