THIRUCHENDUR FAMOUS FOR:

Thiruchendur is a famous place for Lord Murugan because this is one of the places for Murugan 6 abodes this is called Arupadai Veedu.
It is referred to as the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is home to Lord Murugan.
Thiruchendur is located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India.

FAMOUS PLACES IN THIRUCHENDUR:

1) Thiruchendur Murugan Temple

2) Valli Cave

3) Vel Ugantha Amman Kovil

4) Subrahmanya Swamy Kovil Beach

5) Thiruchendur Arch

6) Thiruchendur Beach

7) Kayalpatnam Beach

அருள்மிகு சுப்பிரமணியசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், திருச்செந்தூர்:

Veera Mahendrapuri was ruled by the demon surapadman, who was the son of Rishi Kashyaba, who was a sage who focused on stringent meditations, and his sons grew up as Asuras.
Surapadman was a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva and he spent most of his time on penance.

Lord Shiva was satisfied with his penance and gave him a boon which Surapadman asked, that Surapadman could neither be killed nor be defeated by anybody in this world, except the son of Lord shiva who will born without shiva`s unification with any women.

ORIGIN OF THIRUCHENDUR:

The boon of Lord Shiva made Surapadman very strong and powerful and he conquered all three mythical worlds.
The Heaven, the Earth, and Hell, and also he take all the devas to prison and tortured them. All the devas were run off to Lord Shiva to take action to relieve them.
Lord Shiva opened his third eye and exhale six different sparkles and gave those six sparkles to Agni devan to throw it the Ganga river, through ganga river the six sparkles reached the saravana poigai, the divine lake, and that six sparkles were turned into six babies.
Lord Shiva sent six karthikai hours to take care of those six babies. Later, the divine couple went to Saravana poigai, where the goddess Parvati fondly merged the babies together to become Lord Karthikeya, who protects his devotees with 6 faces and 12 arms.
Lord Aarumugan, which is another name for lord Karthikeyan. He is a master in tactics of war and also he is very much handsome. Then he became the chief commander of the gods.
According to shiva`s order, he marched to Tiruchendur with his army to save the devas from Surapadman. Veerabahu, his lieutenant was sent to meet Surapadman as an emissary before the war, to free devas.
As it failed, Lord Murugan declared war. Losing his brothers, Surapadman refused to surrender and the war continued for 5 days. Then the war came to an end Lord Karthikeyan’s Vel killed the asura Surapadman.
At the request of Surapadman, Lord Murugan turned him into a peacock, which became the vehicle of Lord Karthikeyan. Then the devas celebrated the victory in Thiruchendur.

FESTIVALS OF THE TEMPLE:

The brahmotsavams in the temple is a 12 days festival, that is twice a year once in Masi and once in Avani. These two annual festivals of the year are the best attractions for thousands of worshippers.
Lakhs of devotees will take place in the Avani festival. The 7th,8th, and 10th-day functions of Aavani are more important.
And the important festival is vaikasi visage (May-June), lakhs of devotees will participate in this festival. The procession of Jayanthinathar with Valli and deviance is conducted during the night. Then the other is the Avani festival which comes from August – September.

7th Sikappu Sathi Festival

8th Pachai Sathi Festival

10th Car Festival
11th Float Mandagapadi Festival.
Skanda Sasti Festival -7 days (October- November)

On this special occasion, devotees take fasting for six days. On the sixth day, Surasamharam is demonstrated. On the day of the 7th Thirukkalyanam of Deivanai is celebrated in a grand manner.

Masi Festival – 12 days (February – March)

More than 3 lakhs devotees participate in this festival.

VOWS AND OFFERINGS:

The worshippers who have taken a vow will place their offerings during the festival. They undergo severe fast and take kavadi, Palkudam, and offer Abhishekam.

Golden chariot procession, Chandana Labanam, Dharabhishegam, and Dharahomam are performed by the devotees to fulfill their vows.

SPECIALITY OF THE THIRUCHENDUR MURUGAN TEMPLE:

Tiruchendur is the Second Arupadaiveedu of Lord Murugan. This is the only Hindu temple that has no eastern gateway.

This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu, where the sanctum sanatorium is below ground level. And also this is the only temple of Lord Murugan located near the sea. This temple is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.

OTHER SHRINES:

There is a Venkatesa shrine located near northern Prakara, this Vishnu shrine is hollowed out of the rock itself.
When we enter the first Prakara of the temple, we can see the shrine of Kumara Vidanga Perumal. Here Venkatesa Perumal is seen in a standing posture and facing the east. Sridevi, Bhudevi, and Nizha devi are on his side.
Brahma also appears on a lotus from his navel. Pujas will be conducted here four times a day. The outer walls of the shrine have beautified writings with selected hymns of Nalayira – Prabahandhas.
Then we can see the 63 Nayanmars and Thogai Adiyars on the left and Dakshina Moorthy on the right. The next three pillars are embellished with the figures of Kasi Swami, Mauna Swami, and Desika Moorthy Swami.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE திருச்செந்தூர்:

The Mela-Gopuram of the temple is a massive structure of nine stories. It is about 137 feet above yali mattam, over a ground floor 90 feet long north to south and 65-1/2 feet broad east to west.
It is believed that the gopuram is constructed 300 years ago by Desikamurti Swami, an Odukkath-Tambiran of the Maha Sannidhanam of Tiruvavaduthurai Mutt.
On the nineth storey is fixed a huge bell kadikara nalikai mani. There is a tradition that when this clock struck midday, the call was taken up by a series of bell fries on mandapas said to have been built by the panjalamkurichi family.

SPECIAL VAZHIPADU:

Pujas will be performed daily to the deities. The protocol of the daily worship here is known as Kumara Tantram. Eight times pujas will be done to Lord Subramanyar in a day.
Special pujas will be done on the occasional day of Vishakam nakshatra as well as during chittirai Vishu and Aippasi Vishu.
Last Friday of every month the procession of the inner sanctum is carried out, and the uthsava murti is taken on a procession in the outer prakaram, along this his consorts.