Twin temples in a state of neglect
The Kachabeswarar temple in Thiurkachoor ... the soil here is sacred.
MANY TEMPLES of great antiquity and importance dot the landscape of Thondaimandalam (the present day border districts of northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh with its capital at Kanchi).
One such temple of hallowed antiquity is the temple of Thirukachoor. In fact, there are two temples, interlinked with each other. One is the bigger `Alakkoil' situated in the village and the other is the smaller `Malaikkoil' situated at a higher elevation on the periphery of a small hillock. Thirukachoor is situated about 2.5 km north-west to the town of Singa Perumal Koil. One has to take a right from the National Highway when travelling towards Chingleput from Chennai and cross the railway gate before the Singa Perumal Koil railway station and take another right after travelling for around a kilometre to reach the temple.
The main temple is called `Alakkoil' (the sthalavriksha being banyan) and `Kachabeswaram' in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit name is derived from the following episode from the puranas. When the Devas and Asuras churned the Ocean of Milk for Nectar using the `Manthara' mountain, Lord Vishnu took the form of a universal turtle to hold the mountain afloat in the ocean. As per the sthalapurana of Thirukachoor, Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Siva at this place to gain sufficient strength before assuming the form of a turtle. (Kachaba is turtle in Sanskrit).
The shrine is a `Padal Petra Sthalam' (shrine glorified in Thevaram), sung by Sundarar and Appar of the Thevaram Trinity and also by Manickavachagar. Thirukachoor is 26th of the 32 Padal Petra sthalams in Thondai Nadu.
Sundarar in his Thirukachoor ``Alakkoil Thirupathigam" describes Thirukachoor as a place surrounded by lush fields and lakes with swans. But today it is an almost dry lake.
This carving shows Lord Vishnu offering worship to Lord Siva
The other shrine is called `Malaikkoil' (temple on hill in Tamil), and the hillock is believed to be full of rare herbs. It is said that the Asvini devas got many rare herbs including the `bala' and `athibala' herbs from this hillock after praying to the presiding deity here. Hence the name `Marundheesvarar' for the Lord and `Oushadhagiri' for the hillock which is also said to be one of the places frequented by the 18 Sidhas led by Agasthya. Hence the hillock is considered holy and devotees undertake `Giripradakshanam' on auspicious days. Even the soil is considered to have medicinal value and the hillock to be a piece of the `Sanjivi' parvatha.
The main temple of Kachabeswaram is grand in size and execution. But today, it is in a dilapidated condition and renovation has been taken up. The presiding deity is Sri Kachabeswarar and His Consort Anjanakshi, also called Sundaravalli. The Nataraja icon here is one of the Tyagesas of the Thondai mandalam. He is known as Amrutha Thyagar. All the deities have been consecrated in `Balalayam.'
The renovation is being done in fits and starts as and when funds flow in. Only the basement of the Rajagopuram has been built. Repeated attempts to build the gopuram have failed in the past years. The temple is surrounded by an imposing mathil (wall) on all sides. Outside, in front of the temple, there is a large ground with a mandapam at the centre, where functions and fairs were hosted once upon a time. Adjacent to the open ground is the temple tank called Koorma Theertham, which badly requires attention.
Calling for attention
The Malaikkoil, which is about a kilometre from Alakkoil, is also in a dilapidated condition. But daily poojas are performed here. The presiding deity here is Sri Marundheeswarar and His Consort Anthaka Nivarani (Irul Neekki Thayar). The soil around the dwajasthambam is considered to be as holy as the vibuthi (sacred ash).
References to the temple are also found in Sekkizhar's `Periapuranam' and in Arunagirinathar's `Thiruppugazh.'
Apart from these `Thirukachoor Alakkoil Puranam,' comprising 608 stanzas, was composed by `Venbapuli' Velusamy Pillai, a student of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. Another sthalapurana is `Adhi Kanchi Mahatmya' in Sanskrit. The third one is the `Thirukachoor Nondi Natakam,' which described the life of a thief who lost his limbs because of his misdeeds and got them back by praying to the Lord of Thirukachoor.
The deity is called as Thiru Alakkoil Udayar and the town as `Jayam Konda Chola Mandalathu Kalathur Kottathu Sengundra Nattu Thirukachoor' in the inscriptions of the Cholas and as `Thevarathu Iswaran Udayar' in the inscriptions of the Pandayas. But many of these inscriptions are strewn around and defaced. These twin temples of Alakkoil (also called Thazhakkoil temple at a lower surface) and the Malaikkoil are a treasure trove of historic information.
DHANDAPANI ALAGIRI
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