history of Thiruchendur Murugan temple
Veera Mahendrapuri, an island fortress, ruled by an asura by name Surapadma. He accomplished many austerities invoking Lord Shiva and the Lord gave him many boons. The asura later became arrogant, capturing all three worlds — heaven, earth and hell. He had created the Devas, the celestial immortals, to perform menial tasks. The Devas could not bear his torture, and pleaded with Lord Shiva.Lord Shiva opened his third eye in order to create a son who would destroy Surapadma. Out of the third eye emanated six fire sparks. Such divine sparks were provided by River Ganges through Agni, the God of Fire and passed on to the Himalayan pool, Saravana Poigai. Here they were turned into six children. Saravanapoigai .. Transformed into six babies here.
The six Kirithika nymphs suckled those babies. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi came to Saravana Poigai, and they joined together when Goddess Uma fondly clasped the babies, to become Lord Arumuga with six faces and twelve arms. Lord Shiva asked him to kill Surapadma and free the Devas from their cruel slavery when child Arumuga grew up to become a young person. Lord Muruga reached Tiruchendur with his huge army and camped. As an emissary he sent his lieutenant, Veerabahu, to the Asuras, and asked Surapadma to release the Devas. A war ensued as Surapadma turned down the request.
For a few days, an intense war has been waged. The Surapadma brothers and all other asuras perished during the first five days of the war. On the sixth day, in the battle between Lord Muruga and Surapadma, Lord Muruga's lance pierced Surapadma 's body, which transformed itself into a terrifying mango tree, and broke it into two.Instantly the broken pieces turned into a mighty peacock and a cock. As his vahana or boat, Lord Muruga took the peacock and the cock on his banner. This occurrence is known popularly as Surasamharam, or Surapadman's destruction. After Surasamharam, Lord Muruga desired to worship his father, Lord Shiva. The divine architect Mayan thus designed this shrine at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Subramaniyan is seen in the worshiping posture of Lord Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum.
Architecture of Thiruchendur Murugan temple
Built near the seashore, the temple measures 91 m north to south, 65 m east to west, and has a nine-tier gopuram, or tower gate, which is 157 feet tall. The main entrance faces south, opening onto the first of two prakarams, the first of which is lined with Yalis rows. The temple's inner sanctum is in a cave, and Murugan is the principal deity as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving. Naazhi Kinaru, a holy well fed by a freshwater stream, is situated 100 m south of the temple. Upon bathing in the ocean, devotees undergo a ceremonial purification by bathing in water from the well.