Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur

The Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan. It is second among six abodes of Murugan (Āṟupatai vitukal) situated in Tamil Nadu, 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 Tiruchendur in the district of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is 40 km from Thoothukudi, 60 km south-east of Tirunelveli and 75 km north-east of Kanyakumari. The temple complex is on the shores of Bay of Bengal.

Subramaniya Swamy Temple
Temple's Main Entrance
View of the entrance
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThoothukudi
DeityMurugan (Kartikeya)
FestivalsVaikasi Visakam, Avani Festival, Surasamharam and Masi Festival
Governing bodyTamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department
Features
  • Tower: Rajagopuram
Location
LocationTiruchendur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur is located in Tamil Nadu
Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates8°29′45″N 78°7′45″E
Architecture
TypeTamil architecture
Website
tiruchendurmurugan.hrce.tn.gov.in

Surasamharam, a reenactment of the victory over Surapadman, and Kanda Shasti, a devotional song in praise of Murugan are performed at the temple.

Vaippu Sthalam

It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Shaivite Nayanar Appar.[2][3]

Architecture

The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures 91 m (299 ft) north to south, 65 m (213 ft) east to west, and has a nine-tier gopuram, or tower gate, that is 157 feet (48 meters) high.[4] The principal entrance faces south, and opens into the first of two prakarams, the first of which is lined with rows of yalis. The inner sanctum of the temple is in a cave and the main deity, or mulavar, is Murugan as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving.[5] Nali Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a freshwater spring, is located 100 m (330 ft) south of the temple. Devotees undergo a ritual cleansing by bathing in water from the well after bathing in the ocean.[5]

History

Dutch occupation of the Tiruchendur Temple
Main article: Dutch Occupation of the Thiruchendur Temple
Rajagopuram of the temple

The Murugan temple at Tiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India Company from 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with the Portuguese. The local people tried to free their temple, with no success. The Dutch finally vacated the temple on orders from the Naik ruler. However, while leaving, they removed the sculpture depicting the 2 utsava murtis (this representation of the deities comes out only during Masi and Avani Tirunal) which is made of an alloy named Shanmukhar and took it with them. During their sea voyage, they encountered a strong storm and realised their mistake of stealing the murti. They dropped it in the middle of the sea and saw the storm stop immediately. According to legend, Murugan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Murugan, and revealed the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai in the Tiruchendur temple, went to the spot in a fishing boat and retrieved the murti in 1653. The story is shown in paintings inside the temple.[6]

Administration

The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[7]

References
  1. "ISO accreditation for Tiruchendur temple". The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, செந்தில் (திருச்செந்தூர்) Senthil (Tiruchendur), 6-23-4
  3. தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், செந்தில், 6-23-4
  4. Knapp, Stephen (1 January 2009). Spiritual India Handbook. Jaico Publishing House. pp. 387–. ISBN 978-81-8495-024-3.
  5. Clothey, Fred W. (1978). The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 121–. ISBN 978-90-279-7632-1. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  6. Vink, Markus (2015). Encounters on the Opposite Coast: The Dutch East India Company and the Nayaka State of Madurai in the Seventeenth Century European Expansion and Indigenous Response. p. 347. ISBN 9789004272620.
  7. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thiruchendur Murugan Temple.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.