08/09/2026
Vanakkam, Namaste, Namaskaram
#๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐๐จ ๐
Dear devotees,
With just #๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐๐จ to ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ข, we would like to explore the sacred ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
The ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐, perched atop the famous Rock Fort at Tiruchirappalli, stands like a crown jewel overlooking the city. Rising approximately 83 metres above the surrounding landscape, the temple is carved into a massive rock.
Although the Pallavas were among the first to cut and shape the rock, the temple complex was later developed under the Nayaks of Madurai, who served under the Vijayanagara Empire.
๐ป๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The temple is closely associated with a beautiful story from the ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐.
After Lord Rama defeated the Asura King Ravana and rescued Sita, he rewarded Ravanaโs righteous brother, Vibhishana, with the sacred idol of Lord Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu, for his devotion and support.
On his journey back to Lanka, Vibhishana passed through Trichy. Wishing to bathe in the sacred Kaveri River, he faced a dilemma: once the idol of Lord Ranganatha was placed upon the ground, it could never be moved.
At that moment, Lord Vinayagar appeared in the guise of a young cowherd boy and offered to hold the idol for Vibhishana.
As soon as Vibhishana entered the river, Vinayagar placed the idol firmly upon the riverbank. When Vibhishana realised what had happened, he became furious and chased after the young boy.
The boy fled and climbed the great rock overlooking the Kaveri. When Vibhishana finally caught up with him and struck him on the forehead, the boy revealed his true form as ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ซ.
Humbled by this divine revelation, Vibhishana sought forgiveness. Lord Vinayagar blessed him and sent him onward towards Lanka.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ป๐๐๐๐๐
According to the traditional legend, the place where the idol of Lord Ranganatha was placed eventually became covered by dense forests.
Centuries later, a Chola king discovered the sacred idol while pursuing a parrot. The idol was established at Srirangam, giving rise to the magnificent ๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐, which today stands as one of the largest temple complexes in the world.
Meanwhile, the sacred rock at Trichy became home to two magnificent shrines:
โ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ โ dedicated to Lord Vinayagar and traditionally associated with the place where He revealed Himself to Vibhishana.
โ ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ โ dedicated to Lord Shiva, whose divine presence sanctifies the sacred rock.
As we continue our countdown to Vinayagar Chadurthi, may the story of Ucchi Pillayar remind us of Lord Ganeshaโs divine wisdom, compassion and presence in our lives.
Join us with your family on Monday, 14 September 2026 at 17H30 as we come together to celebrate the auspicious occasion of ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ข.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ !
With love and blessings
Merebank Shree Parasakthie Alayam
