At a distance of 59 km from Tirunelveli, 35 km from Tuticorin and 92 km from Kanyakumari, Thiruchendur is a small coastal city within the Toothukudi district of Tamil Nadu and is a well-liked pilgrimage vacation spot located within the Gulf of Mannar.
Thiruchendur Murugan Kovil is the prime attraction of the city. This temple is taken into account to be one of many six Padai Veedu (Battle Camps) of Lord Murugan, the others being Thiruparamkundram, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani and Pazhamudhircholai. This temple is called the second Padai Veedu of Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga gained the battle with the demon Surapadma and worshipped Lord Shiva at this sacred place. It’s believed that the temple existed because the Vedic interval, as it’s talked about in lots of historical scripts.
The principle entrance to the temple faces south though the sanctum faces east. The 133 ft Rajagopura, constructed near the shores of Bay of Bengal, is an excellent instance of Dravidian structure. The Gopura consists of 9 storeys there are 9 Kalasas on the prime of the gopuram. That is the one Murugan temple located on the ocean shore. This temple was constructed by three holy saints.
Lord Murugan is represented in numerous kinds within the temple, the presiding deity (Moolavar) being Balasubramanya in standing posture. The opposite kinds are Shanmugar, Jayanthinathar, and Kumaravidanga Perumal. The temple has two giant enclosures. Adjoining to the sanctum is the Panchalingam shrine in a cave like construction, the place it’s believed that Subramanian worships Shiva. Senthilaandavar shrine adjoining to the sanctum homes the processional photographs of Subramanian along with his consorts. The innermost enclosure has the shrines of Aarumugaswamy, the 63 nayanmars, Natarajar, Karaikkal Ammaiyaar and others had been current.
The principle entrance of the temple opens into the primary enclosure often known as Sivili Mandapam. There’s a shrine of Lord Venkateswara on the northern facet of the enclosure. There’s additionally a Nazhikkinaru on the temple premises, which is a sacred nicely, constructed round a contemporary water spring. On the northern shore has a cave carved out of sandstone has two photographs devoted to Valli and Dattatreya.
Within the 17th century AD, Tiruchendur temple was occupied by the Dutch for few years and so they even looted a few of the idols within the temple. Legend has it that the Murugan idol was carried away of their ship. There was a sudden storm and the Dutch grew afraid and threw the idol into the ocean. Vadamalaiyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga noticed a imaginative and prescient of the idol’s place in his dream. Instantly, he rushed to the spot and located a floating lemon and Garuda was flying over the spot. The idol was recovered from the deep sea on the similar location.
Brahmotsavams, Vasanthothsavam, Visaka Visakam, Skandha Sashti, Aavanipperunthirunaal and Maasipperunthirunaal are essentially the most celebrated festivals of Thiruchendur. The Swing Competition or Oonjal Sevai can be standard among the many pilgrims.
Timings: 5 AM to 9 PM.