Temple Legend - At this revered location, Maha Vishnu performed a Shiva Puja to purify himself from the 'dosha' acquired after defeating the demons Madhu and Khaidaba, who had stolen the Vedas. Pleased by Mahavishnu's devotion, Shiva manifested as a linga at this site, which was formerly a bamboo forest. Over time a snake pit obscuried the linga beneath dense vegetation. A cow that grazed in the area would daily milk over the snake pit, inadvertently disclosing the linga's presence. Upon hearing of this extraordinary event from a passing herd, the Chola king conducted an investigation and unearthed the linga hidden beneath the tree. Acknowledging the site's divine importance, he resolved to build a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, with the presiding deity known as 'Pachur Nathar,' where 'Pachur' denotes bamboo, leading to the temple's name, Tirupachur, which reflects its origins in the bamboo forest where the linga first emerged.
The temple is distinguished by its three-tiered Rajagopuram to the south and a principal entrance gate to the east, encompassing two internal corridors (praharas). The outer prakaram is notably expansive, housing the balipeetam, dwajasthambam, and Nandi Mandapam on the eastern side, along with a separate sannidhi for 'Swarnakali' located within the eastern prakaram. Adjacent to this area is a mature bamboo tree, recognized as the temple's 'sthala vruksham.' A pathway from the southern outer prakaram leads into the inner prakaram, where the sannidhis of the presiding deity, the female deity, and Subramaniya are situated. The 'swamy' and 'Ambal' sannidhis are positioned side by side, both facing east, with the 'Ambal' sannidhi to the right of the presiding deity, a configuration believed to enhance creative energy. The 'Vimana' of the presiding deity is designed in the 'Gajaprushta' style, contributing to the temple's architectural importance. The presiding deity, Vaacheeswarar, is a 'Swayambu Linga,' untouched and thus referred to as 'Theenda Tirumeni Nathar.'
The 'dwarapalakas' flanking the entrance to the sacred area draw immediate attention as one approaches the sanctum. To the left lies the 'Ekadasa' Ganesha Sabha, featuring eleven meticulously crafted Ganesha idols arranged to engage visitors' interest, with three positioned at the front, three at the back, and five to the left. Adjacent to Ganesha is the planetary deity 'Ketu,' whose placement alongside Ganesha is significant in Vedic astrology, as Ganesha is regarded as the deity associated with Ketu. The walls of the sanctum are adorned with goshta images, including Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiyar, Durgai, and Brahma. Additionally, the inner prakaram surrounding the sanctum contains the venerated idols of the three nayanmars.
The temple was built by Karikala chola, a prominent chola king. According to local accounts, Karikala chola discovered a Shiva linga while traversing through a bamboo forest and subsequently constructed this temple dedicated to Shiva. Notably, the temple houses inscriptions from the chola period, providing valuable historical evidence of its significance and antiquity. One of the most significant celebrations held at this temple is Mahashivaratri, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple's observance of Mahashivaratri is particularly noteworthy, as devotees gather here to offer their worship and seek blessings from Lord Shiva on this auspicious occasion.
View of the Tower
Another View
Bamboo Tree
prakaram - east
East side entrance
Vacheeswarar
Balipeetam, dwajasthambam, Nandhi mandapam
Swarnakaali in outer prakaram