Thiruchendur Murugan Temple - History
In devotional literature and in the Tirumurukatrupadai,
the earliest account of his worship, six chosen spots in the Tamil land are
referred by Nakkeerar as of more than ordinary sanctity for his worship,
and thereby favoured by him. Thiruchendur occupies among them the second place
in this order.
Uncommonly enough, this temple is located on the
seashore, while the rest of his temples are invariably located on high
elevations as on hilltops. The reason is that, in the physiographical five-fold
division of the land by the Tamil grammarians, Murugan is assigned to the Kurinji
or hill country. His shrines are always situated amid mountains and forests,
for these regions are considered dear to him.
The variance here is possibly due to Muruga's divine
mission to free the Devas, and the vanquishment of Surapadma and his mighty hosts
in "Vîra-mahendram," their mid-ocean fortress nearby. As such, the Puranas
narrate that the Devas gained their deliverance and the Asuras his grace.
Tradition and Śiva-rahasya Khanda in Skanda Puranam relate that at this spot Muruga encamped before
and after the vanquishment of the asuras and worshipped Siva at the shrine
Mayan had built for Him. The Kanda-Madana-Parvata, the red sandstone rock of
this coast, had worthily received its foundations. A lofty gopuram also rose
beside it. A part of the cliff some fifty feet high was bored to form the holy
sanctum of Subrahmaniyam.
The red sandy rock around about was further carved into,
as well the rolling hills of sand moved away to gain more space. The second and
third prakarams were then designed and brought into being. These have been
further enlarged upon in the course of succeeding centuries, the earlier Siva
shrine in the meanwhile, having become more famous still for the worship of Subrahmaniyam
himself.
The Pandya and the Chera, their vassals, and other men
of devotion further improved the temple. Maharaja Marthandavarma (1729-58 AD),
the maker of modern Travancore, endowed the very first - the Udaya-Marthanda
Kattalai of each morning - more than two centuries ago; and others followed in
the nine arathanas of the day. As time rolled on, the effect of the sea and its
salt-laden air began to tell upon the inferior sandstones used at the first
instance in the original construction.
It was now that a noble sannyasin, Mauna Swami, saw
the stones in a state of disintegration. He almost immediately took up the
renovation and was followed by two others. The work continued during the course
of 72 years, and this noble edifice of three prakarams was reconstructed anew,
in imperishable black granite, discarding every bit of the original white
sandstone structure. The sannyasins were wedded to poverty, but nevertheless
funds poured in to fulfill their life mission of constructing a worthy Kovil
(house-of-God) to stand for all times.
The temple was fully constructed anew in all its
details, and Kumbhabhishekam performed in 1941. The temple and its gopuram of
nine floors, built on the extremity of the sandstone cliff are a landmark, and
visible at sea for twelve miles around, looking as has been said like a brig in
full sail.
Dutch
Adventure of 1648-53:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Thirupani
(Temple Renovations):
For brief details, please refer below link;
Vadamalaiappa
Pillaiyan Incident:
For brief details, please refer below link;
