View source for Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple Tiruchendur

{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name              = Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple
| native_name       = '''அருள்மிகு சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி திருக்கோயில்'''
| image             = Thiruchendur11.jpg
| alt               = Temple's Main Entrance
| caption           = View of the entrance
| district          = [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]]
| deity             = [[Kartikeya|Subramaniya Swamy]]
| festivals         = [[Vaisakha|Vaikasi Visagam]], Avani Festival, [[Sura Samhaaram|Skanda Sasti Festival]] and Masi Festival
| temple_board      = [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department|Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]]
| location          = [[Tiruchendur]]
| state             = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country           = [[India]]
| map_type          = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption       = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates       = {{coord|8|29|45|N|78|7|45|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline}}
| architecture      = [[Tamil architecture]]
| elevation_m       =
| temple_quantity   =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions      =
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| creator           = 
| website           = {{URL|http://tiruchendurmurugantemple.tnhrce.in}}
}}

'''Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur''' is an ancient [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to Lord [[Murugan]]. It is second among [[Six Abodes of Murugan|six abodes of lord Murugan]] (Arupadaiveedugal) situated in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The puranic name or historical name for this temple is Jayanthipuram. This temple is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2078532.ece|publisher= The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU |title= ISO accreditation for Tiruchendur temple|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>  It is located in the eastern end of the town [[Tiruchendur]] in the district of [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. It is 40&nbsp;km from [[Thoothukudi]], 60&nbsp;km south-east of [[Tirunelveli]] and 75&nbsp;km north-east of [[Kanniyakumari]]. The temple complex is on the shores of Bay of Bengal. Temple is open from 5 AM to 9 PM

Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur is one of the six major abodes, or sacred temples, of the [[Kaumaram]] religion. [[Sooranporu|Soorasamharam]], a reenactment of the victory over Soorapadman, and [[Kanda Shasti Kavasam|Kanda Shasti]], a devotional song in praise of Lord Murugan are performed at the temple.

==Legend==
Tiruchendur means sacred and beautiful town in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. The temple is dedicated to [[Murugan]], the warrior deity and second son of [[Shiva and parvati]]. When Murugan came here for the conquest along with his army, he found it to be very small and ordered the celestial architect [[Viswakarma]] to expand it. The town came to be know with several names like Tiruchendil, Jayanthipuram, Thiruchilavay and Srisandhinagaram. It is believed to be the place where Muruga conquered the demon [[Surapadma]]. After which he was named as Jayanthinathar(n) (meaning nathan - leader, jayanthi - victory, the victorious leader).It is believed that the demigods of Muruga wanted to worship him in a place where there was a mountainous tract, sea and river and hence Tiruchendur was chosen.There are 2 Utsava Murthis :- Jayanthi Nathar(He comes out almost everyday). Shanmukhar

(Comes out only during Maasi and Aavani Festival. Abhishekham for this lord happens only during this time

==Vaippu Sthalam==
It is one of the shrines of the [[Vaippu Sthalam]]s sung by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] [[Appar]].<ref>[https://shaivam.org/hindu-hub/temples/place/359/tiruchendur-thiruchendilandavar-temple மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, செந்தில் (திருச்செந்தூர்) Senthil (Tiruchendur), 6-23-4]</ref><ref>[http://www.shivatemples.com/vt/vtlist2.php தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், செந்தில், 6-23-4]</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures {{cvt|91|m}} north to south, {{cvt|65|m}} east to west, and has a nine-tier [[gopuram]], or tower gate, that is 157 feet (47 meter) high.<ref name="Knapp2009">{{cite book|last=Knapp|first=Stephen|title=Spiritual India Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djI5mL2qeocC&pg=PT387|date=2009-01-01|publisher=Jaico Publishing House|isbn=978-81-8495-024-3|pages=387–}}</ref> The principal entrance faces south, and opens into the first of two [[prakaram]]s, the first of which is lined with rows of [[Yali (mythology)|Yalis]]. The inner sanctum of the temple is in a cave and the main deity, or [[moolavar]], is Murugan as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving.<ref name="Clothey1978">{{cite book|last=Clothey|first=Fred W.|title=The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AevljBmCRQC&pg=PA232|year=1978|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-7632-1|pages=121– |access-date=2016-09-05}}</ref> Naazhi Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a freshwater spring, is located {{cvt|100|m}} south of the temple. Devotees undergo a [[Ritual purification|ritual cleansing]] by bathing in water from the well after bathing in the ocean.<ref name="Clothey1978" />

==Dutch occupation of the Tiruchendur Temple==
[[File:Thiruchendur_Temple_Rajagopuram.JPG|200x250px|thumb|left|Rajagopuram of the temple]]
{{main|Dutch Occupation of the Thiruchendur Temple}}
The Murugan temple at Tiruchendur was occupied by the [[Dutch East India company]] from 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with the Portuguese. The local people tried to free their temple, with no success. The Dutch finally vacated the temple on orders from the Naik ruler. However, while leaving, they removed the idol of the 2 utsava murthis(This idol comes out only during Maasi and Aavani tirunal) made of an alloy named Shanmukhar , and took it with them. During their way in sea, they encountered a strong storm and realised their mistake of stealing the idol. They dropped the idol in the middle of the sea and seen the storm stopped immediately. Later, Lord Senthil Aandavan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Murugan, and revealed the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai in the Tiruchendur temple, went to the spot in a fishing boat and retrieved the idol in 1653. The story is shown in paintings inside the temple.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encounters on the Opposite Coast: The Dutch East India Company and the Nayaka State of Madurai in the Seventeenth Century European Expansion and Indigenous Response|page=347|last=Vink|first=Markus|isbn=9789004272620|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SaW8CgAAQBAJ&q=tiruchendur+dutch&pg=PA347|year=2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.tiruchendurmurugantemple.tnhrce.in/ Official --- Website]

{{Murugan temples}}
{{Vaippu sthalam}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Thoothukudi district]]
[[Category:Thoothukudi]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Kaumaram]]