Thiruchendur Murugan temple

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple

Temple's Raja Gopuram

Raja gopuram or Western tower
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name Thiruchendur Arulmigu subramaniya swamy Thirukovil
Geography
Coordinates 8°29′45″N 78°7′45″E / 8.49583°N 78.12917°E / 8.49583; 78.12917
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
District Thoothukudi District
Location Tiruchendur
Culture
Primary deity Senthilanathar (Murugan)
Important festivals Aavani festival, Maasi festival, Soorasamharam, Thaipoosam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visagam, Karthigai Viratham
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Creator Mouna (Mauna) swamigal, Desika Mūrti Swami, Kasi Swami
Website tiruchendurmurugantemple.tnhrce.in

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan situated in Tamil Nadu, India. The puranic name or historical name for this temple is Jayanthipuram. It is also one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six major abodes of Murugan. It is the only one among the six sacred temple complexes to be situated near the sea shore.

It is one of the largest temple complexes of India and it is one of the most visited temple complex in India. This temple is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.[1]

It is located in the eastern end of the town Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. It is 60 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari.The temple complex is on the shores of Bay of Bengal.

History

Early Cankam poetry refer to the Murugan seashore shrine at Tirrucciralaivay, which is thought to refer to the Thiruchendur Temple. The earliest existing inscription at the temple is sated 875 AD, and talks about a Pantiyan called Varekuna Maran. The Murugan temple at Thiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India company between the years 1646 to 1648, The Murugan temple at Thiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India company between the years 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with them, the local people tried during these 2 years to try and free their temple, with several futile attempts. The Dutch finally vacated the temple on orders from the Naik ruler. However, while vacating the temple, they hacked away and removed the idol of the main deity of the temple, and took it back to Galle, Dutch Ceylon. Devotees in the town worried about the loss of the idol. Senthilaandavan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, and revealed the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai informed Athitha Nadar, who was a major sponsor of various services in the Thiruchendur temple. On Friday, 29 Thai, in the Kollam year 829 (1653 A.D.), Vadamlaiyappa Pillai and Athitha Nadar, aided by Pitchai Fernando, a Paravar fishermen of Alanthalai, travelled in a boat to the spot. A lemon was floating in the sea, and a Garuda was flying overhead. They dived in and retrieved the idol.The paintings explaining the incident is available in the interiors of Thiruchendur Murugan Temple.

Architecture

The temple has an eleven tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower facing the East. The tower was built by Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam under the aegis of the pontiff Desikamoorthy Swami around 1650. There are three precincts in the temple, with the third precinct on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. The entrance of the temple faces the South and has pillared halls leading to the sanctum. The first hall from the entrance is called the Shanmugha Vilasa Mandapam. There are separate shrines of Valli and Devyani, the consort of Muruga in the second precinct. There are shrines of Viswanatha and Visalakshi on the western side, while a cave on the northern side has the shrine of Valli. The image of the presiding deity, Subramanian Swamy is housed in the sanctum, sported with four hands. The image of the festival deity is sported with six faces and twelve hands. There are eight lingams in the temple, which is believed to have been worshipped by Muruga before waging the war with Surapadma. He is believed to have created a well named Skanda Pushkarni with his spear after the war. The water in the well is believed to possess medicinal properties.[2]

Religious significance

Image of elephant in the temple

Each of the six major abodes of Muruga has an event mentioned in the puranas (major religious texts). Thiruchendur is said to be second in importance among his six abodes. This place is also referred to by other names in religious poems and literature as Thirucheeralaivai, Thiruchenthil, and Thiruchenthiyoor. The deity is worshipped by various names such as Senthilandavan, Senthilkumar, and so on. The five Arupadiveedus apart from Thiruchendur 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).[3] The devotees of Muruga emphasize that Thiruvoragam, one of the four Padaiveedu referred to by sage Nakkeerar in his poem Thirumurugattupadai is none other then Kumarakoil, also known as Kumarashetram by Keralites (Malai Nattavar). The temple is situatead in the foothills of Velimalai also known as Velvi Malai, the southern tip of the western ghats. The place is where Muruga married his second consort Valli Devi. The marriage was love marriage called Kandarva Kalyanam. The "thala varalaru" cites numerous names of places, river, water bodies, caves and purana stories in support of this.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "ISO accreditation for Tiruchendur temple". The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. ↑ V.S., Krishnan (19 November 2004). "Brilliant as thousand suns". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  3. ↑ Economic Reforms and Small Scale Industries. Concept Publishing Company. 2009. p. 25. ISBN 9788180694493.
  4. ↑ Schmalz, Mathew N. (2012). Engaging South Asian Religions: Boundaries, Appropriations, and Resistances. Suny Press. p. 117. ISBN 9781438433257.
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