PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI TEMPLE
Pazhamudircholai Murugan temple is one of the six holiest Murugan shrines referred to as the Aarupadai Veedu. It is the last of the Arupadaiveedu. It is also called the name of Solamalai Murugan Temple.
STORY BEHIND SOLAMALAI:
Avaiyar and Murugan:
- The legendary poetess of Tamil is known as Avvaiyar. She is the name behind many of the most famous and appreciated works ever written in Hindu folklore.
- Her vocabulary and dexterity in the language made her works stand apart, even in the list of many greatest poets.
- The great poet Avvaiyar was tested by Lord Murugan here. One day Avvaiyar, was tired and while traveling, so she sat under the shadow of a fruit tree hungry and thirsty, A boy who is sitting under the tree asked her whether she want fruits, when Avvaiyar told him that she did, the boy asked Avvaiyar whether she wanted roasted fruits or unroasted fruits.
- The incredible poetess Avvaiyar scoffed silently at the thought of the existence of a roasted fruit and thinks that the boy did not have enough knowledge even about a fruit.
- However, she then decided to ask the boy to pick unroasted fruits for her. The boy started to do. Several fruits fell down from the tree and Avvaiyar picked them up and blew on them to remove the sand. Smiling, the boy asked Avvaiyar if she was blowing on his roasted fruits to cool them down.
- Avvaiyar was shocked and thinks that how a village boy could be playing such an intelligent drama. Blowing on the fruit to remove the sand was indeed poetically comparable to an attempt to cool ”roasted fruits”.
- Avvaiyar was humbled by the poetic knowledge of the clever boy, she begged him to reveal his true identity, Avvaiyar was shocked to find herself in a divine company and bowed in obeisance.
- She then prayed to Lord Murugan to bless her. Lord Murugan shows his infinite grace on her to her endless quest for knowledge.
THE HOLY POND:
Above Pazhamudircholai the holy pond is located and it is called Nupura Ganga. It is believed that the pond is 1000 years old and named Silambaru.
The Goddess Rakayi temple is located here. Worshipers of this goddess usually take a holy bath at the Nupura falls. An offering made for the devotees of the Azhagar temple is made from this holy water.
THE NOVEL TREE:
The fruits of the novel tree ripen in the Tamil month of Aadi (Mid – July) and Avani (Mid – August), but the novel tree of this temple can be seen with ripened fruits in the Tamil month of Ippasi (Mid – October) because of the miracle of the Lord Murugan.
PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI FESTIVALS:
The main festival of the temple is Kanda Sashti. Special prayers will also be held on those days of
- Vaikasi Visakam,
- Aadi Karthigai,
- Varushabishekam on Avani Pooram,
- Karthika Somavaram,
- Thirukarthigai,
- Panguni Uthiram and
- Tamil New Year.
SHRINE OF LORD MURUGAN:
- The shrine of lord Murugan is located on Solaimalai hill and is known as Vrishabhadri or Idabagiri. Lord Murugan worshiped here along with his consorts Valli as Iccha Shakti and Devayani as Kriya Shakti and the Lord himself as Jnana Shakti.
- The idol of the lord is in standing posture with a single face and four hands kept between the idols of his consorts.
- The vel of the lord is made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with great veneration by devotees.
ARCHITECTURE OF PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI:
This temple employs the Dravidian style of architecture. The gopurams at the entrance of the temple have sculptures of Hindu gods.
The temple pillars and ceilings carry colorful paintings. The Dwajasthambam is covered in gold. The main shrine is Lord Murugan with his consort Valli and Deivanai on either side.
SPECIAL VAZHIPADU:
There will be an early morning puja which is called as
- Subrapadam will be performed here at the time of 5.10 AM,
- Dwajasthamba Namaskaram at 5.45 AM,
- Udhaya Marthanda Abishegam at 6.15 AM,
- Uchikala Abishegam at 10.30 AM,
- Rakkala Abishegam at 19.15 PM,
- Ragasia Deeparadhanai at 8.45 PM,
- Palliarai Deeparathanai at 8.55 PM,
- Nadai Thirukappiduthal at 9.00 PM.
PRAYERS:
People pray here for weddings, children, ren, and academic boons.
After their wishes are fulfilled, devotees perform milk abhishekam to Lord Murugan and will offer vastras. It is believed that the devotees who visit the Murugan shrine are blessed with health and wealth.
PRASADAM IN PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI TEMPLE:
After the puja devotees are blessed with Kumkum and Holy Ash and with the prasadam of panchamrutham.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
- The puja was performed to the deity six times a day ( six kalams) Forenoon: ushat kalam, kala sandhi, and Uchikala poojas, and the afternoon pujas are Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.
- The opening of the temple is from morning 6.00 a.m. to evening 6.00 p.m. continuously.
ANNADHANAM IN PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI TEMPLE:
- Lunch will provide here 100 devotees and needy people at the time of 12 noon daily. Those who like to donate to annandham may pay Rs.2000 for one day’s lunch and Rs.25000 as a permanently fixed amount.
- Devotees may donate rice, vegetables, etc, and also get a donation receipt for even Rs.5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 from the temple management.
STEPS OF THE TEMPLE:
There are only a few steps to Pazhamudircholai Temple you can reach the entrance of the temple by any vehicle. There will be a toll for accessing the ghat roads. You need to climb only 10 steps to reach the deity.
NEARBY TEMPLES:
- Sri MeenakshiSundareswarar Temple, Madurai
- Sri Subramaniaswami Temple, Tiruparankundram
- Shri Koodalazhagar Temple, Madurai
- Sri Mariamman Temple, Teppakulam, Madurai
- Sri Kallalagar Temple, Alagarkovil
- Sri PrasannaThiruppathi Temple, Madurai
LOCATION:
Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan Temple,
Alagarkoil Road,
Alagar Hills,
Madurai District,
Tamil Nadu- 624401.
CHENNAI TO PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI:
The distance between Chennai to Pazhamudircholai Temple is 401 km, and it takes 6 hours to reach the temple.
COIMBATORE TO PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI:
The distance between Coimbatore to Pazhamudircholai Temple is 171 km and it takes 2.86 hours to reach the temple.
THIRUPARANKUNDRAM TO PAZHAMUDIRCHOLAI:
The distance between Thiruparankundram to Pazhamudircholai Temple is 29 km, and it takes 32 minutes to reach the temple.