Thiruchendur Murugan Temple – Worship & Rituals
Kanda
Sashti Celebrations:
In most Murugan temples, Kanda Sashti festival is
celebrated for six days only. In some temples it is celebrated for seven days,
with the divine wedding of Lord Murugan the day after Sashti. But in Thiruchendur
the festival is held for twelve days; the first six days of Kanda Sashti
comprise Sashti Vratam (the vow of Sashti) and Sura Samharam (the annihilation
of the demon, Sura), on the seventh day it is the divine wedding of Lord
Murugan and Teyvannai, and in the next five days, the Lord in his wedding gear
appears and blesses in the Unjal Sevai that is, sitting on the swing.
Offerings
to Lord Murugan:
At Thiruchendur, every day nine times poojas are
performed for Lord Murugan. During these poojas different naivedyam (food
offerings) like dhal Pongal, kanji (gruel), dhosa, Appam, ghee-rice, balls made
of cooked green gram and jaggery are offered. Though there are many temples for
Lord Murugan in Tamilnadu, six temples are specially worshipped as padai Veedu
(armory house). Where the Commander-in-Chief who goes for battle stays with his
army is called his padai Veedu. Accordingly, Thiruchendur is the only place
where Lord Murugan with his army stayed, when he went to destroy Surapadman.
But we also call Arupadai Veedu the other five temples along with Thiruchendur.
Lord Murugan won and accepted Surapadman on Sashti
(sixth day) of the waxing moon (bright) night (Valar Pirai) of the month
Aippasi. This day is celebrated as Kanda Sashti. This incident happened at Thiruchendur
and hence, the Kanda Sashti festival is celebrated in this place with all
grandeur. In the Kanda Purana of Mahabharata, two other causes are indicated
for the celebration of Kanda Sashti festival, apart from the extermination of Surapadman.
Once, a few sages conducted yaga (sacred fire worship)
with a behest to get a son for the welfare of the world. It was begun on the
New Moon day and went on for six days. From the fire erupted out of the
sacrificial altar (yaga kundam), six seeds – one seed each day for six days
respectively – were collected. Lord Murugan was born on the sixth day, when all
these six seeds were made as one. The Mahabharata asserts that the day of the
birth of Lord Murugan is the Kanda Sashti Day.
In the Kanda Purana, Kachiyappar Sivachariyar says that
the Devas, in order to become powerful to challenge the asuras, carried on a
vow by soliciting Lord Murugan to be in the kumbham (sacred pot) for six days.
Lord Murugan blessed them likewise. This incident is remembered as Kanda Sashti
and celebrated after Aippasi New Moon day – so says Sivachariyar.
Sashti
Yagam:
At Thiruchendur, on the first day of the Kanda Sashti
festival during early morning Jayantinathar (Lord Murugan) comes with his
spouses Valli and Teyvannai, representing the primary deity. The yaga commences
in the hexagon shaped sacrificial fire altar (yaga kundam) for the victory of
Lord Murugan. Around the altar, Lord Siva, Goddess Sakti, the Four Vedas, Lord
Murugan, Valli, Teyvannai, Maha Vishnu, Vinayaka, the Seven Gurus, Vastu Brahma,
the Devas, the Sun, the Ashtadhik Balakas (the guards of the eight sides), the
Dwara Balakas (the Entrance Securities) - all these devatas are made to rest in
the kumbhams. The yaga is conducted till noon and after the pooja Jayantinathar
goes to the Shanmugavilasa Mandapam. On the sixth day, the Lord without his
spouses, comes to the seashore and kills Suran. After this, the Victorious Lord
with Valli and Teyvannai returns to the yaga Salai.
Abhishekam
to the Mirror:
Jayantinathar then comes to the sanctum of Mahadevar at
the paved corridor. At that time, a mirror will be placed before him. The
priest will conduct the Abhishekam to the image of Jayantinathar reflected in
the mirror. This is called chayabhishekam (Chaya means shadow). This Abhishekam
is performed to cool down the victorious Lord Murugan. The tradition is that
Lord Murugan himself enjoys seeing this Mirror Abhishekam. The Lord returns to
his sanctum and with this, the event of Surasamharam (the annihilation of Sura)
comes to an end.
On the next day that is on the seventh day, the holy
wedding of Lord Murugan and Teyvannai is performed. Lord Indra not only gives Teyvannai
in marriage to Lord Murugan for having defeated the Asura but also renders
service by becoming the holy peacock. This marriage happens at Tiruparankundram,
the first Patai Veedu. At Thiruchendur, the holy wedding between Lord Murugan
and Teyvannai is performed on the next day to Kanda Sashti since it is the
place where Surapadman is vanquished.
During the morning of that day, Teyvannai goes to the
Tapasu Mandapam and will do her tapasya to get married to Lord Murugan. In the
evening Kumara Vitankar (another Utsava murthi), representing Lord Murugan goes
to the Tapasu Mandapam seated on his peacock vehicle, garlands Teyvannai and
gets engaged. Towards midnight, both reach the Tirukalyana Mandapam. There the
wedding is performed. The next day, the Lord with Teyvannai goes in street
procession. The next three days the Lord in the Tirukalyana Mandapam will be on
the Oonjal (swing) and bless the devotees.
Turmeric
Bath (manjal neeratu) for Lord Murugan:
During the festivals in the villages, maidens enjoy
pouring turmeric water on boys on whom they have a customary claim for
marriage. In a similar way, in this place also the turmeric bath is conducted
to Lord Murugan. On the last day of Kanda Sashti festival, Lord Murugan with his
spouse Teyvannai goes in street procession. At that time, the devotees receive
the Lord who has had his wedding in their village and to contain the rage
happened due to the battle with Suran, joyfully pour turmeric water on the
Lord.
Triple
Lord Murugan:
Lord Murugan is an incarnation of Lord Siva. He as a
Guru to his father taught the meaning of the Pranava mantra OM. He imprisoned
Lord Brahma since Brahma did not know the meaning of the same mantra. After
extinguishing Suran, He married Lord Vishnu’s daughter. He was bound by the
affection of his uncle, Lord Vishnu. Thus, Lord Murugan is related to all the
three Lords, Trimurthis. To indicate this, Lord Murugan at Thiruchendur appears
as an incarnation of Trimurthis, Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma during
the festivals conducted in the months of Avani and Masi.
On the evening of the seventh day of the festival, He is
adorned with red dress and appears as Lord Siva. At the dawn of the 8th day, He
is dressed in white and graces us in the form of Lord Brahma and during the
noon he appears in green dress signifying Lord Vishnu. At Thiruchendur, the
Rajagopuram is on the western side of Lord Murugan’s sanctum. Here, Lord
Murugan faces east looking at the sea. The Rajagopuram should be opposite to
the Lord in the east; since the sea is there in the east, the Rajagopuram is
erected in the west.
As the threshold of this gopuram is higher than the
rostrum (Peetam) of the prime sanctum of Lord Murugan, it remains always shut.
During the Kanda Sashti festival in the midnight of the Divine Wedding day,
this door will be opened. At that time, however, the devotees will not be
allowed to enter through that door.
Four
Utsava Murthis:
Generally, there will be only one Utsava Murthi for the
primary deity of any temple. But in Thiruchendur there are four Utsava Murthis:
Shanmukha, Jayantinathar, Kumara Vidangar and Alaivai Perumal. The specialty is
that all these four have separate sanctum each. Kumara Vidangar is called Mappillai
Swami meaning the Bridegroom Lord.
Sandana
Malai (Sandal Hill):
Of the six padai Veedu of Lord Murugan, it appears as
though Thiruchendur alone is located in the seashore and the other five are
hill-temples. In reality, Thiruchendur is also a hill-temple. This temple is
situated in the Sandal Hill at the seashore. Hence, this sacred place is called
Gandhamadhana Parvatam. In course of time this hillock has disappeared. Even
now, near the sanctum of Perumal in the second paved corridor and near the Cave
of Valli, we can see the Sandana Malai bulging out as a small mound.
Guru Peyarchi
(moving of Jupiter planet) at this Temple:
At Thiruchendur, Lord Murugan appears as Gnana Guru. In
this sacred place, Guru Bhagawan narrated the history of the asuras to Lord
Murugan, before the Lord vanquished them. Hence, this holy place is considered
as the Holy Place of Guru. Medha Dakshinamurthi in the paved corridor is seen
sitting on four different seats, namely Koormam (tortoise), the Eight Serpents
(Ashta Nakankal), the Eight Elephants (Ashta Gajas) and the Medha Malai (Wisdom
Hill). On his rear side is the stone banyan tree on which are perched the four
Vedas in the form of parrots.
As he graces with knowledge and wisdom, He is called as
Gnanaskanda Murthi. Generally, Dakshinamurti is seen with fire and udukkai
(small drum tapering in the middle) in the hands; here He appears with maan and
mallu (antelope and axe-like weapon). Worshipping Thiruchendur Murugan on the
Guru Peyarchi day will ward off the ill effects caused by the planet Jupiter.
Two
Murugans:
Lord Murugan who came here to extinguish Surapadman
appears as Lord Subrahmanya with four arms. A notable aspect is that he appears
in an ascetic posture holding flowers in his right hand performing Siva pooja.
His tapasya should not be disturbed; so, there is no paved corridor for him.
His primary Utsava Murthi, Shanmukha, is in a separate sanctum facing south.
There is a corridor to go around and worship him. The same pooja and other
protocol offered to the primary deity are given to him also.
Procession
with new Deepavali Dress:
We all happily celebrate Deepavali - the day when Lord
Vishnu annihilated Narakasura - by wearing new dresses. In the Thiruchendur
temple also all deities are adorned with new dresses on the Deepavali day. At
dawn, all the retinue gods of this temple are smeared with sandal paste. Then
the new dresses are carried in the silver palanquin in a procession and the
deities are decked with them. It is believed that since this place where Lord
Murugan wedded Theyvanai, Lord Indra gifts new dresses to his son-in-law and his
retinue for Deepavali.
Darshan
of Pancha Lingam:
Lord Murugan performed a thanksgiving Siva Pooja after
he won Surapadman. He, in this same form appears with a lotus flower on his
right hand. Like a Siva devotee, He wears a matted hair on his head. On his
left rear-side wall, there is a lingam. The Deepa Aradhanai (worship with
light) is first given to the Lingam and then only to Murugan. In the sanctum of
Shanmukha also there is a Lingam behind the deity.
Both these Lingams are in darkness and could be seen
only in the Deepa Aradhanai light. Besides, adjacent to the sanctum of Murugan
on the right side is the sanctum of Pancha Lingam. The tradition is that the Devas
come to worship them during the month of Markazhi. Opposite to the prime
sanctum of Murugan are found Nandi, the carrier of Lord Siva and the divine
Peacocks.
Ganga
Pooja:
Every day, after the noon pooja, the priests carry milk
and rice in a vessel, in a procession with the usual musical fanfare and
immerse it in the sea. This is known as Ganga Pooja. In the Saravana Poigai
here, a sculpture is presented with Lord Murugan as six kids crawling on six
lotus flowers with the Krittika maidens at the center.
The Devas made a complaint to Lord Siva to put an end to
Surapadman who was oppressing them. Accepting their plea, Lord Siva from his
third eye created six fire-sparks. Lord Murugan was born from that. Later,
obeying Lord Sivas order, He came here to remove Surapadman. At this time, Guru
Bhagawan, the Preceptor of the Devas, was in tapasya in this place praying for
the darshan of Lord Murugan, Who appeared before him and stayed here. Through
Guru Bhagawan he also learnt the history of the asuras. He sent as messenger
His commander-in-chief, Veerabahu to Surapadman, but he refused to listen to
Lord Murugan’s words. Later the Lord went with his battalion and killed him.
Guru Bhagawan requested the Lord to remain in this place
where he had the Lord’s darshan. At the behest of Guru, the Lord continued to
be here. Guru Bhagawan soon after, called Vishwakarma the divine Architect to
erect the temple. Lord Murugan was called Jayanti Nathar since he routed Surapadman.
After a while, this name became Senthil Nathar. The place was also called
Tirujayantipuram (Jayanti or victory) and in due course became Thiruchendur.