Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Subsidiary Temples

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Subsidiary Temples

The subsidiary temples attached to the Thiruchendur administration are nineteen. Most of them are minor shrines spread over the town and the suburbs to a distance of four miles. Two of them are in the Puttantaruvai village. A full list is given below. They are mostly under the management of pujaris, though nominally under the Devasthanam administration.

Most conspicuous of them all is the town Siva temple of Sri Sivakolundeeswarar and Sri Anandavalli Amman. The outer measurements are 356 feet long and 168 feet broad. Situated in the heart of then town, its dimensions are large, its inner precincts majestic and the approaches leading to it covered by two large mandapas. The columns of sculptured yalis and conventional types are of exquisite workmanship.

The exterior mantapa contains many shops, and is cut from the main entrance to the temple by an intervening road. This temple, which might have been re-built in the days of the Nayaks in the 17th century to such enormous proportions, ought to have seen better days, and latterly eclipsed by the growing importance and popularity attached to the seashore temple of Sri Subrahmaniyam.

·        Sri Venkatesa Perumal within the prakara of the temple

·        Sri Valli Amman cave temple on the sea border

·        Sri Tundu-Kai Vinayakar Temple

·        Sri Swarna Vanam Sastha Kovil

·   Sri Sivakolundiswarar and Anandavalli Amman Kovil alias Mela Koyil or Town Siva Temple

·        Sri Amirtaguna Vinayagar temple

·        Sri Ananta Sastha Koyil

·        Sri Allkonda Vinayagar temple

·        Sri Arasalwar Vinayagar temple

·        Sri Muttaramman temple

·        Sri Sabhapati Vināyagar temple

·        Sri Maragatha Valli Amman temple

·        Sri Veluganta Amman temple

·        Sri Uchima Kali Amman temple

·        Sri Thalai-untri Sasthan Koyil

·        Sri Kundru Mel Iyen Sasthan Koyil

·        Sri Chokkar temple

·  Sri Pirappudai Sasthan Koyil and Saravana Vinayagar temple in Inam Thirupani Puttantaruvai village in Thiruchendur taluk; and

·        Sri Bala Vinayagar temple

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Greatness of Thiruchendur Vibhuti Leaves

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Greatness of Thiruchendur Vibhuti Leaves

'Patra' means leaf in Sanskrit. In Thiruchendur temple vibhuti is kept on a panneer leaf and offered as Prasadam. The fragrance of this vibhuti is unique. We wonder whether the panneer leaf enhances the fragrance of Thiruchendur vibhuti. No matter what contributes, it is a fact that Thiruchendur vibhuti has the fragrance of divine grace.

After his victory over demon Surapadman and his army, Lord Murugan settled on the coast of Thiruchendur, shining and guiding like a lighthouse. The scriptures stand as panneer trees bearing testimony to his glory. So it is believed that the leaves of those trees have Vedic magical powers. Vibhuti contained in those leaves has miraculous healing power. The veins running across the leaves remind us of Lord Murugan's twelve hands.

Sage Vishwamitra suffered from severe dyspepsia, which he got for killing Tarakai through Lord Rama. Rama appeared in his dream and asked him to smear Chenthilandavan's patra bhutias atonement. There was a remarkable incident in the life of Sri Adi Sankara which revealed the glory of patra Bhuti. Abhinav Gupthar, who lost in the argument with Adi Shankara, cast a black magic spell on Adi Sankara which caused a chronic disease.

Adi Sankara was staying in Gokarna in north Karnataka at that time. Lord Siva of Gokarna appeared in his dream and instructed him to go to Thiruchendur, the holy abode of his son Lord Muruga and get rid of his disease. On getting up he saw vibhuti, kept near him.

As ordained by Kokarneswarar he set off for Chendur. On reaching Chendur he took a dip in the sea and proceeded towards the shrine of Chenthilandavan. When he was praying fervently to Lord Muruga he saw the serpent, Adiseshan crawling towards the sanctum. At the same time he was blessed with the holy vision and words gushed out extemporaneously in Bhujanga metre. In Sanskrit 'Bhujanga' means snake. Bhujanga metre suggests a snake gliding along.

He smeared his body with the patra Bhuti Prasadam and was soon cured of his disease. Adi Sanakara, considered as divine incarnation, could have banished the disease in no time. But he committed himself to express the glory of patra Bhuti to the world.

About 350 years ago Sri-la-Sri Desikamurthy, chief of Tiruvaduthurai Math, constructed the western gateway tower of Thiruchendur temple. Due to paucity of funds and couldn’t pay the wages to the labourers. Instead he gave them each a packet of patra Bhuti and asked them to open after crossing Thuntukai Vinayakar temple. Accordingly they opened and they were amazed to see their wages inside the packets. This has been documented in the temple history.

Patra Bhuti has done miracles in the life of Pagazhi Kuthar also. Pagazhi Kuthar, who wrote 'Thiruchendur Pillai Thamizh' was suffering from chronic abdominal pain. Lord Muruga came in his dream as a priest, gave him patra Bhuti and asked him to write 'Pillaith Thamizh' and cure himself of this agonizing pain.

Guhasri Rasapathy has mentioned about this in detail in his commentary on Pillaith Thamizh. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai who has written the biography of Kumaragurubarar, the author of 'Kandar Kali Venpaa' has beautifully described the offering of Vibhuti Prasadam in Thiruchendur, as seen by Kumara Guruparar.

இலையமில் குமரவேள் முன் வணங்குவார்க்கு என்றும் துன்பம்
இலை அடுபகை சற்றேனும் இலை படுபிணி நிரப்பும்
இலை அளற்றுழன்று வீழ்தல் இலை, பல பவத்துச் சார்பும்
இலை என இலை விபூதி எடுத்தெடுத்துதவல் கண்டார்.

Arunagirinathar, who has also sung vibhuti glory, says: The devotees humbly prostrate at the lotus feet of the great saints who recite 'Arumugam' six times and apply the holy ash on their bodies. We adore their feet and seek solace in them. We shall also recite His name 'Arumugam' six times, along with Guruji, smearing the holy patra Bhuti and be the recipients of his infinite grace.

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple - Connectivity

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple - Connectivity

The town is well connected by rail and road. Thiruchendur is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Tuticorin, 55 km (34 mi) from Tirunelveli, and 171 km (106 mi) from Madurai.

By Road:

Thiruchendur is well connected to rest of Tamilnadu & neighbouring kerala. There are frequent bus connections to Aruppukkottai, Ettiyapuram, Tuticorin, Kovilpatti, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

By Air:

The nearby Tuticorin Airport is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from this Temple. Currently Spice Jet operates one inbound and outbound flight to Chennai.

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is located at a distance of 133 Kms.

By Train:

The town is connected to Tirunelveli by a broad-gauge train track, with a train station at Thiruchendur. An express train runs daily between Chennai Egmore Junction to Thiruchendur and it is named as Chendur express running via Villupuram, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.
Passenger train services are also available between Tirunelveli and Thiruchendur 3 times a day.

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Facilities & Services

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Facilities & Services

Annadhanam:

Annadhanam is carried out sincerely providing not less than 100 people daily. Those who are interested to deposit rupees One lakh and Fifty Thousand (Rs.1, 50,000) in the temple, One day Annadhanam will be provided yearly once from the interest amount of deposit.

Further one day Annadhanam will be provided for Rs.10, 000/- for 400 persons. Those who are willing to offer donation are requested to contact the Executive Officer in the temple.

Donations are eligible for deduction under section 80G of the IT Act.

Karunai Illam:

An orphanage for children is run by the temple and free boarding, lodging and education facilities are provided to 125 children from the temple funds.

Nadaswaram Training School:

About 10 students have been trained in this school and the expenses are met from the temple funds.

Devara Isai Training School:

10 students are learning in this school and their expenses are met by the temple funds.

Archahar Training Institutions:

Temple priests are trained in this institution and their expenses are met from the temple funds.

Free Marriage:

Free marriages are conducted for the poor and Adi Dravida people at an estimated expenditure of Rs. 3000/- per couple from the temple funds.

Religious Activities:

1.    Religious discourses are conducted every day evening.

2.    Thirukkural classes are conducted every Sunday between 10.00 A.M. and 11.00 A.M.

3.   Religious education classes are conducted every Sunday between 11.00 A.M. and 12 Noon.

Pure Drinking Water Facilities:

Thanks to a generous corporate donation by Best & Company in early 2002, the Devasthanam precincts now boast some of the most modern and hygienic public drinking water facilities anywhere in India.

At a cost of Rupees twenty-five lakhs (approx. US$52,000), Best & Company have installed ten automatic drinking water dispensers. The dispensers, built of stainless steel, are attractive, easy to find and easy for even children to use.

Best of all, the network of modern water dispensers provide easy access to safe, hygienic and refreshing drinking water. The water dispensers provide purified water that conforms to standards of purity recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Devasthanam Library:

The Saraswati Pandaram or the Devasthanam Library or the free Reading Room is an institution which has grown in within the recent years. The value of a Public Library and Reading Room as an adjunct to any temple could not be over-estimated. The Chola and Pandya temples of antiquity had always attached to them a good library of sacred and philosophic literature, and halls where religious discourses were held. The Vedas and Agamas were besides expounded there by scholars.

The present habitation of the Library has been secured after renovating a spacious old room used formerly for the storage of split-fuel. What was available out of a personal collection of books by Arumukha Swami for his studies formed the nucleus of this library. After his demise, these books were made available to worshippers at the Shanmukha Vilasa. They are now given a separate and permanent habitation.

It has recently been augmented by a collection of books of classical, historical, religious and archaeological interest, out of an annual budgeted allotment from the Devasthanam funds for its maintenance. A gift of an almirah, numerous books and a full size portrait of his Holiness, the former Adhena-karta of Tiruvavaduthurai Mutt which the Library now adorns are recent welcome additions from his Holiness.

Sadhu Sadhananda Seva Gurukulam Home for Destitute Children:

For the past 25 years, in the midst of so many hurdles, Sadhu Sadhananda Seva Gurukulam Home for Destitute Children has been doing meritorious service in Thiruchendur.

More than a thousand boys and girls have been brought up and given quality education by the Gurukulam during these fourteen years. Now they are well settled in different parts of Tamil Nadu.

Seeing that there was no suitable accommodation for the children, two kind-hearted devotees of Lord Muruga, Mr. Srinivasan and Mr. Eeswaramohan from London came forward to pay a monthly rent of Rs. 2,000. By their help Childrens are now staying happily in a spacious and comfortable house.

Now, in the Destitute Home, 30 children ranging from age 2 to 15 are residing and studying in different schools. There is a plan to admit more children.

Devasthanam Accommodations:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2016/02/thiruchendur-murugan-temple-devasthanam.html

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple - Priestly Communities

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple - Priestly Communities

The worship in the principal shrine of Subrahmanya is conducted by turns by a set of twelve potris of the Madhva Adwaita sect drafted from Mangalapuram area of Mangalore in South Canara. Their spoken dialect is Tulu. The ritualism is tantric governed by Kumara Tantra. The worship by the potris came to be introduced in this temple probably by Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1729-1758 A.D.), the king of Kerala in the 18th century or by Dalavoi Ramappayyan, the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Thirumalai Nayak (1623-1659 A.D.) the Nayaks having brought Malabar under their sway in the 17th century and entrusted the principal worship to the Potris.

The rituals are guided by a Tantric of the Nambudiri clan of Malabar. The Potris receive a monthly payment from the Devasthanam, besides other emoluments pertaining to that Office. They are also lodged in a separate Potri Madam, an enclosure of houses, and specially cared for.

The worship in the Shanmukha and other sanctums is being performed by turns by another community of twelve Sivacharyas or Gurukkals. Besides these two, the Potris and Sivacharyas, a third, the Mukkanis or Triswatantra Brahmins also perform certain other services at the temple. The ancestors of the latter, of about 2,000 families, are said to have been brought over here by Subrahmanya after vanquishing Surapadma. There are about four hundred families at present.

"Distinguished by top knots of hair, which are very much like the Malayalis," they train to fall, above their foreheads. They may be seen journeying in almost any part of the country, either to collect subscriptions for the temple festivals or fees from their tardy patrons. There is no doubt that the business is remunerative; they are generally well-to-do and lead a comfortable existence.

"Their functions" in the temple “consist mainly in making offerings and performing religious ceremonies Kattalais as such services are called on behalf of absentee worshippers", and in taking votaries to the temple for worship and attend to their conveniences.

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Devasthanam Accommodations

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Devasthanam Accommodations

The Devasthanam maintains a large number of rooms and cottages for the convenience of pilgrims who wishes to put up close by to Sri Subrahmanya Swami Tirukkovil in order to have darshan and fulfill their vows. Most rooms and cottages are family-sized.

All rooms and cottages provide basic facilities, viz. electricity and running water only. Cottages also offer limited parking facility. During festival times these accommodations tend to fill up quickly, so the pilgrims are advised to book in advance.

For reservations of these rooms, contact the Devasthanam Information Centre. For further details call (+91) 04639-242271.

Accommodation	Description	Units	Persons per Unit	Facilities	Cost per day
Arumuga Vilas (downstairs)	AC cottages	5	3	Attached bath	Rs 500
Arumuga Vilas, downstairs	Non-AC cottages	2	3	Attached bath	Rs 250
Arumuga Vilas, upstairs	Non-AC cottages	10	4	Attached bath	Rs 400
Devar Cottage	AC suites	2	2	Common dining hall seafront porch	Rs 500 per suite
Jeyanthi Nathar Viduthi, A-Class	Double bedrooms	6	4 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 100
Jeyanthi Nathar Viduthi, B-Class	double bedrooms	108	3 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 80
Velavan Viduthi, A-Class	Double bedrooms	4	4 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 100
Velavan Viduthi, B-Class	Double bedrooms	36	3 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 80
Velavan Viduthi, C-Class	Single bedrooms	33	2 persons allowed.	Common bath	Rs 50
Senthil Andavan Viduthi, A-class	Double bedrooms	4	4 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 100
Senthil Andavan Viduthi, B-class	Double bedrooms	60	4 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 80
Senthil Andavan Viduthi, C-class	Single bedrooms	16	2 persons allowed.	Common bath	Rs 50
Own Your Own Cottages	Cottages	61	Three persons	Available 60 days per year to owners	Rs 200
Own Your Own Cottage, downstairs (Anaimalai Retrading Corp, Pollachi)	Cottage	1	Three persons	Available 60 days per year to owner	Rs 250
Own your Cottage, RamCo (upstairs)	Cottages	2	4 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 400
Own your Cottage, RamCo (downstairs)	Cottages	2	3 persons allowed.	Attached bath	Rs 250
Velaiya Kudil	Cottages	2	Three beds	Attached bath	Rs 400

Note: Rs 10/ extra will be collected for each extra person in double rooms.

Other Facilities:

For single persons locker and stay facility (50 people) are available in Senthil Andavan Viduthi for Rs 5/ per person per day.

Locker facilities are available in Deivayanai Illam in front of the Temple for Rs 5 per piece per day.