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Saint Sundarar after visiting Tirukazhu Kundram came to Tirukachur on his way to Kancheepuram. Due to long journey, Sundarar and his team were very tired and hungry. They stayed here at the temple complex. Lord Shiva came there as an old man and assured them of food and asked them to wait for a while. Sundarar, with due respect to the old man waited.

Lord Shiva the old man who went out with His bowl (Tiru Odu)for begging, gathered food, came back and fed His devotees with Sundarar. Sooner they finished the food, the old man disappeared. Sundarar sang a Pathigam beginning with the line Mudhu vai Ori Kadhara.

Irandha in Tamil means begging, hence Lord is named Irandeeswarar having His shrine outside the temple at a distance and the Host Shiva is named Virundhu Itta Easwarar having his shrine in the prakara. Virundhu means hospitality.

There is no entrance at both the sanctorums. Lord Marundeeswarar graces from the hill temple while Lords Irandeeswarar and Virundeeswarar grace from the foot hill temple. Three Lords at the temples represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva, it is described. The place is mentioned as Aadhi Kanchi in Kanchi Puranam.

It is the staunch faith of the devotees that prayers to the Lords bring them immense benefits and cure to prolonged diseases. Ambica graces devotees curing eye problems. She also destroys evil qualities as arrogance and planetary adversities. Farmers take the sand in the temple and spray in their fields for good yields.

While churning the milk ocean, the Mandhara hill used as thestick (mathu) began to sink. To bring it out, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Kachaba (tortoise) to help the Devas. He came to this place, created a spring, bathed and prayed to Lord Shiva in the endeavour. As Lord Shiva helped Vishnu, hence named Kachabeswarar. The place came to be known as Tirukachur after this event.

Mother Anjanakshi in Kachabeswarar temple blesses the devotees from a separate shrine. Anjanam means eyes. As the Mother is protecting devotees as Her own eyes, She is so named. Admiring Her beauty, She is also praised as Sundaravalli. The Sri Chakra is installed in the mandap before this shrine. Women light ghee lamps here for family welfare and prosperity. Lord Shiva also staged His Ajaba Dance here as Thiagaraja for Lord Vishnu. As a procession deity of the temple, all festivals are dedicated to Him. Saint Arunagiriar had sung the praise of Lord Muruga of this temple. As Kallala Maram (Banyan tree) is the sacred tree, the temple is also known as Aala Koilmeans banyan tree temple.

Marundeeswarar Temple: The Lord Shiva here is called Marundheeshwarar. His consort is Anthaka Nivaarani aka Irul Neekki Thayar. The specialty here is of that Chandikesa Statue. The Chandikesa here has 4 faces. He has vampire teeth. He has 4 hands carrying a beaded necklace, kamandalam (jug like object), Sulam and Mazhu (armaments). Beside him is a statue of Surya. Another important aspect of this temple is the Nadai paadhai Kinaru or the walk down well. Water can be drawn directly like a regular well or someone can walk down to the water lever through the long length of steps.

Indira the king of Devas was suffering from some ailment caused by a curse. Reputed physicians of the celestial world Ashwini Devas could not cure him. They came to Earth in search of a powerful herbal to cure Indira. Maharshi Narada advised them to pray to Lord Shiva in this place with Ambica to spot the herbals. They followed the advice. Lord Shiva with all kindness showed the place where the herbals were available. They found the herbals, Bala and Athibala, took it to their world, treated Indira and cured him.

Though Lord Shiva showed the Ashwini physicians the place of the herbals, they could not find them as the place was enveloped by darkness. Taking pity on them Ambica spread light in the place enabling them to find the herbals. Hence, Ambica in Marundeeswarar temple is praised as Irul Neekkia Ambica means Ambica who drove away darkness.

The shrines of Chandikeswara and Bhairava are in the prakara side by side. Chenadikeswara has four faces as Lord Brahmma, hence called Brahmma Chendikeswara. Devotees perform abishek here with honey on Mondays.

The temple is on a small hill. Saint Sundarar praises Lord as a medicine Himself on the hill. There is small pit near the flag post. Devotees consume this for cure of any disease. The Marundu Theertha Kinaru means Medicine well is nearby.

Those aspiring excellence in arts pray to Lord Thalamoola Vinayaka.

Moolavar : Virunditta Eswarar, Kachabeswarar, Marundeeswarar

Urchavar : Amirtha Thyagarajar

Amman / Thayar : Anjanakshi Amman, Irulneeki Ambal, Kanni Umayal

Thala Virutcham: Banyan and jack trees

Theertham : Koorma Theertham

Agamam / Pooja : Kameekam

Old year : 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name : Nadana Vinodha Nallur, Aadhi Kanchi

Pathigam : Sundarar

This temple is situated near the railway station of Singaperumal Kovil, between Chengalpet and Tambaram stations. From Singaperumal Kovil railway station the temple is around 2 KM. There are regular buses from Sriperampathur, Tambaram and Chengalpet. This shivasthalam temple is located near Singaperumal Kovil railway station which is on the Chennai Egmore to Chengalpattu section of the Southern Railway.To travel by road go by Chennai to Chengapattu national highway and reach Singaperumalkovil. From Singaperumalkovil take the road to Sriperumpudur and cross the railway gate and travel further a short distance and reach Tirukkachchur village. The temple is centrally located inside the village. Name of the town is Thirukachur. Alakovil is the name of the Temple. Along with the town name the temple is called as Thirukachur Alakovil. Like Vaikal Madakkovil and Nannilam Perungkovil. Sthala Viruksham of the temple is Alam , Banyan tree. Hence the name of the temple is known as Alakovil. Thirumal in the form ofKacham (Turtle) worshipped the Lord Siva here. Hence the place is called as Thiru Kachur and the Deity as Kachabeswarar. This is a twin temple, one at the hill top and the other at the foot hill. The other temple Arulmigu Maruntheesar is at the hill top. About 2 KM from Alakovil. Thirukachur is a hub containing 3 temples. At one point the road divides into 2. To the left is Marundheeswarar Temple and to the right is Kachabeshwarar Temple. This again, like Appur, is a hill. But 2 temples are located at hill base and 1 top. Saint Sundarar had sung the praise of the Lords in a single Pathigam 10 verses. Maha Ganapathy and Thalamoola Vinayaka grace the devotees. The Vimana of Lord Shiva is of Gajabrushta design.

Lord Shiva facing west is a swayambumurthy. The temple's entrance was unique. The main door was facing East. The ardha mandapa was facing south. The Sanctum Sanctorum was facing East. The ceiling had a Magaram (mythical creature with croc face) soon after the Maha Mandapam entrance. The outer wall of Ardha Mandapam was filled with inscriptions.  On the outer circumabulation passage was this cute little shrine of Sri Maha Ganapathy. In the ardha mandapa of this shrine, on the ceiling, in a panel along its edges is a series of mini sculptures depicting the legend of the temple (about Samudhra Manthan). Another sculpture here was of bull and elephant merged together with a single face. An Indian labernum tree was in full bloom and below it were huge terracotta pots.

The temple is praised by saint Sundarar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 26th Shiva temple in Thondainadu region praised in Thevaram hymns. The shrines in the circumambulation passage were of Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Chozheeshwarar, Gnana Ganapathy, Kalatheeswarar, Maheshwari, Marga Sahaa Ishwarar, Naagalingam, Naagarajar, Kaasi Vishwanathar, Valli Devasena Subrahmaniar, Vishnu, Chandikesa and Durga.

Chithirai Brahammotsavam and Chitra Poornima full moon day are celebrated in (April-May) at Kachabeswarar temple.

Masi Brahmmotsavam in February-March

Girivalam on Poornima day and Padi Puja means puja to the steps on Mondays

Tirukarthigai in (November-December) are followed in Marundeesar temple.

Devotees firmly believe that any prayer before the Lord would bring them all benefits in life.  People pray to Ambica seeking good vision and cure from eye troubles.

Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer vastras and nivedhanas.

The temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Sri Kachabeswarar, Marundeeswarar Temple, Tirukachur 603 204, Kancheepuram district. +91- 44 - 2746 4325,2746 3514,2723 3384, 93811 86389

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.