{"id":30022,"date":"2015-12-23T10:13:08","date_gmt":"2015-12-23T09:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/no-problem-mam.com\/?p=30022"},"modified":"2020-12-10T17:12:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T16:12:14","slug":"tiruchirappalli-tamil-nadu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/tiruchirappalli-tamil-nadu\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), the city of the Rock Fort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tiruchirappalli, better known as Trichy is instantly recognisable from the temple perched on high rock outcrop near the centre and it is one of the oldest cities in Tamil Nadu. From this distant past, this bubbling city preserves a great spiritual tradition represented by its innumerable temples of which the famous “Sri Rangam”, the largest of all India, is part.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
The Rock Fort temple in the 19th century | Photo : The British Library<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tiruchirappalli’s story begins in the 3rd century BCE, under the Chola kings. Later it was ruled by the Pallava and Pandya dynasties until the 10th century when the Cholas reconquered Tiruchirappalli and held sway until their empire declined and fell to the Vijayanagaras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1565 Trichy was taken over by the Madurai Nayaks; under their rule the city prospered. From the 1730s Tiruchirappalli was governed by the Marathas, the Nawabs of the Carnatic, the French and the English in turn. Trichy was at the centre of the Carnatic wars of the 18th century, when the English and French were fighting it out for supremacy in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
A temple to Vishnu in the precincts of Sri Rangam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unlike most Indian towns, the busy centre of Tiruchirappalli offers little in the way of sight-seeing. The interesting places are outside the centre or outside the town entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And now, let’s visit Tiruchirappalli<\/strong>!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Rock Fort Temple<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Perched 83m high on a massive outcrop of rock not far from the city centre stands Tiruchirappalli<\/strong>‘s emblematic rock fort temple complex.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
The Rock Fort temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Nanak dynasty built the fort here because of its naturally strategic position; it played a role in the Carnatic wars of the 18th century.<\/strong> But long before that, the Pallava and Pandya dynasties had already established temples on the rock like the Thayumanavar temple which was constructed by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the 6th century AD (see below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three main temples inside the fort precinct:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manikka Vinayakar temple<\/strong> at the entrance is dedicated to Ganesha<\/a> the elephant-headed god. The temple’s spacious hall contains a variety of sculptures and images of the god in different poses and under different names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
Faithful people climbing the steps of the fort to visit the various temples<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thayumanavar temple,<\/strong> built in the 6th\u00a0century,\u00a0<\/strong>dedicated to Shiva, houses a 2m lingam<\/a>.\u00a0Shiva is worshiped as Thayumanavar and his consort\u00a0Parvati\u00a0is depicted as Mattuvar Kuzhalammai. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the\u00a0Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the ‘Nayanars’. The temple is generally\u00a0out of bounds to non-Hindus but if you show your motivation and faith, you may enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
View of the Thayumanavar temple and the city of Trichy at the top of the rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ucchi Pillayar temple<\/strong>, built in the 7th century, is also dedicated to Ganesha. It is perched at the top of the outcrop and is reached by 417 steps. From there you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the town, the Kaveri river and the Sri Rangam temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
There are still a few hundred steps (often burning) to reach the top of the rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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St. Lourdes Church<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\"Tiruchirappalli\"
Sainte Lourdes Church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Near the rock fort you’ll find an interesting Gothic-style church<\/a> built by the Jesuits in the late 19th century.\u00a0Beautiful stained glass are all over the church.\u00a0A serene place\u00a0to visit and contemplate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (9km)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\"Tiruchirappalli\"
The colorful gopurams flanked by deities <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On an island formed by the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers 9km from Tiruchirappalli<\/strong> stands Sri Ranganathaswamy temple.\u00a0<\/strong>This immense temple with its 63-hectare precinct is dedicated to god Vishnu.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
Sumptuously carved pillars from one of the complex’s pavilions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The temple includes seven prakaras<\/em> or concentric compounds, 21 gopurams <\/em>(towers)<\/strong> magnificently sculpted in the Dravidian style, 39 pavilions, 50 shrines and an Ayiram Kaal Mandapam or thousand-pillared hall. It is considered the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
The Srirangam temple in the distance (view from the rock-fort)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sri Rangam is a particularly important place for Vishnuites<\/strong> (devotees of Vishnu) because it is said to houses the first of the eight self-manifested Vishnu idols (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras). Thus it is also regarded as the first and most important of the Divya Desam<\/em><\/strong>, the 108 principal Vishnu temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
The main entrance to the holy of holies, once past this door, photos are prohibited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Tiruchirappalli\"
Back door of the holy of holies (Paramapada vaasa), which houses the idol of Sri Ranganthar; it is only open during the 10 days of the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The inner sanctum (out of bounds to non-Hindus) contains an idol of Sri Ranganthar,<\/strong> a form of Vishnu, lying on the holy cobra Adisesha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.srirangam.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representation of the idol of Sri Ranganthar, a form of the god Vishnu lying on the serpent Adisesha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Amma Mandapam ghats<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\"Tiruchirappalli\"
Hindus take a sacred bath in the Cauvery river near the Amma Mandapam ghats | Photo : EPS | M K Ashok Kumar<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This amma mandapam bathing ghats* is situated on the banks of river cauvery,\u00a0about a kilometer from the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple gopuram entrance.<\/strong>This bathing steps is the place where the HIndu pilgrims take a holy dip in the river Cauvery and perform rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The river Kaveri (or Cauvery) is one of the seven India’s holiest rivers <\/strong>together with the Ganga,\u00a0Yamuna,\u00a0Saraswati,\u00a0Kshipra,\u00a0Godavari and\u00a0Narmada rivers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* ghat: flight of steps covering the banks of a river <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jambukeswarar -Thiruvanaikaval Temple (9km)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Two kilometres from Sri Rangam temple is Jambukeswarar, one of Tiruchirappalli<\/strong>‘s most revered temples. It is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams<\/a>.\u00a0Pancha Boota Sthalams are the five Shiva temples that represent the five elements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jambukeswarar’s Shiva Lingam is an Appu Lingam, representing water.<\/strong> The sanctum receives a constant flow of water from an underground source. Non-Hindus are not usually allowed into the sanctum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trichy\"
Entrance of Jambukeswarar temple <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jambukeswarar temple is also one of the 275 <\/strong>Paadal Petra Sthalams<\/strong>,<\/em> temples glorified in the songs of praise of the four greatest Shaivite saints or Nayanars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as Shiva is never far from his female counterpart,<\/strong> another temple in the same complex houses and idol of the goddess Devi Akilandeswari Amman. Akilandeswari means “Ruler of the Universe”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tiruchirappalli\"
One of the huge colonnaded corridors of the Jambukeswarar temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Samayapuram Mariamman Temple (20km)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Samayapuram Mariamman is a Hindu temple whose main idol, of the goddess Samayapurathal or Mariamman, is made of sand and clay.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The long path leading to the temple of Mariamman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So unlike many Hindu holy statues, this one is not washed in an abhishekam<\/em> ritual; instead, the ritual is performed on a small stone statue in front of the main one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The faithful believe this goddess has healing powers,<\/strong> and it is customary at this temple to buy small steel or silver figurines and to put them in a donation box in order to be cured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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small figurines to make healing wishes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The temple attracts thousands of devotees and in terms of donations is second only to Palani<\/a>,<\/strong> the richest temple in Tamil Nadu.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Detail of the ceiling of the great hall overlooking the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Vekkaliamman Temple<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Vekkaliamman temple in the Tiruchirappalli suburb of Uraiyoor is dedicated to Vekkali, a form of the goddess Parvati<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trichy\"
Entrance to the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The temple exists since at least the early Chola period. Though architecturally modest, the temple is noted for the fact that its inner sanctum has no roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story goes that roofs have been built a number of times but have been burnt each time by the power of Vekkali Amman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Behind the gate we can see the main sanctuary protected by a simple leaf and bamboo roof<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sri Premananda Ashram (25km)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Sri Premananda Ashram nestles in lush green surroundings in the village of Fatima Nagar about 30 minutes from Tiruchirappalli<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swami Premananda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ashram’s founder was Swami Premananda, now deceased. Swami Premananda was a spiritual master who devoted his life to the service of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of the Ashram is to offer spiritual guidance and help to all who come and to offer service to those in need throughout the world. Swamiji\u2019s teachings are universal and transcend the barriers of race and religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KNOW MORE ABOUT IT<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Viralimalai Murugan Temple (30km)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Viralimalai Murugan is one of many Tamil Nadu temples devoted to the god Murugan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Painting of Arumugan, a form of the god Murugan with six faces and twelve hands sitting on his peacock with his two consorts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is perched on a hill in the village of Viralimalai (most Muruga temples are located on hilltops). There are 207 steps to climb to reach the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Detail of the temple ceiling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The inner sanctum or moolavar<\/em> houses an idol of Arumugan<\/strong> (a form of the god Murugan with six faces and twelve hands), elegantly seated on a peacock, his divine vehicle, with his consorts Valli and Deivannai standing on either side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The steps that lead to the temple with a small altar dedicated to Murugan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the many stories related to the temple tell us that a 15th century Tamil poet, Arunagirinathar, attempted suicide by throwing himself from one of the towers of the famous Tirunamalavalai temple.\u00a0The god Murugan who was passing by saved him.\u00a0The poet then became a staunch devotee of the god and the verses he composed in his honor were sung by himself in the temple of Viralimalai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the statues of the Viralimalai temples<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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