Atcheeswarar Temple, Hindu temple in Achirupakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
Atcheeswarar Temple is a Hindu shrine in Achirupakkam, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu, with two main sanctuaries dedicated to Lord Shiva and separate shrines for the deities Ilangili Ammai and Umayambigai. A five-tiered Rajagopuram tower marks the main entrance and rises above the rest of the complex.
The temple is believed to be between 1000 and 2000 years old and was recognized in devotional hymns by Saint Tirugnanasambandar as the 29th sacred site in the Thondai region. That recognition helped place it among the established Hindu pilgrimage sites of Tamil Nadu.
Each year in April and May, the Chithirai Brahmmotsavam festival draws devotees from across the region for several days of rituals and processions. During this time, the temple fills with activity from early morning until late evening.
The temple is open during the day and in the evening, so a morning or late afternoon visit both work well. As in most Hindu temples, visitors are expected to remove their footwear before entering and to dress modestly.
Local tradition holds that the axle of Lord Shiva's chariot broke at this exact spot during his journey to conquer the three cities of Tripura. This story is connected directly to the name of the main deity worshipped here, which refers to the broken axle.
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