Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort

Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple
Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Ucchi Pillayar Kovil or Thayumanaswamy Kovil
Geography
Coordinates	10°49′43″N 78°41′51″E / 10.8285°N 78.6974°E / 10.8285; 78.6974Coordinates: 10°49′43″N 78°41′51″E / 10.8285°N 78.6974°E / 10.8285; 78.6974
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
Location	Tiruchi
Culture
Primary deity	Thayumanavar(Shiva) Manikka Vinayar(Ganesha) Uchi Pillayar(Ganesha)
Consort	Mattuvar Kuzhalammai(Parvathi)
Appeared for	Thayumanava Adigal
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Date built	7th century AD
Creator	unknown
Website	www.thiruchyrockfort.org

Ucchi Pillayar koil, (Tamil: உச்சிப் பிள்ளையார் கோயில்) is a 7th-century Hindu temple, one dedicated to Lord Ganesh located a top of Rockfort, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. Mythologically this rock is the place where Lord Ganesh ran from King Vibishana, after establishing the Ranganathaswamy deity in Srirangam.

The Rock Fort temple stands 83m tall perched atop the rock. The smooth rock was first cut by the Pallavas but it was the Nayaks of Madurai who completed both the temples under the Vijayanagara empire.

The temple is situated at the top of the rock. The temple is mystic in its nature with an awe-inspiring rock architecture. The Ganesh temple is much smaller with an access through steep steps carved on the rock and provides a stunning view of Trichy, Srirangam and the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. Due to its ancient and impressive architecture created by the Pallavas, the temple is maintained by the Archaeological department of India.

Vibhishana, was the younger brother of the Asura King Ravana who ruled Lanka. Lord Rama in the epic of Ramayana rescues his wife Sita, who was kidnapped and held by Ravana, with the help of Sugriva and Hanuman defeated him. In this war, the moral and truth-abiding brother of Ravana, Vibishana aids Rama in his battle against his brother. Ultimately Rama wins the war and as a token of love, he gives Vibishana a vigraham (idol for worship) of Lord Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu.