You may also be interested in the following(s)

Lord Atchipureeswarar is also praised as Acheswarar andAchu Kondu Arulia Thevar. Lord Vinayaka is known as Achu Muri Vinayaka. The Rajagopuram is of five tier structure.  Lord Srinivasa with Mother Alamelumanga Thayar graces in a shrine in Prakara.

Maharshis Kanva and Gauthama worshipped Lord in this temple.

While a Pandya King was on a pilgrimage to Lord Shiva shrines, the axis of his car was broken.  While his men were repairing the wheel, the king noticed a golden chameleon (pachondhi ? a lizard - like creature often found climbing trees and changing is colours) and followed it. The creature hid itself in a Sarakondrai tree. When his men axed the tree, it began to bleed but the chameleon could not be traced despite all efforts.  Lord appeared in the dream of the king and told him that He appeared here in the guise of the creature to inform that He was there as a swayambu.

The king, taking the command of the Lord decided to build the temple. He came across a Shiva devotee Trinetradhari and sought his help in the undertaking. Leaving the job to the devotee, king proceeded on his pilgrimage. When he came to meet the devotee, he saw the temple with two presiding deities in two sanctum sanctorum. One was in the middle of the temple with a flag post (kodi maram) and Nandhi for Atchipureeswarar and the second behind this opposite to the Rajagopuram for Umai Atchipureeswarar. In this sanctum, Lord graces in the Shiva-Parvathi wedding form behind the Shivalinga.

When the king asked the devotee for this form, the devotee said, "Lord who graced you, graced me too in the form of chameleon. I built one sanctum for the Lord who graced you as Umai Atcheeswarar (the word Umai means You the king) and one for Emai Atcheeswarar (Emai meaning Me the devotee) which is the main sanctum?. The King agreed to the formula. Emai Atcheeswarar the Swayambulinga is considered prominent.  The flag post and Nandhi are slightly away from the Rajagopuram.

The devotee, Trinetradhari graces in the shrine of Sarakondrai Easwarar under the tree in a worshipping form. Flowers blossom in the tree only during the Chithirai festival days.

Lord Achumuri Vinayaka (Vinayaka who broke the axis of the car of Lord Shiva ? this story forms part of the history of the temple) graces outside the temple facing west. This event is mentioned in the first Tirupugazh of saint Arunagirinathar as Achiru Vinayaka. It is believed that prayer to Achiru Vinayaka would help the devotee to defeat the obstacles coming in the way of his/her endeavours.

Three cruel demons Tharaka, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali, proud of the boons and the resultant powers they gained from Lord Brahamma through their intense penance, began to harass the Devas violently. Unable to face their onslaught, Devas appealed to Lord Shiva for protection and freedom. Lord Shiva combined both earth and heaven and marched against the demons. According to rules, every work should start with Vinayaka worship. Lord Shiva is no exception. In his hurry to wage the war against the demons to save Devas, He forgot this protocol. Devas too, having Lord Himself with them ignored Vinayaka. Angry Vinayaka stopped Lord Shiva?s march by breaking the axis of His car. Axis in Tamil means Achu. Realizing the mistake, Lord asked Vinayaka to help in His mission. Son immediately obeyed. This event took place here. Hence, the place came to be known as Achu Iru Bagam (where axis broke) and later Achirupakkam came to stay.

Moolavar: Two presiding in separate sanctum sanctorum for Atcheeswarar and Umai Atcheeswarar

Amman / Thayar: Also two in separate sanctorums Ilangili Ammai and Umayambigai

Thala Virutcham:Sara Kondrai Theertham: Deva, Banu and Conch theerthas

Agamam / Pooja: Kameekam

Old year:1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Achu Iru Bagam

The temple is praised in the hymns of Saint Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 29th shrine in Thondai region praised in Thevaram hymns.

The temple has a 5 tier tower (gopuram) on the east side. Once we enter through this tower, we will see the Kotimaram, palipeetam and Nandhi mandapam being located on the right side in the eastern outer prakaram. There is an entrance straight in front once we enter through the rajagopuram. One can go striaght through this second entrance and reach the sanctum sanctorum of one of the two Lords UmaiAtcheeswarar. God Sivan and Goddess Parvathi appear as newly wed couples behind the sivalingam in sculpted form. This sivasthalm is one among many other places where God has shown a vision of his marriage to sage Agasthiar.

The other Lord Atcheeswarar is seen in another sanctum sanctorum which is in a straight line to the Kotimaram, palipeetam and Nandhi mandapam that are located in the eastern outer corridor. Atcheeswarar is the main presiding deity of this sthalam. There are two Goddess shrines in this sthalam. Goddess Umayambikai is seen facing south outside the sanctum sanctorum of Lord UmaiAtcheeswarar. The second Goddess Ilangili Ammai's shrine is located in the north-east corner of the northern outer prakaram. Kannuva Munivar and Gowthama Munivar are said to have worhshipped Lord Shiva at this sivasthalam.

10 day Chithirai Brahmmotsavam in April-May

special pujas on new moon and full moon days are observed in the temple.

The temple has two presiding deities Atcheeswarar and Umai Atcheeswarar gracing the devotees from two separate sanctum sanctorums. Also, two Mother-Goddesses Ilangili Ammai and Umayambigai grace from their respective sanctums. Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthi. Saivite Saint Tirunavukkarasar mentions this temple in Kshetra Kovai hymns. Saint Gnanasambandar has praised this temple in his Thevaram hymns. Demons Tharaka and Vidyunmali destroyed by Lord Shiva are the Dwarapalakas. Meditation Nandhiis before Umai Atcheeswarar shrine.

It is strongly believed that prayer to Lord Atchipureeswarar would elevate the devotee to ruling position with management abilities. Also as the Lord is in the form Letters Akshara the devotee will shine in education. Participation in the special pujas would relieve the devotees from various doshas following them from birth to birth and also remove obstacles in the way of professional progress and ensure peace of mind.

Devotees perform special abishek to Lord offering vastras.

Do:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.