Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Thoothukudi Airport is at Vagaikulam, 14 km from Thoothukudi city centre.

• By train

  Thoothukudi Railway Station is one of the oldest and popular stations in India.

Why devotees come here

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple stands in Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, by the sea. It is dedicated to Murugan and is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, the Arupadai Veedu.

Tiruchendur is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, the Arupadai Veedu, a set of sacred temples dedicated to him. Adi Sankara visited the holy town, which lies close to the Bay of Bengal.

Legend says Murugan killed the demons Tarakasura and Simhamukha, then met Surapadma in the final battle here. Surapadma took the form of a mango tree, and Murugan split it with his vel. Each half became a peacock or a rooster. A reenactment of this victory, the Soorasamharam festival, draws thousands to the temple each year.

The temple complex was occupied by the Dutch East India Company from 1646 to 1648, during its war with the Portuguese. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai later retrieved the idols in 1653. The nine-tier gopuram, or tower gate, stands 157 ft (48 m) high. The inner sanctum is in a cave, and the main deity is Murugan as a saintly child, carved in granite.

Festivals

• annualSoorasamharam

  A reenactment of Murugan's victory over Surapadman. At least 4 lakh devotees come to see it.

• 12 daysVaikasi Visakam

  A festival of twelve days held at the temple.

• Thai Poosam dayThai Poosam

  Lakhs of devotees gather at Tiruchendur and other Murugan temples across south Tamil Nadu to pray and make offerings.

Tips for your visit

• Devotees often find it hard to get rooms close to the temple.
• Darshan waits get long on weekends and holidays.
• Nali Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a freshwater spring, lies 100 m south of the temple.

Questions people ask