Thirukkachur Sri Oushadheeswarar

Thirukkachur is a very small village situated about 3 kms from Singaperumal Koil. This village lies on the west side of Singaperumal Koil off the GST Road.

There is a small hillock in this village called Oushadhagiri. At the foot hill, there is this stunning, ancient temple for Lord Shiva called Sri Oushadheeswarar.

This is a beautiful temple which is said to be built by Kulothunga Chozha, where the main deity is Sri Oushadheeswarar (in Sanskrit ‘oushadha’ means medicine) also called Marundheeswarar and Goddess Andhaka Nivarani Ambaal (also called Sri Irul Neekki Ambaal). This temple is also called as Malai Koil by the villagers.

The entrance of this temple is facing south. There is no Rajagopuram for this temple. Soon after the entrance, there is a stone pillared Mandapam on which wonderful ancient carvings of Lingothbavar, Kamakshi, Pattinathaar, Dhandaayudhapaani etc, are seen.

It is said that this hill is rich in herbs containing very rare and precious herbs all over.

Legend has it that, as per the direction of Lord Indra, Aswini Devas came to this place to find some rare herbs and worshipped Lord Shiva here.

It is also said that Sage Agasthiyar worshipped Lord Marundheeswarar both at Thiruvaanmiyur and Thirukkachur and enriched his knowledge on Herbal Medicines.

Another unique feature of this temple is the deity Sri Marundheeswarar here is facing west. The outer praakaram is huge and has Dwajasthambha and Nandhi facing east towards the sanctum.

The people believe that the soil of this place itself is medicinal (மண்ணே மருந்து) and would cure one from ailments. There is a small pit near Dwajasthambha filled with mud. This mud is considered sacred and medicinal, which devotees apply on their forehead like Vibhuthi.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Andhaka Nivarani Ambaal, where She is in standing posture.

Sri Brahma, Sri Durgai, Sri Sandigeswarar and Sri Bhairavar are seen on the praakaram around the sanctum. Sri Sandigeswarar here is seen with 4 heads which is not seen in many temples. He is called Chathurmuga Sandigeswarar.

Sri Dhakshinamurthy is present facing south.

There is an ancient well at the north eastern side of this temple. This serves as the Theertham for this temple and is called 'Oushadha Theertham'. This water too is believed to have medicinal properties.

This well is made in such a way that, one can enter the well and reach up to the surface of water through the steps. This steps start at a distance from the well and goes inside the well even below the water level. It is said that there are 60 steps to this stair case. A very unique and a 'well designed well’.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is Palaa Maram (Jack tree).

Girivalam is very popular here. Devotees undertake Girivalam on Pournami (full moon) days and Tuesdays praying the Lord, to get cured of their illness.

Sundaramurthy Naayanaar, who had visited this village and composed hymns on Sri Kachabeswarar, has sung 2 hymns in praise of Sri Oushadheeswarar too.

Thirukkachur is definitely a sanctified place, possessing 3 ancient Shiva Temples.

Vallakkottai Sri Subramanyar

Vallakkottai is about 50 kms from Chennai and about 12 kms South of Sriperumbudur.

This small village houses a beautiful temple with presiding deity as Sri Subramanyar along with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena.

The main deity is about 7 ft tall and such tall murthy for Lord Muruga is not seen in any other Murugan temple in this country. This temple is over 1200 years old.

According to temple legend, a king called Bagirathan was ruling a place called Chalankondapuram. Sage Naradha once visited this king and the king didn’t offer any due respect to Naradha. Naradha, who got angry with him, saw an Asura (demon) called Goran, on his way in the forests, who was doing Dhig Vijayam to various territories to defeat various kings.

Naradha advised Goran that his trip would be fulfilled only if he defeats Bagirathan. Goran took Saint Naradha’s words and defeated Bagirathan. Bagirathan lost all his kingdom and started wandering in the forests. One day he met Saint Naradha on his way. He apologized and prayed the saint to show him the way to gain back his kingdom. Saint Naradha directed him to meet Dhurvasa Rishi to get back what he lost. Bagirathan with much pain went and met Dhurvasar, who asked him to fast on Fridays and worship Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree to gain back the kingdom.

Bagirathan formed a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree and started worshipping. After his sincere prayers, Goran, who captured his kingdom, met Bagirathan and handed it back to him.

The place where Bagirathan made a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree is Vallakkottai.

Vallakkottai is named after a king called Vallan, who was ruling this part of the country and was atrocious to everyone. Everyone including Devas took refuge in Lord Muruga who fought a battle with Vallan and defeated him. Vallan realized his sins and apologized. He also prayed God that the place should be called after his name. From then this place was known as Vallan Kottai which later corrupted as Vallakkottai.

This place also has references by the name Kodai Nagar and Lord Muruga as Kodai Aandavar.

Once Lord Indra wanted to worship Lord Muruga and he requested Deva Guru Sri Brahaspathi to guide him to the right place. He was directed to Vallakkottai. He came here and made a pond out of his weapon Vajraayudham and performed Abishegam to the Lord. As Vajraayudham was used to create the pond, the Theertham here is called Vajra Theertham.

Arunagirinathar who was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga once visited Thirupporur temple near Chennai. After his dharshan there, he wanted to go to Thiruthani for having dharshan of Lord Muruga the next day. He rested at Thirupporur temple for the night and Lord Muruga appeared in his dream and asked him “how did you forget to visit me at Vallakkottai?”

Arunagirinathar came here to Vallakkottai before proceeding to Thiruthani. He had stayed here and sung about 8 Thiruppugazhs praising the Lord here.

In his Thiruppugazh, Arunagirinathar mentions this place as Kodai Nagar.

Other deities of this temple are Sri Vinayagar, Utsava Murugar, Sri Shanmugar and Sri Ambaal. The Mayil Vaahana is seen near the Bali peetam outside the sanctum.

There is a beautiful Dwajasthambha on the praakaaram, has lovely carvings of Lord Muruga and Vinayagar.

There are also some beautiful sculptures on the pillars of Ardha Mandapam like Thapas Kamakshi (as in Maangaadu), Sri Rama embracing Sri Anjaneyar etc.

Auspicious occasions like Skandha Sashti, Sura Samharam, Aadi Krithgai, Masi Krithigai, Tamil New Year’s day and Thaippoosam are celebrated well in this temple.