CHENDUR MURUGAN

Tiruchendur, situated in the Tuticorin District of Tamil Nadu, means 'beautiful holy town' in Tamil is a popular place of pilgrimage. Built by Viswakarma, Thiruchendur is the second Aarupadai Veedu (six sacred abodes -Tiruchendur, Tiruparangundram, Swamimalai, Pazhani, Pazhamudir cholai and Tiruttani) of Lord Muruga. The ancient Lord Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple here is dedicated to Lord Muruga, one of the favourite gods in Tamil Nadu. It is a well - maintained temple with more than 20,000 devotees visitors daily.

Located on a small rocky headland on the shore of the Gulf of Mannar, this impressive temple presides over a sandy beach. The temple is located within 40 km from Tuticorin, 60 km from Tirunelveli and 80 km from Kanyakumari. Dating from the 9th century by the Pallavas, much of it was replaced early in the 20th century because of salt damage. It is also believed that this temple was originally a rock cut structure, cut out of a local hill, and later renovated with granite. There is some references to the deity inside the temple occur in some of the Tamil's oldest scriptures like Purananuru, Silappadikaram, Tirumurugatrupadai, Adi Sankarar Sri Subramanya Bhujangam, Kanda Puranam etc.

One of the specialty of this temple is that this is the only temple of Lord Muruga located on the seashore and other shrines of his, are situated amidst mountains and forests. The legend behind this temple is that, Lord Muruga won the battle with the demon Surapadma and worshipped Lord Siva in this seashore seeking forgiveness.

The temple is approached via long colonnaded walkway, 750 meters from the town's center flanked by shops selling puja items, garlands, fruits, religious music, cloths etc. Non Hindus are permitted to enter the central shine on payment of a small donation Rs.20.

Usually pilgrims bath in the sea before entering the temple. The temple is entered on the west through a nine storied 137ft high and 90 ft width white stone tower (Rajagopuram) called as Mela Gopuram. A famous landmark of the city, this can be visible from the ocean. Constructed 350 years ago by Sri Desikamoorthy Swami of the Thiruvavaduthurai Mutt, this pyramidal tower is covered with full of plaster figures, depicting the life of the saint Manikkavachakar. It has a bell fixed into the topmost storey, was presented by a British official. There are nine Kalasams at the top of the Mela Gopuram. But this west entrance is only opened during the temple's annual festival.