Acharapakkam Aatcheeswarar Temple

"முப்புரம் எரிசெய்த அச்சிவன் உறை ரதம் 

அச்சது பொடி  செய்த அதிதீரா"

என்று அருணகிரிநாதரால் போற்றி வணங்கப்பட்ட முழுமுதற்கடவுளாம் விநாயகப்பெருமான் வீற்றிருக்கும் தலம்.   அச்சரபாக்கம் /அச்சிறுபாக்கம் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் இந்த கிராமம் சென்னையில் இருந்து சுமார் 100 கி.மீ தொலைவில் உள்ளது.  சென்னை - திண்டிவனம் நெடுஞ்சாலையில் மேல்மருவத்தூரில் இருந்து சுமார் 5 கி. மீ.

For the last four years we have been getting regular invites every year from Acharapakkam to help them in cleaning up the temple for their Chithirai Festival. We take up the assignment with fervent  devotion as this gives us an opportunity to visit and pray at the shrine of அச்சு முறி விநாயகர்.  Our previous blog posts linked herein details A SHORT INFO about the temple and also details of our last visit and work.

This year too,  Shri Parthiban of SBI took care of all the arrangements for our stay and food.  More than thirty of us reached on the night of March 23rd itself, so as to commence our cleaning work in the morning.  An equal number joined us on 24th March.

Bush-cutter being used

Like the previous years, we mainly did the clearing of bushes in the outer praharam that had almost turned into a wild growth.  Shri Natarajan of Thiruvallur had brought in his bush-cutter equipment which made our job a bit easier.  The usual cleaning of inner praharams  and the temple pooja vessels was also done.

Women volunteers cleaning the brass pooja articles

Cleaned Kudams, sombu and lamps

A cleaning touch to the Kodimaram base

Frequent power cut being a regular problem in most of these villages beyond Chennai, we had to properly plan the work of cleaning the inner praharams using our pressure pumps.  By 2.00 pm the work had reached a finishing stage.  After having a Pooja & Darshan inside the temple, we had our lunch and wound up the proceedings.  

In the meantime, we had collected another Rs.17,500/- for Chitrambakkam temple renovation work.  The members of the renovation committee called on us at Acharapakkam temple and the amount was handed over to them.

More photos available at: Acharapakkam-March 2013

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Our next Uzhavarappani is on 21.04.2013, Sunday at Kashi Viswanathar Temple, Nazarethpettai, Poonamalle, Chennai.

Uzhavarappani at Acharapakkam

Uzhavarappani at Acharapakkam Aatcheeswarar Temple was done by us yesterday(08 Apr.2012) as announced in the previous post.  About 25 of our volunteers stayed there  the previous night, thanks to the meticulous arrangements by Shri Parthiban of State Bank of India, a native of that village. Twenty more volunteers joined us the next day.

Upon entering the temple, we had a pleasant surprise. The Utsava Idol of Saint Thirunavukarasar (the fore-runner to all the present day Uzhavarappani movements), was at the entrance with uzhavaaram decked in his hand, as if to welcome and bless us on our mission.

After having a darshan of all the Deities, we took upon the task of  removing the over grown bushes and the dried leaves  in the outer praharam.  They were later heaped and a bonfire of it made

The ladies and children accompanying us were busy cleaning the Thiruvachi (the metallic arch which can be seen behind the moolavar) of the deities and various other deepams and lamps used in the daily pooja.  Daughter of our volunteer Govindarajan, an under-10 kid, is seen here busily involved in the cleaning.

These young boys are attending to the job of removing  accumulated grime and dirt in the Navagraha sannadhi.  Their devotion is expressed through their utmost concentration in their task.

Our volunteer Ashok is a scientist and an inventor, but not a professional mountaineer.   He displays exemplary courage and confidence through the Divine Grace of God, as can be seen in the accompanying picture.  Climbing the 100-feet  Rajagopuram through the inside staircase, he comes out in the open to remove the vegetation growing there.  For him there is no acrophobia.  Nor did the blowing winds and scorching sun deterred him from finishing the task.

A magnified version of Ashok removing the wild growth in the Rajagopuram

In the afternoon session, the inner Sannadhis were cleaned using our high-pressure portable jet pump.  After finishing our lunch, we wound up our work to return home.

More Photos at the following link
Acharapakkam Uzhavarappani

Acharapakkam Aatcheeswarar Temple

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

அண்ணாமலையார் அறப்பணிகுழுவின் அடுத்த உழவாரப்பணி விவரம் :

கோயில் : அருள் மிகு பாலசுகாம்பிகை சமேத அருள் மிகு ஆட்சீஸ்வரர் கோயில், அச்சிறுபாக்கம்    தேதி : 08.04.2012 - ஞாயிறு நேரம் : காலை 7 மணி முதல்

திருஞானசம்பந்தர், அருணகிரிநாதர் ஆகியோர் பாடல் பெற்ற ஸ்தலம்.

சென்னை -    திண்டிவனம் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையில், மேல்மருவத்தூருக்குப் பிறகு, 5 வது கி.மீ.ல் உள்ளது. சென்னை கோயம்பேடு பஸ் நிலையத்திலிருந்து சுமார் 100 கி.மீ.

சனிக்கிழமை இரவு தங்குவதற்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. அனைவரும் வருக.  திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

The importance of Vinayaka worship before commencing any task is emphasised through this holy place. Legend here is that the axle of Shiva’s divine chariot broke here when He proceeded to destroy the three demons Tharahan, Vithmanmali and Kamalakshan at Thripurams since He didn’t meditate upon Lord Ganesha when He set out on His mission. Hence the name of the place is known as Achu Iru Paakkam (also known as Achu Muri Pakkam).   The Achu Muri Vinayagar temple is located just before the main temple.

Quick Facts: 

There are two main shrines in the temple. One with a Square Avudayar and the other one with a circular Avudayar.  There is a Perumal shrine also and Perumal is standing on an Avudayar. Behind the lingam in one of the main shrines, Lord Shiva and Parvathi devi are in human form in Marriage posture as stone sculpture.  The Nandhi before the lingam is in an unusual meditative posture. Sage Thirinendhrathari, who built the temple, is said to be in jeeva samadhi under the Nandhi.

Incidentally, this will be the third visit of our group to this temple for Uzhavarappani in as many years.