Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple

Thiruchendur Murugan temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga and one of the Arupadaiveedu (six major abodes) of Lord Muruga. It is placed in the small town of Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India and is 55 km south-east of Tirunelveli,40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari. It is easily accessible either by bus or car.

Lord Murugan is more popular in South India compared to other parts of India. He is the God of war and the patron deity of the Tamil land (Tamil Nadu). Like most Hindu deities, He is known by many other names, including Senthil, Saravana, Kārttikeya (meaning ‘son of Krittika’ ), Arumugam or Shanmukha (meaning ‘one with six faces’), Kumāra (meaning ‘child or son’), Guha, Skanda (meaning ‘that which is spilled or oozed, namely seed’ in Sanskrit), Subrahmanya, Vēlan and Swaminatha.

Each Arupadaiveedu has an event mentioned in the ‘puranas’. Thiruchendur is said to be Lord Murugan’s second abode. This place is also referred to by other names in religious poems and literature as Thirucheeralaivai, Thiruchenthil, Thiruchenthiyoor, etc. The deity is worshipped by various names such as Senthilandavan, Senthilkumaran and so on. The Arupadiveedus are Palani (120 km west of Madurai), Swamimalai (150 km east of Madurai), Thiruthani (50 km from Chennai), Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai) and Thiruparamkunram (10 km south of Madurai).

The temple is situated so close to the sea that waves from the Gulf of Mannar lap at the eastern perimeter wall of the temple.

The meaning of Valli’s Wedding

The true import of this wedding seems to be this. Valli represents the Jiva that has been separated from its original abode, eternal bliss, Paramatman, who is Arumuga Peruman. The separated Jiva roams in the wilderness of the forest of this world, due to the force of Avidya (ignorance). To rescue this ignorant Jiva wandering in the wilderness, the Guru appears in the form of Rishi Narada by whose help the wedding takes place between Valli and Lord Karttik, i.e., the holy communion of the Jiva with the Supreme Brahman.

As the Jiva possessed unflinching and unswerving faith in the Lord, Valli was determined to marry only Lord Shanmukha and was able to realise her ambition in spite of the many obstructions. Hence, having the two horns of Vairagya and Viveka, the Jiva, Valli, got herself finally rescued from the clutches of Maya—represented by her parents and other obstacles—and finally established herself in union with Lord Subrahmanya, the Supreme Abode of Bliss.

The two wives, Deivayanai and Valli, also symbolise the two types of devotees among those who strive for Moksha or Liberation through union or oneness with the Supreme. One type consists of those who rigidly and sincerely observe the injunctions and follow the teachings of the Vedic scriptures and are thus the followers of Vaidika Karmas. That type is represented by Deivayanai, whom Subrahmanya married in the regular orthodox way. The other type consists of the ardent Bhaktas who attach more importance to right mental feeling and emotion than to rules and regulations. This type is symbolised by Valli, who grows as the foster-daughter of the hunter king, Nambi. Subrahmanya marries her in the combined Gandharva and Paisacha modes of marriage. He manifests love in wooing her and uses force in fighting against her relations who try to obstruct Him.

Thiruchendur murugan temple – Soorasamharam festival

Soorasamharam or surasamharam festival in Tiruchendur temple begin with yaga sala pooja where lakhs of devotees across Tamil Nadu began their sashti vridham. The history behind this festival is said to be that Lord Senthilandavar killed the Demon Soorpadman with his vel and this divine act of his celebrated as Soorasamharam. On this day the devotees celebrate the victory of lord muruga and the temple authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the dharsan of lord murugan during the festival where the Tiruchendur Subramaniaswamy kills the demon on the sea shore.

According to skanda purana the demons under the guidance of surapadama defeated the devas and they took over the earth. From them they started to harassing the people, so adharma was all around. Lord Brahma, other gods and humans prayed to Lord Shiva to put an end to this Adharma. Lord shiva created lord murugan.

At last subramania swamy killed surapadma with the lance. But the demon turned into a huge mango tree. Then murugan cut the tree into two vertical pieces with his vel. The pieces were then transformed into peacock and cock. Then lord murugan made peacock as his vehicle and cock as his flag. This event is popularly called as Surasamharam.

This day has great importance at all the murugan South India Temples and also in south India, Malaysia, Singapore, south Africa and Sri Lanka. The soorasamharam festival takes place at Tiruchendur, the divine action is re-enacted on the day and it is seen by thousands of people.