Ucchi Pillaiyar Temple

Location

Ucchi Pillaiyar temple is one of the three temples in the Rockfort Temple near the Chattram bus stand. Rockfort temple is known as Dakshina kailasam and is located on the banks of the river Cauvery on a hill-top.

The temple complex consists of three temples known as Manikka Vinayagar temple located at the foot of the hill, Thayumanavar Temple in midway to the hill and Ucchi pilliayar (Vinayagar) Temple placed at the peak (ucchi).

Legends relates the temple creation with Vibheeshana, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Vibheeshana was taking the idol of Ranganadhar (Shiva) to Lanka to install there. In between he handed over the idol to Lord Ganesha to keep for a while. Lord Ganesha kept the idol on the foothill and the idol got deep rooted there. After this Lord Ganesha himself stood on the top of the hill to bless the devotees.