Location
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.The terrain is partially a sandal mountain and sea shore.
Significance
Each of the six major abodes of Lord 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 six 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 devotees of Lord 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 situaatead in the foothills of Velimalai also known as Velvi Malai, the southern tip of the western ghats. The place is where Lord Muruga married his second consort Valli Devi. The marriage was love marriage (Kandarva Kalyanam). The "thala varalaru" cites numerous names of places, river, water bodies, caves and purana stories in support of this. Reference "The Velimalai Kumarakoil Thala Varalaru" written by Annalar Adigal.
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 devotees take a holy dip in the sea and the Nali Kinaru (small well), the source of fresh salt free water before entering the temple for worship.
The temple has devotees across the world including Singapore, Malaysia, America, Canada, London, etc. This temple plays a significant role in the faith of the world's Tamils.
Literature
Sri Adi Shankaracharya praised Lord Murugan of Thiruchendur by his "Sri Subramnaya Bhujanga Stotra". He praised the greatness of Vibhuti of Lord Murugan as follows,
ApasmAra kushta kshayArsha prameha
JvaronmAdha gulmAdhi rogA mahAntha
PishAchAshcha sarve bhavatpatra bhoothim
Vilokya kshanAth tArakAre dravanthe
(Shloka no. 25)
Meaning:
Oh Conqueror of Taraka! Severe epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venereal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types, they run away the moment they see Thy Vibhuti contained in a leaf.
Mythology
An Asura by name Surapadma was ruling Veera Mahandrapuri, an island fortress, as his Capital. He performed many austerities invoking Lord Siva and Lord Siva granted him many boons. Later he became arrogant and captured three worlds and made the Heavenly immortals to do menial task. Devas were unable to bear his torture and complained to Lord Siva. Lord Siva opened His frontal eye to create a son to kill the asuras. Six sparks of fire where issued from the frontal eye of Lord Siva. The divine sparks of grace 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 babes.
These babes were suckled by the six Kirithika nymphs. Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi Devi came to Saravana Poigai. When the Goddess Uma fondly clasped the babes, they became Lord Arumuga with six faces and twelve arms. When the child Arumuga had grown into a youth God, Lord Siva asked Him to destroy asuras and free Devas from their cruel bondage. Lord Muruga reached Tiruchendur with his huge army and encamped. He sent his lieutenant Veerabahu to the asuras as an emissary and asked Surapadma to release the Devas. Since Surapadma turned down the request, war was started.
The intense battle continued for few days. During the first five days of the War the brothers of Surapadma and all other asuras perished. On sixth day in the battle between Lord Muruga and Surapadma, the lance of Lord Muruga pierced Surapadma (who got himself transformed as a frightful mango tree ) and broke it in twain. The broken pieces instantly transformed themselves into a mighty Peacock and a Chanticleer. Lord Muruga took Peacock as his vahana (Vehicle) and Chanticleer on his banner.
After Surasamharam ( Destruction of Surapadman) Lord Muruga desired to worship his father Lord Siva. Hence Mayan, the divine architect constructed this shrines at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Subramaniyan is seen in the posture of worshiping Lord Siva in the Sanctum sanctorum.
As detailed in Skanda Purana, one of the eighteen Hindu puranas, While the deities hailed the glory of Kartikeya for having killed Tarakasur, Kartikeya himself was saddened by his act. He told the deities--'I regret for having killed Tarakasur because he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Is there any way to atone for my sin?'Lord Vishnu consoled him---'Killing a wicked person, who nourishes himself on the blood of innocent people, is not a sinful deed. But, still, if you feel guilty then there is no better way to atone for your sin than worshipping Lord Shiva. Install Shivalingas and worship them with deep devotion.' Kartikeya instructed Vishnukarma to make three divine Shivalingas. Later on Kartikeya installed these Shivalingas at three different places and worshipped them with appropriate rituals. In course of time these three holy places came to be known as Pratigyeshwar, Kapaleshwar and Kumareshwar. Kartikeya, while worshipping at Kapaleshwar sprinkled holy water on the Shivalinga and prayed so that Tarakasur's soul rested in peace. He also offered sesame seeds to Lord Kapaleshwar and prayed --'May my offerings made in the form of sesame seeds reach Tarak--the descendant of Sage Kashyap.' This way, Kartikeya was absolved of his sins.
Near the temple is also a holy temple dedicated to Ayya Vaikundar considered to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The followers of Ayya Vaikundar is called Ayyavazhi sect of the Vishnavite, and his teachings are contained in Akilathirattu, a holy book. Ayya Vaikundar was the architect of "Samabandhi Bhojan" meaning feeding of poor and downtrodden among the backward communities and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, who were considered to be untouchable by the rulers of the erstwhile Trivancore (now Kerala State) together under one roof. This was not liked by the rulers and they gave him many physical and mental trouble including putting him in the company of a hungry tiger in a lock up. But they were perplexed by his mystic acts and released him unconditionally.
Antiquity
This temple has been in existence for millennia, according to the Puranas. Thiruchendur is merely a Tamil name given to this site due to the abundance of sandalwood paste in this temple. It is hailed as Sri Jayantipura in the scriptures. There is an expectional tradition of adhering to the Kumara Tantra instead of the Saivagamas, which makes this temple an exclusively Kaumara shrine. With the onslaughts of Saivism, however, this temple has still managed to resist the introduction of the Saivagamas, amazingly enough. The form of Lord Murugan in this temple has also been extolled in the Kumara Tantra. The Kumara Tantra describes the Lord of Sri Jayantipuram to wield a shakti(lance), akshmala(rosary), katibaddha(one hand resting on His hip) and ambhuja(lotus).
Festivals
The temple has festivals almost throughout the year.In the Tamil month of chithirai (April) Tamil new year is celebrated.In the Tamil month of Vaikasi visakam festival is celebrated.In the Tamil month of Avani annual festival is celebrated.In the Tamil month of Aipasi amavasya is celebrated.In the Tamil month of karthigai,karthigai viratham is celebrated.In the Tamil month of thai,poosam festival and pongal festival is celebrated.In the Tamil month of Maasi,Annual greater festival is celebrated.In the Tamil month of panguni,uthiram festival is celebrated.Besides these festivals soorasamhara is celebrated in the month of November. During these festivals people used to take kavadi to the temple.Some people will pull the cars connected with the nails pierced in their bodies.Some people will pierce their toungue with the spear.Besides these the god will come out of temple in Golden chariot in every week.
Monthly Special Poojas
1. On the Visakam day Special Abishegam for Lord Shanmuga is performed and the procession of deity during night is conducted.
2. Special Pooja is performed on Sukla Sashti day in every Tamil month and the procession of deity during night takes place.
3. 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.
4. On the first day of every Tamil month, Ganapathy Homam and Special Pooja are performed. The Utsava idol is taken in procession during night.
5. On the last Friday of every Tamil month Special Pooja and procession of Utsava idol is conducted.
6. On the first day of Chithirai month Annabhishegam and Special Pooja are performed and a procession of Utsava idol is conducted during night.
7. During the Purattasi month Navarathiri festival is conducted for 9 days.
8. On the first day of the Iyppasi month Annabhishegam and Special Poojas are performed and the procession of Utsava idol is conducted.
9. On the Panguni Uthiram day the Thirukalayanam of Arulmigu Valli is celebrated.
Travel To Thiruchendur
It is 55 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari.
Bus : Govt & Private buses from Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchy and Coimbatore. From Tirunelveli & Tuticorin more frequent buses are there.
Train :Daily Train from Chennai ( TIRUCHENDUR EXP : # 16735 -starts at 16.05 from Chennai Egmore )...
As there are more Train connectivity to Tirunelveli- One can travel up to Tirunelveli by Train and take a bus or car to Tiruchendur.Four Passenger Trains are there from Tirunelveli starting 7.00am, 9.35am,11.15am and 18.15pm.
Air :Nearest Airports are
Tuticorin 30 km (45 Mins) Madurai 168 km ( 3 Hours ) Tiruchy 311 km ( 4.5 – 5 hours ) Thiruvanthapuram International Airport 175 km ( 3.5 hours )
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