MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TO TRICHY ROCKFORT TEMPLE
Today (09.02.2026). I have visited Trichy Rock Temple and I have attended all types of Holy Baths (Abhishekham) such as Honey, Milk, Curd and Panchamirtham. I have started early in the morning and I have travelled by an Auto till Kumbakonam from my place (Kalyanapuram).
I have boarded a Trichy Bus from Kumbakonam. It took three-hour time, to reach Trichy Bus Stand. There I had one Dosa and Two Vadas in a small eatery, and when I asked for drinking water, they have kept a Jug in the table, and asked me to drink from that! They didn’t keep any tumblers! Then I had a cup of tea in a small tea shop, and caught an Auto to reach the Rockfort. The Auto Driver charged Rs.1,000/- for up and down trip, and when I spoke to him, he said that he was serving as a part time priest in a Kaliamman Temple and during rest of the time, he rides the auto for running his day to day life.
For reaching the Rockfort we have climb for more than 400 steps to see our wonderful ‘PILLAIANDAAN’, which I used to fondly call our dear Pillaiyar. I really found it very tough to climb in the steps, but some-how I have managed. But while getting down from the hill, I found very easy to walk down in the steps! Before, visiting the shrine of Lord Ucchipillaiyar, we have to see the shrines of Lord Shiva (Thayumanavar) and Manicka Vinayagar. I have purchased some flowers and Arukampul, which is most liked by Lord Vinayaka. The shrine is full crowded! I have asked to sit before the shrine and I have seen the Holy Baths, and after that, they have decorated the idol of Lord Vinayaka with flowers and flower garlands (Alankaram). I have handed over my things (Flowers and divine grass) to the priest. I have also purchased an Annadanam ticket for Rs.100/-. After having the Darshan of the Lord, I drank a ginger lemon cool drink from a nearby shop, and came down to the bottom. After that I had one tea, and caught the Kumbakonam bus from Trichy Bus Stand. That’s how my wonderful travel to Malaikottai Vinayaka was ended.
Ucchi Pillayar Temple(Malai Kottai Ganapati Temple), also called as Malaikottaiyar Temple, is a 7th-century temple, which is dedicated to Lord Malaikottaiyar(Lord Ganesa) situated at the top of the hill(Rockfort), in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. According to ancient legend, at the present place of this temple, once Lord Ganesha had made a divine play with King Vibishana, he had shown his Viswaroopa Darshan(Divine Form), and also blessed him.
This wonderful Malai Kottai Ganapati Temple is situated a few km far away from Trichy Railway Junction, and it is one of the best Pilgrimage Centres of South India.
The temple was supposed to be built by the Pallavas, but later the Nayaks designed it as a fort. There are few hundred steps to be climbed in order to reach the top of the temple. This place met many battles before few centuries back. This Rockfort Temple is also called as earthly divine abode of Lord Ganesha, that is, the marvellous Ganeshapuri in the earth! Inside the Rockfort, we can witness three more temples, one is our beautiful Ucchi Pillaiyar Temple, another one is the Marvellous Thayumanavar Temple, and the third one is the Excellent Manicka Vinayakar Temple. Though the deity present inside the rockfort temple is small, but the deity is so powerful, and those who have a glimpse of Ucchi Pillaiyar would have a better life and they need not worry about their future.
The temple contains attractive architecture which was designed by the Pallavas, and it is one of the rarest temples of Lord Ganesha, due to its attractive features. The Thayumanavar Temple is located on the way to Ucchi Pillayar Temple. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped as Thayumanavar and as usual, he appears in the form of a lingam, and his consort Ma Parvati is known as Mattuvar Kuzhalammai. This temple was built by a King of the Pallava dynasty during the 6th Century AD. Subsequently this temple was repaired and renovated by Pandyan kings during the 8th century. The Chittirai festival during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April – May) and Vinayaka Chathurthi festival are the main festivals which are wonderfully celebrated in this Temple. From the top of this temple, we can witness the natural beauty of Srirangam and the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. Before visiting Uchi Pillayar, pilgrims must first visit and worship Lord Manicka Vinayagar! During my first visit to this temple in the year 1980, I had suffered from severe illness. My body temperature has roused to 104 Degrees, and my parents were very much worried about my condition.
But after having the darshan of the first god, miraculously I was saved by Lord Ucchi Pillaiyandavan(I used to fondly call him!), and my body temperature also suddenly came down to 100 Degrees. As per the famous saying, ‘Ucchi Pillayarai Naam Vazhipaduvome, Naam Ucchidamana Nilaiyai Adainthiduvome’, which means, let us worship Lord Ucchi Pillaiyar at Trichy, in order to attain the top most position in our life!
“OM SRI UCCHI PILLAIYANDAVANE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR