Tiruchendur Murugan Temple - Tamil Nadu, India

Tiruchendur is a small town located in the Southern part of Tamil Nadu state of India. The town is famous because of Tiruchendur Murugan Temple and is famous for Indian Temple Tour. Tiruchendur town is located at a distance of around 75 kms from Kanyakumari, and around 55 kms from Tirunelveli. Tiruchendur Murugan temple is one the six "arupadai veedu" of Lord Muruga.

Tiruchendur Murugan temple is very huge and it is located too close to the sea shore. In fact, the sea waves keep touching the walls of Murugan temple. Even though the actual temple entrance starts from the Rajagopuram (temple tower) near the beach, there is mandapa (closed corridor) for a distance of around 1-1.5 kms away from the temple. On both sides of the mandapa, you can find a lot of shops selling pooja related materials. Also, there are small temples. The temple starts from the Rajagopuram (tower), where you can find a big mandapa (corridor). The temple structure and entrance are a bit confusing. There are some shrines including that of Lord Ganesha and Muruga located in the outside mandapa.

The main deity of the temple Lord Muruga is believed to be many thousands of years old due to its reference in Hindu puranas and Tamil ancient books. The main shrine has Lord Muruga in the standing posture. Lord Muruga in this temple is also called as Senthil, Senthil Andavar, Karthikeya, and Subramanya. In the main shrine itself, there is a Shiv linga called as Jagannatha. It is believed that this Shiv linga and a group of five Shiv lingas (Pancha linga) behind the main shrine were worshiped by Lord Muruga. You can also go and visit the Pancha Linga in the cave located behind the main shrine. Near the main shrine the idols of Veera Bagu, Veera Mahendra, Ganesha, and Parvathi are found.

In the prakara there is a monolithic figure of Lord Muruga seating on the peacock and fighting with the Asura (demon). There are two separate shrines - one for Valli and another for Devasena (wives of Lord Muruga) are also found in the corridor. There are a lot of Shiv Linga idols found in the corridor. There are also shrines or idols for Veera Kesari, Veera Marthandar, Dakshinamurthy, Ganesha, Nataraja, and Shanmuga. In the corridor, there is a shrine dedicated for Lord Venkatesa Perumal (Vishnu). Near his shrine, you can find the carved idol of Gaja Lakshmi and Ranganath along with Sri Devi, Bhoo Devi, and Neela Devi.

Outside Subramania Swamy Temple, there is a holy well named 'Nazhi Kinaru' where the devotees take bath. There is a small separate cave temple for Valli named ' Valli Guhai'. This is the place where Valli hid herself inside the cave as she was afraid of the elephant. The small cave temple has the idols of Valli, Dattratreya, Chandra, Shiv Linga, and Ganesha.

Arupadai veedu

Skanda - also known as Murugan, Kartikeya, Subramanya is one of the most revered deities in the southern state of Tamilnadu. All these temples are located in South India - in the state of Tamil Nadu. Though there are thousands of temples for the Hindu god Lord Muruga - around the globe, these six specific temples enjoy unparallel sanctity and popularity among the devotees of Muruga or Balasubramanya - and deserve a very special mention. These six temples that constitute the Arupadai veedu group of shrines are Thiruparamkunram Subramanya Swami Temple, Tiruchendur Subramaniaswamy Temple, Swamimalai Swaminatha Swami Temple, Palani Dandayudhapani Swamy Temple, Tiruthani Subramanya Swamy Temple and Palamudhircholai Subramanya Swamy Temple.

Arupadai Veedu Locations

Thiruparamkunram Subramanya Swami Temple – Thiruparankundram, Madurai

Tiruchendur Murugan temple – Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi

Swamimalai Swaminatha Swami Temple – Swamimalai, Thanjavur

Palani Dandayudhapani Swamy Temple – Palani, Dindigul

Tiruthani Subramanya Swamy Temple - Tiruthani, Tamil Nadu

Palamudhircholai Subramanya Swamy Temple - Palamudhircholai

Kandakottam – Muthukumara Swamy Temple

The origin of this temple is quite fantastic, and it emerged by the divine will communicated to two merchants living in Madras. It begins with two great bhaktas named Kandappa Achari and Mari Chettiar, who lived some three hundred years before in Madras. They were intensely attached to the Kumaran of Tiruporur and were visiting every month regularly on the auspicious Krithika day, walking all the way nearly 60 km. And returning like wise. And they used to rest on the way under a neem tree. One day a snake came and slept near Marri Chetty, when he was in deep sleep. In his dream he was directed by a boy to take the idols hidden under ant-hill and install in a temple. On waking up he found to his shock the snake lying next to him, which disappeared at once.

He informed of this entire event to his friend. Being devout Bhaktas, they dug the ant-hill and found to their surprise beautiful images, of Muruga, Valli and Devasena. They took them home. Kandappa Achari installed them in a temple besides a small shrine built by him for Vinayaka some years before. Due to liberal grant of boons, the Muruga became very popular. This area being dominated by commercial people, they deemed it fit to build an exclusive. big temple for Kandan. So there came up into' existence this present temple. As this temple is situated in the flower garden, the deity is popularly called Poonganagar Murugan. This Lord gives darsan with Lord Siva on one side and Parvathi on the other. This popular Somaskandar darsan feasts the eyes and fulfills the desires easily. So it attained great fame. All the periodical festivals are celebrated with great pomp and splendour consuming some lakes of rupees. The temple's Vasantha mandap is used for conducting discourses and also special functions. The temple is largely and liberally endowed by rich merchants, and so owns many valuable jewels, vessels, vahanas etc. It is an much frequented temple in Madras.

This is one of the famous South India Temple. It lies in the Rasappa Chetty Street, one of the busiest parts of Madras, accessible from any point by city bus.