THIRUMOORTHY HILLS

HISTORY

It is believed that a few thousand years ago Athari Maharishi along with his wife Anusuya devi lived here. Sage Narada praised Anusuya's "pativratyam" (Devotion to husband) a lot before the wives of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva making them jealous of her. They requested their husbands to reduce her pativratyam. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva went to Anusuya as guests when Atri was not there at home and asked her to serve them food. When she agreed to do so, they said that they will accept her alms on the condition that she serves them without wearing clothes. Anusuya falls into a dilemma. If she comes without clothes in front of other men her pativratyam will be reduced. If she refuses then that is dishonour to the guests and they can take away all the power of Atri. Anusuya felt that the three guests who asked such a strange favour are not normal people since they are trying to place her in a tricky situation. Anasuya prayed to her husband in her mind and said that she doesn't have any fear serving them without clothes as she is not affected by lust. Since the guests asked for alms saying "Bhavati Bhiksham Dehi" (Oh Mother! Give us some food) and indirectly called her a mother. She decided that she will consider them as her children and serve them as requested. Because of her greatness and as per her thinking by the time she came to serve food the three gods became small children and her breasts started producing milk. She then breastfed them and put them to sleep in a cradle. Atri came back afterwards and hearing the story from Anusuya praised the three gods sleeping in the cradle. They woke up in their original form and praised Anusuya's pativratyam and gave her a boon. Anasuya requested that these three should be born as her children—the incarnation of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma as sage Durvasa, Dattatreya and the moon-god Chandra. Also, on seeing the power of devoting Anushiya devi, the Thiru Moorthi's blessed the couple and hence the place is known as Thiru Moorthi hills. It has an old temple with beautiful setting and some rare sculptures with a spacious front hall.

It is also believed that Jain priests or Samanar lived in the hills when Jainism flourished in Tamil Nadu. The huge rock which is worshiped as Thirumoorthy has a sculpture of a Jain priest. A popular belief is that this rock rolled down from the hills few centuries back during a flood. This is supported by the fact that sculpture is carved upside down on rock .

 

THIRUMOORTHY HILLS

Thirumoorthy Hills form a part of the Anaimalai range of the Western Ghats. Thirumoorthy temple is situated 50 Kms from Pollachi and 20 kms from Udumalpet on the highway from Palani to Coimbatore.

Like other hills in Anaimalai range, this place heaven for the hikers and natural lovers. If you want to hike around Thirumoorthy hills, you should get permission from the forest department. Forest department is located nearby Thirumoorthy hills bus station and or temple. Besides, it consists of three places of interest – Thirumoorthy Temple, Panjalinga Falls, and Thirumoorthy Dam.

AMANALINGESHWARA TEMPLE

Thirumoorthy temple is situated at the foot of the hill adjacent to Thirumoorthy Dam. Importance of this temple is three Moorthy (syumbhu) Idols originate in same place.Legend says that a few thousand years ago, sage Athari Maharishi along with his wife Anushiya Devi lived here. Moved by their prayer, Lord Shiva along with Brahma and Vishnu (3 moorthis or Thirumoorthy) came in disguise to test their devotion. Overwhelmed by their appearance the couple offered them their tribute. The 3 moorthis refused to accept their offerings as such and demanded that Anushiya Devi should make the offering in nudity. She accepted their demand, and with the power of her devotion, she changed the 3 moorthis into babies and fed them. On seeing the devotion of Anushiya Devi, the 3 moorthis blessed the couple and so the place gets its name. There is an old temple here on the foothill.

PANJALINGA FALLS

One has to climb around 1-2 km to reach the Panjalinga Falls, but it’s worth the climb as the water there is fabulous, but only during the winter and rainy months the falls will be in full force. Little above the water falls you can find open temple. Originally there are five god statue was there. Due to heavy water rain, some of the statues were missed. During the festival time, pilgrimage from nearby areas will come to this place. There after bring “Panjalinga water” for their prayer rituals.

THIRUMOORTHY DAM

Thirumoorthy Dam is a nice place for a one-day outing from Coimbatore. It has boating, a nice place to have your lunch (of course, you should pack your lunch as there are no good hotels out there), and the drive there is ultimate. From Coimbatore, you can either go to Udumalpet and go from there or take my favourite, the more interior and scenic route that goes through the villages. The drive is simply great with the whole route surrounded by sunflower gardens, coconut groves, and paddy fields. Sometime, you can see the cinema shooting in this beautiful locations.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

There is also a swimming pool and a well laid out garden near by the dam. If you have bicycle, it’s nice location for natural riding. The place has many tribal settlements around and has rich moist & dry deciduous forests.

TRANSPORTATION

This is approximately 20 km from Udumalpet on the Highway from Palani to Coimbatore. Local buses are available from Udumalpet to this place. Meter Gauge Railway is passing from Dindigul to Coimbatore through Udumalpet. Through Air Coimbatore Flights connect to Chennai and other important cities.