Murugan Temple - Thiruchendur

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple  is located in the small town of Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin,Tamilnadu.It is known as the second Arupadai Veedu(Six Major Temples) of Lord Muruga.

Legends :

Surapadma was an  asura  ruling Veera Mahendrapuri. He performed many austerities invoking Lord Shiva and the Lord granted him many boons. Later, the asura became arrogant and captured all the three worlds—the heaven, earth and the hell. He made the Devas, the heavenly immortals to do menial task. The Devas were unable to bear his torture and complained to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva opened his third eye to create a son to kill Surapadma. Six sparks of fire emanated from the third eye. These divine sparks were received by River Ganges through Agni, the God of Fire and passed on to the Himalayan lake, Saravana Poigai. Here they were transformed into six babies. Saravanapoigai .Here they were transformed into six babies.

These babies were suckled by the six Kirithika nymphs. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi came to Saravana Poigai, and when Goddess Uma fondly clasped the babies they joined together to become Lord Arumuga with six faces and twelve arms. When child Arumuga grew up to become a young boy, Lord Shiva asked him to destroy Surapadma and free the Devas from their cruel bondage. Lord Muruga reached Tiruchendur with his huge army and camped. He sent his lieutenant, Veerabahu to the asuras as an emissary and asked Surapadma to release the Devas. Since Surapadma turned down the request, a war ensued.

An intense battle was fought for a few days. During the first five days of the war, the brothers of Surapadma and all other asuras perished. On the sixth day, in the battle between Lord Muruga and Surapadma, the lance of Lord Muruga pierced the body of Surapadma, who got himself transformed into a frightful mango tree, and broke it into two. The broken pieces instantly transformed themselves into a mighty peacock and a cock. Lord Muruga took the peacock as his vahana or vehicle and the cock on his banner. This event is popularly known as Surasamharam, or the destruction of Surapadman. After Surasamharam, Lord Muruga desired to worship his father, Lord Shiva. Hence Mayan, the divine architect constructed this shrine at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Subramaniyan is seen in the posture of worshiping Lord Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum.

Temple :

The Hill on which Lord Muruga is consecrated at Tiruchendur is called Chandana Hill. Kandapuranam glorifies this Hill as "Kanda madana Parvatham". 

The temple has a Rajagopuram with a height of 137 feet and breadth of 90 feet. The total area of the temple and its surroundings is 1,26,507 Sq. feet.

Normally, the Raja Gopuram will be in the eastern side of temples in Tamil Nadu. But in Tiruchendur alone the Raja Gopuram is in the western side. It is said that the Raja Gopuram was not erected on the eastern side since the sea is very close in the eastern side. tiruchendur murugan temple

Mela Gopuram has nine storeys and it is about 137 feet high above Yalimattam, 90 feet long north to south and 65 feet broad east to west. At the top of the Gopuram the width is 20 feet and the length is 49 feet. To indicate that the Gopuram consists of 9 storeys there are nine Kalasams (sacred copper pots) at the top of the Gopuram.

Temple Timings & Poojas :

The poojas in this temple are performed as per the Kumara Thandiram Murai. Nine pooja kalams are observed daily. Temple will be opened from 5.00 am till 9.00 pm.

Period	Time	Pooja Detail
Morning	5.10	Subrapadam - Thirupalli Eluchi
Morning	5.30	Viswaroopam Darshan
Morning	5.45	Dwajasthamba Namaskaram
Morning	6.15	Udaya Marthanda Abishegam
Morning	7.00	Udaya Marthanda Deeparadhanai
Morning	8.00 to 8.30	Kalasandhi Pooja
Morning	10.00	Kalasha Pooja
Morning	10.30	Uchikala Abishegam
Noon	12.00	Uchikala Deeparadhanai
Evening	5.00	Sayaratchai Pooja
Night	7.15	Arthasama Abishegam
Night	8.15	Arthasama Pooja
Night	8.30	Ekanda Seva
Night	8.45	Ragasia Deeparadhanai, Palliarai Pooja
Night	9.00	Nadai Thirukappiduthal

Special Poojas :

·         On the Visakam day Special Abishegam for Lord Shanmuga is performed and the procession of deity during night is conducted.

·         Special Pooja is performed on Sukla Sashti day in every Tamil month and the procession of deity during night takes place.

·         108 Thiruvilakku pooja is performed on the Karthigai day every month. Special Abishegam is performed to Jayanthi Nathar and the Utsava idol is taken in the golden chariot in the night.

·         On the first day of every Tamil month, Ganapathy Homam and Special Pooja are performed. The Utsava idol is taken in procession during night.

·         On the last Friday of every Tamil month Special Pooja and procession of Utsava idol is conducted.

·         On the first day of Chithirai month Annabhishegam and Special Pooja are   performed and a procession of Utsava idol is conducted during night.

·         During the Purattasi month Navarathiri festival is conducted for 9 days.

·         On the first day of the Iyppasi month Annabhishegam and Special Poojas are performed and the procession of Utsava idol is conducted.

·         On the Panguni Uthiram day the Thirukalayanam of Arulmigu Valli is celebrated. Festivals : Vaikasi Visagam (May - June) A large number of devotees, numbering about two lakhs, participate in the festival. A procession of Sri Jayanthinathar with Valli and Deivanai is conducted in the night. Avani Festival (August - September) Devotees numbering about two lakh participate in this festival. On this Avani festival 7th, 8th and 10th day functions are more important. • 7th Sikappu sathi Festival • 8th Pachai Sathi Festival • 10th Car Festival (Big cars will not be available) Skanda Sasti Festival - 7 days (October - November) Devotees numbering about five lakhs will participate in the above festival. On this festival occasion, devotees fast for all six days. On the 6th day Surasamharam is demonstrated. On the 7th day Thirukkalyanam to Deivanai is celebrated in a grand manner. Masi Festival - 12 days (February - March) More than three lakh people participate in this festival. • 7th day Sikappu Sathi • 8th Pachai Sathi Festival • 10th Car Festival (Big cars will not be available) • 11th day Floating festival (yearly once) Offerings : Devotees who take a vow place their offerings during festival and other days. They austerely fast and carry Kavadi, Palkudam, offer Abishegam etc. to the Lord. The Golden Chariot procession, Chandana Lebanam, Dharabhishegam, Dharahomam are performed by devotees in fulfillment of their vows. The temple also organises Annadhanam everyday . Contact : Arulmigu SubramaniaSwamy Temple, Tiruchendur - 628 215. Phone Numbers : 04639-242221, 04639-242270, 04639-242271 How to get Here : By Air: The nearest airport is Madurai (210 km). By Rail: Linked to Tirunelveli junction (60 km). By Road: Tiruchendur is situated on the Kanyakumari-Tuticorin-Rameswaram coastal bus route. Kanyakumari 85 km, Rameswaram 325 km, Chennai 670 km.