Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi

THIRUCHENDUR SUBRAMANYA SWAMY TEMPLE

Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu, India

God

The main deity of this temple is Lord Subramanyam graces the devotees with his six faces accompanied by his consorts Valli and Deivanai.

Goddess

Goddesses Valli and Deivanai are consorts of Lord Subramanyam.

Interesting Facts

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is known as the second Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga.
The temple's raja gopuram is in the western side. This was done to protect the foundation since the sea is closer to the temple in the east.
There is a small well called Nazhikinaru from where the water keeps oozing out and the water is sweet. It is interesting to note that the water is sweet inspite of being so close to the sea.
Of the Aaarupatai Veetu of Lord Muruga, Tiruchendur alone is situated in the seashore, the other five are hill temples.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 25°C during night)Average - May (36°C during the day and 20°C during night)Lowest - December to February (28°C during day and 19°C during night)Monsoon season – July to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Thiruchendhur Bus Stand	2.4 KM	1800-419-4287
Tiruchendu Railway Station	1.7 KM	139
Tuticorin Airport	39 KM	04612271863

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Tiruchendu Railway Station	1.7 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Tuticorin Airport	39 KM	04612271863

Architecture

The temple was built in Dravidian style of architecture. 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. The temple has two prakarams (corridors). The Shanmukha Vilasa mandapam is 120 Feet long, 86 Feet breadth and has an ornately carved 124 pillar hall with four corridors meeting at a 15 Meters square central hall. It touches the ceiling through its elaborately carved and majestic pillars and supports the entire Shanmukha Vilasam. It was originally built with white stones and later converted into granite stone. Looking from here, one can worship Lord Shanmuga with his consorts in the Mahara mandapam. From here one can see Arulmigu Arumugha Peruman seating in the mandapam with golden pillars.

Inscriptions - The earliest inscription of 875AD belongs to Varaguna Pandyan. The front mandapa, prakara, were extended in 16th - 17th Century by Vijayanagara Nayaks. In 1650 AD the Rajagopuran was constructed by Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Further expanded by Maharaja Marthandavarma (1729-58 AD ). The structures were damaged heavily due to sea salt laden wind and sea water, since the sea waves used to hit the temple when they are rough. With the effort of Mouna Swami, Desika Murti Swami and Kasi Swami the sand stones were replaced by granite stones. The work continued for about 72 years and a lot of money was incurred. Finally the work was completed and Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1941 AD. Further Kumbhabhishekams were performed in 1959, 1971 and 1983. In one of the inscription it was mentioned that Moolavar Vigraha was replaced in 1984 AD, by the trustees Thirumalaikozhunthu Pillai and S Vedha Murthy Mudaliyar and paradhista ashta pandhana kumbhabhishekam was performed. In that inscription Chozha mandalam, Chera mandalam, Thondaimandalam and Eezhamandalam are mentioned.

Religious Significance

Legend of the Temple - As Per the Legend, this is one of the Arupadai Veedu, where asura Surapadma was killed by Thiruchendur Murugan. The Asura Surapadma gave frequent troubles to Devas. When they complained to Lord Shiva, he created 6 children through his third eye. Sri Parvathi made them in to a single boy with 6 faces and 12 hands also She gave the lance / Vel to fight with Surapadman. After 5 days of fight with Surapadman, Lord Muruga killed him on the 6th day. Surapadman transformed in to a mango tree and the lance pierced in to two, of one piece turned to Peacock and another piece turned to Cock. Lord Muruga took Peacock as Vahana and cock as his flag.

The Idols Legend - As per the legend The Dutch East India Company used the temple as garrison between 1646 to 1648 AD, during the conflict with Portuguese. As per the order of Madurai Nayaks they vacated the temple and took away the Urchavar ( Thinking that the idols were made of gold ) and Nataraja. In the middle of the see the ship which carried the idols met the gale and storm. So the Dutch officers dropped the Idols in to the sea and immediately the sea became calm. Lord Muruga came in the dream of Vadamalaiyappa Pillai an ardent devotee, where the idols was dropped. With the help of Adhitha Nadar the idols were retrieved and installed back. This story photos/ paintings are hung in the outer prakara.

Actual History of the Idols - But in actual story from the Dutch records was different. They took away the idols to Dutch Ceylon and asked 1lakh reals as ransom to return back. In 1650AD, A delegation of Hindu and Muslims of Kayalpattinam went Ceylon to retrieve back. In the meantime Ravi Varma of Travancore had a secret deal to buy the idols. In 1651AD the idols were sent back to Kayalpattinam along with the merchant Van der Meijden, offering to sell for 30000 to 25000 reals. Since nobody came forward for that amount the merchant returned back to Galle of Ceylon. After that the Dutch records are silent. From the 1653 AD inscription in the mandapa the idols were installed back in presence of Thirumalai Nayak and Vadamalaiyappa Pillai, then Governor of Tirunelveli.

History

Since the actual period of Construction is not known, it is believed that the temple was built by Pandyas & Cheras with sand stone, during 6th to 8th Century. The temple was built in 9th century A.D. by Viswakarma.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 01:00 PM	04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Darshanam Details

Darshanam	Price	Estimated Time	Entrance From
Sirappu Darshan	20.00
Viraivu Darshan	100.00
Adhiviraivu Darshan	250.00

Sevas

Name of the seva

Day

Timings

Persons

Duration

Price

Subrapadam

All Days