Tirukachur is near Chengalpat in Kancheepuram district.  There are two Shiva temples here one at the top of the hill, the other at the foot of the hill.  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.

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.

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 – old man – 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-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 the stick (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 Koil – banyan tree temple.

History of Marundeeswarar Temple:

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 – 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 – Medicine well is nearby.

Those aspiring excellence in arts pray to Lord Thalamoola Vinayaka.