हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Atcheeswarar Temple, Achirupakkam (Acharapakkam)

Achu is the axle: here the axle of Shiva’s chariot broke as he rode against the three cities, because Ganesha had not been worshipped first. Sambandar sang the shrine.

Built: Temple with two sanctums, a five-tiered rajagopuram and inscriptions of Kulothunga Chola IWhere: Tamil Nadu (Chengalpattu district, on the Chennai–Trichy highway)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Atcheeswarar and Umaiyatcheeswarar; Devi as Ilangkiliyammai (Sundaranayaki)12.40° N, 79.82° E
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0

01The broken axle

The chariot against Tripura was the earth itself, with the sun and moon for wheels and the four Vedas for horses. The temple’s katha says Shiva set out without first honouring Ganesha, the axle snapped here, and Shiva honoured his son before riding on to victory; so the place is Achu-iru-pakkam, where the axle broke. A second katha tells of a Pandya king who followed a golden iguana and found a linga, and two sanctums were raised, for Atcheeswarar and Umaiyatcheeswarar. Kulothunga I’s inscriptions call the Lord Accukkontu Aruliya Tevar and record gifts of land, gold and sheep.

Visiting

At the 79th km of the Chennai–Trichy highway, 10 km from Madurantakam; Acharapakkam has its own railway station. The ten-day Chittirai Brahmotsavam (April–May) is the chief festival.

Nearby

UttaramerurStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Uttaramerur

A village of Vedic scholars where inscriptions of the Chola king Parantaka I, cut in 919 and 921 CE, set out in detail how the village assembly was to be chosen by lot from qualified candidates. They are among the oldest written rules for local self-government anywhere.

Agastheeswarar Temple, Kiliyanur (Tirukkiliyannavur)Standing
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Agastheeswarar Temple, Kiliyanur (Tirukkiliyannavur)

A quiet Agastya shrine on the Tindivanam–Puducherry road, sung by Sambandar in a padigam of the Third Tirumurai.

Vedagiriswarar Temple, TirukazhukundramStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Vedagiriswarar Temple, Tirukazhukundram

The eagle hill: a temple on a rock said to be the Vedas themselves, where for centuries a pair of kites came at noon to be fed by the priest. All three Tevaram singers sang it.

Tirumagaraleeswarar Temple, TirumagaralStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Tirumagaraleeswarar Temple, Tirumagaral

The Lord who appeared to a Chola king as a golden monitor lizard and vanished into an anthill; the linga is said to have the shape of the lizard’s tail. Sambandar sang his Vinai Theerkum padigam here.