Chennimalai Murugan Temple, Perunthurai – Legends
& History
Saravana Munivar:
The Chennimalai Sthalapuranam
has 207 verses including the invocation songs and is divided into six cantos.
They are Cheppedu Kanda Manmiyam, Siragiri Manmiyam, Pushpagiri Manmiyam,
Katchi Manmiyam,
Idumbanuku Vazhi Katiya Manmiyam, Alayam
Kanda Manmiyam.
The author of this great work is the poet Saint Saravana Munivar. This book
also mentions that the temple was initially built by Saravana Munivar himself
and the festivities were also initiated by him.
Saravana Munivar went to
Palani, Tiruvavinankudi and circumambulated the Palani hills offering prayer
and requested the Lord to give him Chennimalai Sthalapuranam. As per Lord
Muruga's Divine instruction, Saravana Munivar went to Kanchipuram and brought a
copy of the copper plate inscription of Sthalapuranam. He was wonder struck to
note the depiction in the Sthalapuranam come alive when he reached Chennimalai.
He built the temple of Lord Muruga and also a separate shrine for Valli and Deivanai.
Later he also built a temple
for Kailasanathar
near Subramanya Theertham in the city of Chennimalai. He built the shrine of
Lord Muruga and Valli Deivanai in the Chitra Mandapam of this temple. He also
made the temple car similar to the one at Palani. The Lord of Chennimalai is
enshrined both on the hilltop and in the city. The famous poet Teyvasigamani
Gounder brought out the original palm leaf inscription of this Puranam in
print. This deity as per Sthala Puranam gave Dharsan to Saravana Munivar as
single faced Murugan after appearing as the six faced Arumugam in the first
instance.
Origin of Custom of carrying Kavadis:
Sage Agastya’s travel from
Kailash to Podhigai Hills in the South during Parvathi-Shiva marriage is a
well-known legend. He was met en-route by an Asura called Idumban who
wanted to lead a peaceful life. He requested Agasthya to accept him
as a disciple and offered his services to the Sage. Agasthya in his hurried
departure from Kailash, forgot to bring his Shiva Pooja materials. He
asked Idumban to get them. Idumban could not locate the place where they were
kept; instead he brought two hills, Sivagiri and Sathyagiri in the form of a
Kavadi (two pots hanging at the end of a pole which is carried on one’s
shoulders). While returning, he lost his way and camped near this place. Murugan came in the form of a Prince and showed him the way to
Podhigai Hills. The custom of carrying Kavadis during the Murugan
festivals like Panguni Uthiram (Mar-Apr), Vaikasi Visakam (May-June) and Thai
Poosam (Jan-Feb) started only from this episode of Idumban.
Unique practice of first offerings to Lord Murugan:
Another unique thing about
this temple is that unlike other Murugan temples where Pooja and Neivedhyam are
first offered to Vinayaka, here Murugan gets first preference. The legend
is that as Murugan was angry with his parents and elder brother for having been
denied the Mango fruit, he camped here and to appease him, the first Pooja and
Neivedhyam are offered to him.
Fight between Adisesha and Vayu:
This hill is associated with
the same legend as the Tiruchengode hill nearby; a fierce tussle of strength
between the wind God Vayu and the serpent king Adi Sheshan resulted in the
flying off of a few of the peaks of the Himalayas, one of which is Chennimalai.
It is believed that Vishnu worshipped this sacred hill
in Krita Yugam, when it was then known as Makutagiri, it was
worshipped by Lakshmi in Treta Yugam when it was known as Kanakagiri and it
was worshipped by the Ashta Durgas in Dwapara Yugam when it was known as
Pushpagiri. In the current aeon, it is known as Sirigiri or Chennimalai and
it has been worshipped by Siddhars.
Unchiseled Lower Portion of Moolavar Idol:
Hundreds of years ago there
lived a Land lord in this town who had hundreds of dairy cows in his farm, one
among them was a Black Colour Cow (Karam Pasu). Every day the cowherd locks up
all the cows in the evening after they have grazed the whole day. The cowherd
noticed that there was no milk in the udder of the Karam Pasu for a few days
and informed this to the Land Lord. The land lord also observed for some time
that during the evening, when all the cows come back after grazing, this Karam
Pasu used to separate from the rest and proceed to a particular spot and
discharge the milk by itself. He decided to dig the spot where the cow flows
its milk every day.
On digging about 5 to 6 ft. a
beautiful Statue of Lord Muruga was found. He was ecstatic on finding the idol.
Further, he noticed that idol was beautifully sculpted upto the hip and the
lower portion was rough. The best artisan was summoned to complete the job.
Everyone was shocked to see that on the first chisel, the idol started to
bleed. The land lord realized that this is God’s will to be the way it was. So,
he consecrated this idol of Lord Dhandayuthapani on a nearby hill, which is
today known as Chennimalai hill. Even today one can see lower portion of the Moolavar
Vigraham is still the same way.
Sivalaya Chola got relieved from his Brahmahatti Dosha
here:
The temple is dated
approximately 3000 years back, constructed during the King ‘Sivalaya Chola’
period. It is said that this King, while on a pilgrimage to get rid of
‘Brahmahatti Dosha’, was taking bath in the river Noyyal, saw this hill,
climbed the hill along with his troops and entered the temple. Lord Muruga
appeared in the form of an ‘Archakar’ and performed Puja on himself and
relieved King Sivalaya Chola of Brahmahatti Dosha. It is also said that King
Sivalaya Chola, brought a Tirumaraiyaar by the name of ‘Deivasigamaniyaar’,
from Thirukadavur to stay at Tiruvirundapuram (Pidariyur).
Princesses Amirthavalli and Sundaravalli performed
penance on Lord Murugan here:
Legend also has it that two princesses Amirthavalli
and Sundaravalli performed penances to be reborn as Valli and Devasena the
consorts of Subramanyar.
Arunagirinathar was blessed with "Padikkasu” by
Lord Murugan:
It is believed that Lord Arunagirinathar was
blessed with "Padikkasu", wealth of coins, by Lord Murugan of this
Temple.
Curds will not sour here:
Milk and curds are used as
special offerings to Lord Muruga in Chennimalai and it is the general belief
that curds do not become sour here.
Temple presence in all four Yugas:
Yugam
|
Worshipped by
|
Hill
|
Vriksham
|
Theertham
|
Moorthy
|
Kritha Yugam
|
Maha Vishnu
|
Kanaga Giri
|
Pancha Dala Vilva Vanam
|
Kumaara Theertham
|
Kumaara Moorthy
|
Tretha Yugam
|
Maha Lakshmi
|
Maguda Giri
|
Soothaga Vanam (Mangrove)
|
Siva Ganga Theertham
|
Saravana Bhava Moorthy
|
Dwapara Yugam
|
Durga Lakshmi
|
Pushpa Giri
|
Karsooravanam (Date Palm)
|
Shanmuga Theertham
|
Shanmuga Moorthy
|
Kali Yugam
|
Devendhran
|
Sira Giri – Chennimalai
|
Samee Vanam (Vanni)
|
Maamuga Theertham (Mamangam)
|
Subramanya Moorthy
|
Kongu Cholas:
This temple is said to have
been built by Sivalaya Cholan of the Kongu Chola clan. It was
renovated later by local chieftains in the area.
Association of Mysore Udayar Dynasty with this Temple:
In the first half of the 13th
Century acres of land where offered to the Lord of Chennimalai. The Minister by
name Muthuvasavaiyan of Mysore Devaraja Udayar Dynasty renovated the exterior
of this temple in the year 1654. Devaraja Udayar's another Minister Madavagam
Devaraja Iyer sung the Kanda Shasti Kavasam for the king. Sculptures of
Devaraja Udayar, his wife and Muthuvasavaiyan can be found on the pillar of
Valliamman temple.
Sengathurai Poosari:
Sengathurai Poosari lived in
the 18th century. He was born in Sengathurai of Palladam Thaluk. At
the foot of the Chennimalai hill, His Jeeva Samadhi (Tomb) and Madam can be
found. He took renunciation at a very early age, offered himself to the Lord of
Chennimalai and renovated the temple. He built the Maha Mandapam of the temple on the hill, laid the
floor with stones on the hill temple, and constructed the Kailasanathar
temple outer mandapam, inner mandapam, gopuram & Thirumadhil. On the day of
consecration of Maha Mandapam of the hill temple, the sculptor showed him, his
sculpture that he had created as a mark of acknowledgement. Sengathurai Poosari
immediately said that this stone figure is going to replace him and on the very
day he attained the Golden Feet of the Lord.
Vettuvappalayam Velalathambiran:
Vettuvappalayam
Velalathambiran, a devotee of Lord Muruga lived in the early half of the 19th
Century. His tomb is situated in Vettuvappalayam, which is located next to
Perunthurai. He lived as a prophet by the Grace of Lord Muruga. He built the
footsteps to Chennimalai temple, the lights on the footpath, visitors rest
houses, Amman temple, Thirumadhil, Palani Poosari Madam and also initiated the
Arthajama puja, Panguni Uttiram car festival and Avinashi car festival.
Unusual phenomenon of Bullock Carts climbing the Steps:
This is where an unusual
phenomenon, rather a miracle took place in the year 1984 on 12th
February. A bullock cart with two bulls climbed the 1320 steps on their own on
this day.
Stolen Hundi:
The Hundi of the Hill temple
was stolen on the night of 02.09.2013, but the whole amount was miraculously
found on Amavasya evening of 05.09.2013.