Vacheeswarar, Tirupachur, Tiruvallur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Vacheeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Pasupati Nayaki, MohanambaaL, PaNaimulai Nachiyaar, Thankatali
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tiruppachur
Vriksham:	Moongil	Teertham:	Soma Teertham, MangaLa Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Tondai Nadu)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tirupachur	District:	Tiruvallur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruvallur (4 km)	Kanchipuram (48 km)
	Chennai (53 km)	Vellore (105 km)

Location

Tirupachur is located about 60km from Chennai.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This place used to be a bamboo forest once (pachu = bamboo). As the Lord was found in a bamboo forest he is called Pachuranathar.

The temple puranams suggest that this temple may be 1500-2000 years old. One of the puranams, however, is more recent – about 1000 years old. According to this, a shepherd grazing his cattle observed one of his cows pouring milk at a tree, and informed the Chola King – Karikala Chola – who was ruling at the time. The King had his men and dig up the place with a device called vasi. Blood started oozing out, scaring the King and his men away. The following day, the king’s enemies arranged for a pot of venom to be sent to the king, saying it was payasam. When the King was about to consume it, it a snake charmer came there and disappeared with the pot. That night, Lord Siva appeared in the king’s dream and revealed that it was He who had come as the snake charmer, and also ordered the king to build a temple in the forest. The Lord her is called Vacheeswarar, referencing the scar on the Lingam, when the axe struck it.

Goddess Parvati was banished for having attended her father Daksha’s Yagam, and had to be born on earth. She undertook severe penances to get back to Lord Siva. The Lord was pleased with her devotion and called her en kadhaliye (my love) and married her. Therefore the Goddess here is known as Thankadali Amman.

Brahma was punished for falsely claiming to have seen the head of Lord Siva as the pillar of light. Similarly, the thazhampoo flower was punished for supporting Brahma’s claim, and was banned for use in Siva puja. However, as the flower pleaded with him for mercy, the Lord allowed it to be used only on Sivaratri day poojas.

Lord Vishnu was inflicted with a dosham for killing demons, and lost 11 of his total 16 wealths. On praying to Lord Siva, he was advised to install 11 Vinayakas here – they are enshrined at the Vinayakar Sabhai / Vinayaka Mandapam at this temple. It is also said that Vinayaka broke the axle of Siva’s chariot for ignoring him during the latter’s march on the Tripurantakas (associated with the Tripurantakar temple at Tiruvirkolam / Cooum). Only after enquiry, did Vinayakar allow Siva to proceed. There are a total of 16 Vinayakars in this temple.

Kurumban a chieftain of this place, refused to pay the taxes to the Chola king, defeated the King with the help of Kali. The King went and complained to Lord Siva who deputed Nandi to defeat Kali. Nandi defeated Kali and bound her with gold chains. Kali temple is a separate shrine with Kali’s legs bound.

Demons Madhu and Kaitabha stole the four Vedas and hid under the sea. Lord Vishnu took the Matsya avataram and retrieved the Vedas after killing the demons. The killing of the demons left scars on Lord Vishnu who prayed to Lord Siva for remedy. As guided by Lord Siva he worshipped him here and was cured. The temple tank is called Perumal Vinai Theertha Theertham, and Lord Siva is also sometimes referred to as Perumal Vinai Theertha Iswaran.

Lord Siva here is a Swayambhu murti, and sits on a square peetham. Ambal’s shrine is to the right of Lord Siva’s shrine, and this is considered as kalyana kolam.

Adi Sankarar installed a Srichakram here which is enshrined in the ardha mandapam. Swarna Kali, who was subdued by Nandi, is enshrined depicting 4 arms, and her legs can be seen shackled. She receives special worship on pournami (full moon) days.

Other information for your visit

Vataranyeswarar temple at Tiruvalangadu (a Paadal Petra Sthalam) is located about 15km away. The Veeraraghava Perumal temple, a Divya Desam sthalam is 5km away. Also, Tiruttani – one of the Arupadai Veedu temples of Murugan – is 36km from Tirupachur, and behind that temple is the temple of Saraswateeswarar, a Vaippu Sthalam.