Tiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple or Chenthilandavar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located on the Bay of Bengal Sea Shores in Tiruchendur village, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu. This seashore is the second among six abodes of Lord Murugan (Arupadaiveedugal). The ancient name of this temple is Jayanthipuram. The main deity is Lord Subramanyam graces the devotees with his six faces accompanied by his consorts Valli and Deivanai. The lord is offered abhisheka nine times a day.
The temple, which is built near the shore, measures 91 m (299 ft) from north to south, 65 m (213 ft) from east to west, and has a nine-tiered gopuram, or tower gate, measuring 157 feet (47 meters) high. The main 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 moolavar, is Murugan as a holy child, depicted in a granite carving. Naazhi Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a spring of fresh water, is located 100 m (330 ft) south of the temple. Devotees undergo ritual purification by bathing in water from the well after bathing in the ocean.
People suffering from obstacles in marriage and longing for a child boon are delivered from their sins and sorrows if they visit Lord Muruga who graces along with his spouse in the shrine of Tiruchendur.
Festivals Celebrated:
Masi and Avani celebrated Twice a year
Vasant celebrated for ten days
Vaikasi Visagam
Skanda Sasti celebrated for 7 days.
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Dress Code:
Gents should remove the Shirts & Banyans before entering the main temple.
For Ladies Saris or Chudarirs with tops.
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Timings:
Morning: 5:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Evening: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Tiruchendur Subramanya Swamy Temple Seva:
5:00 AM Temple Opens
5:10 AM Suprabhatam
5:35 AM Viswarupam
6:15 AM Udayamartandam Abhishekam
7:00 AM Udayamarithanelam Diparadhanai
7:30 to 8:30 AM Kala Sandhi Puja
10:30 AM Vehi Kala Abhishekam
12:00 Noon Utchikalam Diparadhanai
5:00 PM to 5:30 PM Sayaratchai Diparadhanai
7:15 PM Ardha-jaman or Rakkalam Abhishekam
7:45 PM Rakkalam Diparadhanai
8:00 PM Ekantam Potri Archanai
8:30 PM Ekantam Diparadhanai
8:45 PM Ragaceyam
8:45 PM to 9:00 PM Palli Arai Diparadhanai
9:01 PM Temple closes
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple History:
Tiruchendur Murugan Temple was occupied by the Dutch East India Company from 1646 to 1648, during their war with the Portuguese. The local population tried to liberate their temple, without success. The Dutch eventually abandoned the temple by order of ruler Naik. However, on leaving, they took 2 utsava murthis which is made of an alloy called Shanmukhar. During their journey at sea, they encountered a strong storm and realized their mistake of stealing the murtis. They dropped the murtis in the middle of the sea and saw that the storm stopped immediately. Later, Senthil Aandavan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Murugan, and revealed to him the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai at Tiruchendur temple traveled to the site on a fishing boat and retrieved the murti in 1653. The story is shown in paintings inside the temple.
Tiruchendur Temple Legend:
As described in the Skanda Purana, the demon king Surapadma, blessed with Shiva’s boon that no one but his son can kill him, unleashed torture on all living. Devastated, the gods begged Lord Shiva to save them. This led to the birth of Lord Murugan, born from sparks of fire and raised by the earth goddess. In a battle at Thiruchendur in Tuticorin, he defeated Surapadma and killed him, and after that, he worshiped his father Lord Shiva in this very place.
Defeating him was the sacred purpose of Kartikeya’s birth. He then became the war chief of the armies of the gods. He defeated the armies of the demon and slammed him against a tree with his spear. From the broken spear emerged a rooster and a peacock, which he took as his banner and as his Vaahana. Before and after the war, he camped by the sea in the Bay of Bengal, and after the end of the war, he wished to worship his lord’s father and ask for his blessing. Therefore, the Mayan architect built a sanctuary at the current location of the temple. It is one of the six mansions of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu and the only one located by the sea. The other five are located at Thiruthani, Swamimalai, Palani, Pazhamudircholai, Thirupparankunram but all are high up on the hills.
Teerthas of Tiruchendur:
Nine teerthas or sacred baths are mentioned in the stala purāna. Sea bathing in itself is one, described as having great spiritual merit. Two miraculous manifestations are recorded, and they are one, that Brahma, who had one of the heads torn off by Siva, recovered it after a bath here; and that Angasundari, a Pandya princess born with the face of a horse, got her beautiful face after bathing in the Vathanarambha Teertha.
Twenty-four inscribed stone pillars placed at intervals on the beach mark the special meanings engraved on them for bathing in those particular places.
- Mukaramba Tirtha
- Tevayanai Tirtha
- Lakshmi Tirtha
- Siddhar Tirtha
- Ashta Dikpala Tirtha
- Gayatri Tirtha
- Savitri Tirtha
- Saraswati Tirtha
- Iravada Tirtha
- Tirusuli Tirtha
- Valli Tirtha
- Durga Tirtha
- Ganana Tirtha
- Satya Tirtha
- Dharma Tirtha
- Muni Tirtha
- Deva Tirtha
- Pavanasa Tirtha
- Skanda Pushkarani Tirtha
- Seeta Tirtha
- Dasa Gangas Tirtha
- Gandhamathana Tirtha
- Matru Tirtha
- Pitru Tirtha
Monthly Special Poojas:
- On the Visakam day, Special Abishegam for Lord Shanmuga is performed and the procession of deity during the night is conducted.
- Special Pooja is performed on Sukla Sashti day in every Tamil month and the procession of deity during the night takes place.
- 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.
- On the first day of every Tamil month, Ganapathy Homam and Special Pooja are performed. The Utsava idol is taken in procession at night.
- On the last Friday of every Tamil month, Special Pooja and procession of the Utsava idol is conducted.
- On the first day of Chithirai month, Annabhishegam and Special Pooja are performed and a procession of Utsava idol is conducted during the night.
- During the Purattasi month, the Navarathiri festival is conducted for 9 days.
- On the first day of the Iyppasi month, Annabhishegam and Special Poojas are performed and the procession of the Utsava idol is conducted.
- On Panguni Uthiram day, the Thirukalayanam of Arulmigu Valli is celebrated.
How to reach Tiruchendur Temple:
By Air:
Tuticorin Airport is the nearest Airport, which is 37.7 km from the temple.
Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest International Airport, which is 177 km.
By Rail:
The Tiruchendur railway station is 1.8 km and Tuticorin Railway Station is 40.8km.
By Road:
The temple has good transportation facilities from nearby cities and can be easily traveled by road.
Tiruchendur Subramanya Temple Address:
Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple,
TB Road,
Tiruchendur,
Thoothukudi District,
Tamilnadu – 628215.
Other Six Abodes of Sri Murugan | Arupadai Veedu Temple:
- Palani Murugan Temple / Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple
- Sri Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai
- Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani
- Sri Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
- Murugan Temple or Subramanya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram