My next three posts are all interlinked. These are about Bitchandar Koil, Thirukandiyur and Tirupattur. Before I start, I should acknowledge that I came to know about the temple at Tirupattur through Mr. Raju’s blog. He has been doing a great job.
Uthamar Koil
It is very rare to find temples where the Holy Trinity – Brahma Vishnu and Shiva are Worshipped in the same temple premises. The fact is that there are not many temples dedicated to Brahma. But it is also to be noted that there is no temple without a niche of Brahma. Thirukandiyur near Tanjore and Bitchandar Koil near Trichy are two such holy places where the Holy Trinity is present.
Shiva is known as Bitchandar at Bitchandar Koil or Purushottamar Koil. Shiva’s consort here is Soundarya Nayaki or Vadivudai Nayaki. Vishnu is known as Purushottamar and His consort is Poornavalli Thayar. There are also separate shrines for Brahma and Saraswati. This is a rare temple where the Holy Trinity is present with their consorts in six separate shrines. Brahma himself is present as Guru. All the seven Gurus viz Brahma Guru, Vishnu Guru, Shiva Guru, Sakthi Guru, Subramanaya Guru, Deva Guru and Asura Guru are present here. This is a very important temple for worshipping Guru.
There is a story interlinking these two places. An extension of this story also links the Brahmapureeswarar Temple at Tirupattur near Trichy. According to a legend, Brahma became very arrogant because He was the Creator and also had five heads – just like Shiva. This made him feel superior to Shiva. Brahma once visited Kailasam to meet Shiva. On seeing someone with five heads Parvathy concluded that it should be Shiva. Without even having a look at the face, She started performing Paada Puja. Brahma knew that Parvati was performing the puja thinking that He was Shiva, despite which He kept quiet and did not stop Her. As this was happening Shiva came there and immediately understood the fact that Parvati had no idea that it was Brahma. He was very angry with Brahma and plucked the fifth head. Since then Brahma has only four heads and is known as Chaturmukha. Shiva also stripped Brahma of the power and the responsibility of creation. Now, Shiva was afflicted with Brahmahatti dosham (sin due to murder of Brahmin). The fifth head of Brahma stuck to His palm and would not come off. He started on a pilgrimage visiting various temples to be absolved of the sin. He used the skull stuck in His palm as the begging bowl. The begging bowl would not fill up and Shiva was very hungry. At Bitchandar Koil, Lakshmi as Poornavalli Thayar got rid of Shiva’s hunger. Since Shiva came here with a begging bowl and his hunger was satisfied, he is known as Bitchandar here. Shiva noticed that though His hunger was gone, the skull was still stuck His palm. He was only partially absolved of His sin. Read my next post on Thirukandiyur for the continuation of this story.
Dasaratha performed a yagna here and Rama was born to him. The belief is that the childless are blessed with progeny. Devotees believe that as per Vishnu’s instructions Brahma does not refuse anything to His devotees who pray Him here.
Chariot festivals of Shiva & Vishnu are celebrated in the tamil months of Vaikasi & Chittirai respectively. The Utsava murthy of Lord Ranganathan from Srirangam is brought to this temple once a year and is an important occasion. Shiva and Vishnu are taken out in simultaneous procession in the tamil month of Karthigai.
More details on the temple can be had at the official website of the temple here.
Location:
This temple is located on the Northern Banks of Kollidam near the toll gate in Trichy, on the highway towards Musiri. This temple is at a distance of about 10 Kms from Trichy Junction. This is on the outskirts of Trichy and is well connected by public transport.
Other Temples nearby:
Srirangam
Rock Fort Temple
Pundarikaasha Perumal Kovil, Thiruvellarai
Uthiram Star Temple at Edaiyathumangalam
Travel Base: Trichy
Temple timings:
6am – 12.30pm and 4pm – 830pm
Temple Address
Uthamar Koil
Manachanallur Taluk
Bitchandar Koil
Trichy 621 216
Temple Priest: S. Varadharaja Bhattar 0431 2591 351, 99424 62145 / 98654 24167