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Thayumanavar Temple is located on the way to the Vinayagar
temple in Trichy. The shrine cut
into the rock is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is called "Thayumanavar".
The temple is beautiful with its 100-pillared hall and Vimanam (also spelt
as Vimana) covered in gold leaf.
The deity is known as "Thayumanavar" because according to
legend Lord Shiva is said to have disguised himself as a Mother to help a
poor woman deliver her baby.
A part of the rock towards east looks like a bull with its head raised.
The temple appears on its hump and the bell house on its crest. Because of
this the temple is also called 'Richabachalam'.
The Legend
The story goes like this; once upon a time a woman devoted to Lord Shiva
was living on the other side of the River Kaveri. She visited the temple
daily even during her pregnancy. Suddenly after she visited the temple
one-day she could not return home as the river was in spate. She waited
for the waters to subside and during this time she developed labour pains.
She was alone with all her relatives on the other side of the river.
Suddenly her mother arrived at the scene and attended to her as a
midwife. When the child was safely delivered her mother disappeared. That
was when she realised that it was the Lord, to whom she was devoted who
had come in the disguise of her mother and had helped her in her hour of
need. From that time the Lord in this temple came to be known as "Thayumanavar"
(One who became a mother).
Air: Trichy
has an airport (5 -km from the city). Various airlines connect
Trichy with
Chennai, Sharjah,
Kuwait and Colombo.
Rail: Trichy is an
important junction on the Southern Railway and is connected with Chennai,
Thanjavur,
Chidambaram,
Madurai,
Tirupati,
Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon and
Rameshwaram,
Bangalore,
Coimbatore,
Mysore, Kochi,
Kanyakumari and Mangalore.
Road: Trichy is well
connected by road with the important places within and beyond the state.
For local transport, city bus service is available to all places of
tourist interest from Central Bus Stand and from Chinthamani Guard Gate
Bus Stand. Tourist taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are also
available.
Accommodation is available at the star, moderate class and small budgeted hotels and lodges in Trichy.
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