Chennimalai Murugan Temple

Chennimalai Murugan Temple

Chennimalai is situated between Erode and Coimbatore. On the way to Coimbatore, this hill temple is about 7-1/2 kilometres south of Ingoor Railway Station. This temple is located in the city of Chennimalai of Perundurai, Erode District. Chennimalai is 26 kilometres from Erode and 13 kilometres from Perunthurai. Chennimalai can be reached by road from Erode, which is a business centre. The nearest railway station is Ingoor and can be reached by road from Perunturai also. The nearest airport is Coimbatore. The Devasthanam has provided special buses to reach the hilltop.

Facilities

Chennimalai Devasthanam has made some arrangement towards rest houses for the visiting devotees. There are a number of boarding and lodging houses of good standard in Erode.

Nearby Tourist Spots

Hill

This temple is situated at about 600 meters above sea level and this hill is noted for its natural flora and fauna. This hill also has rare medicinal herbs in its lush green forests. In Devanagiri this hill is called Siragiri and Chenniyangiri. In Tamil it is called Chennimalai. The city underneath the hill is also called Chennimalai.

This hill is also called Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri and Siragiri. The Lord of mountains 'Kuringi Andavar', Murugan is highly praised and sung with reference to this abode in Kundruthorâdal. Chennimalai is one of them and abounds in natural beauty and splendor.

Special Features

The most famous temple of Lord Muruga in Coimbatore District is Chennimalai. This world famous temple of Lord Muruga is where Lord Arunagirinathar was blessed with "Padikasu", wealth of coins. 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 eventful day. Saravana Munivar wrote the most popular Chennimalai Sthalapuranam before 700 years. 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

The temple of Chennimalai is situated on the banks of Noyal also called Kânchima Nadhi. The Sanctum Sanctorum faces the east. Just in front of the temple we find the Puliyadi Vinâyagar. Inside the temple to the right of Moolavar we find the Srines of Mârkandeswarar and to the left Umayavalli. On the left side we find the Srines of Kasi Viswanâthar and Visâlâkshi.

If we take the steps found just behind the Moolavar Sannidhi, we reach the Valli Teyvannai Temple. The two consorts enSrined in a separate temple are a very unique phenomenon. On the top of the hill we find the Pinnâkau Siddhar cave with the front yard filled with Vel of different sizes and shapes. This Siddhar is one of the popular 18 Siddhar known to the world for their Siddha yoga. Near this cave we find the Saravana Mâmunivar's Tomb. There is also another very ancient cave near this temple.

Speciality of this temple

The main deity Murugan is equated to the Sevvai graham or planet Mars and all the rest of the eight planets encircle the Lord in perfect harmony. If one circumambulates the main deity he is believed to get the benefit of circumambulating the navagrahâs and worshipping them.

Valli Teyvannai Temple

As we go further up behind the temple we see the Valli Teyvannai temple. They are in penance to attain Lord Muruga. They are known by the names Amirthavalli and Sundaravalli. A separate temple for Valli and Teyvannai is the most unique feature of this temple.

Shasti Vratam

The observance of Shasti fast is also a special feature in this temple. Many devotees take this vow and spend 6 days fasting and praying at the temple premises. The monthly Shasti day after the new moon is also observed with great reverence. Particularly those devotees without progeny sincerely observe this Shasti fast and there are many instances of families coming traditionally on getting their vow fulfilled.

Kanda Shasti Kavacham offering

Another most important feature here is that the popular daily prayer of Murugan Devotees, Kanda Shasti Kavacham was first offered to the world in this temple by Balan Dêvarâya Swamigal. From that day onwards till today many devotees keep chanting this prayer every day.

Sirasuppu Utharavu Kêttal

Asking for the Lord's permission before taking up any task like building a new house or getting their children married or any other issue is customary in this temple. Devotees offer an Archnai and perform Sirasappu offering. If the reply is positive they whole-heartedly perform that action or event. Traditionally if the answer is negative the Devotees do not venture further.

Holy water brought by the Temple Bulls

The holy water for Abishekam is being brought everyday by the temple bulls, which are being maintained by the Devasthanam. This procedure is also a very unique one not found in other temples.

Mamanga Theertham

Once in twelve years, during drought conditions a spring gushes out water. This spring is on the southern side of the hill temple. This is a miraculous Divine happening. The Vinâyagar near the spring called Mamânga Theertha Vinâyagar. The people worship this Vinâyagar and the holy springs with great Devotion.

Other Srines

Theerthams

1. Mamanga Theertham - This spring is on the southwestern slope of Chennimalai just opposite the Vinayagar Srine.
2. Kandu Kânâch Sunai - This spring can be seen only by yogis and saints (reference Verse 27 Siragiri Manmiyam)
3. Subramanya Theertham - This is found on the northern side of foothill. This is also called Saravanapoigai, Kumara Theertham. Saravana Munivar established this city on banks of this spring (Âlayam Kanda Mânmiyam verse 11).

Sthala Vriksham

Sthala Vriksham is tamarind tree and is found in front of the temple where there is a Srine for Puliamarathadi Vinâyagar.

deity

The moolavar here is popularly known as Siragiri Dandayudhapani. 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. The utsava murti is Muttukumara Subramaniyar with his two consorts Valli and Teyvannai.

Mythology

The Chennimalai Sthalapuranam has 207 verses including the invocation songs and is divided into six cantos. They are Chepêdu Kanda Mânmiyam, Siragiri Mânmiyam, Pushpagiri Mânmiyam, Kâtchi Mânmiyam, Idumbanuku Vazhi Kâtiya Mânmiyam, Âlayam Kanda Mânmiyam. 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 Srine for Valli and Teyvannai. Later he also built a temple for Kailasanâthar near Subramanya Theertham in the city of Chennimalai. He built the Srine of Lord Muruga and Valli Teyvannai in the Chitra Mandapam of this temple. He also made the temple car similar to the one at Palani. The Lord of Chennimalai is enSrined 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.

History

Saravana Munivar constructed the temple on the hill and the city beneath, Kailâya Nâthar temple and initiated the car festival.

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 other Minister Madavâgam Devaraja Iyer sung the Kanda Shasti Kavasam for the king. We find the sculptures of Devaraja Udayar, his wife and Muthuvasavaiyan on the pillar of Valliamman temple.

Sengathurai Poosari

Sengathurai Poosari lived in the 18th century. He was born in Sengathurai of Pallâdam Thaluk. At the foot of the Chennimalai hill we find his tomb and Madam. He took renunciation at a very early age, offered himself to the Lord of Chennimalai, and renovated the temple by and large.

He built the Mahâ Mandapam of the temple on the hill, laid the floor with stones on the hill temple, and constructed the Kailasanâthar temple outer mandapam, inner mandapam, gopuram & tirumathil. 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.

Vêttuvappalayam Vêlalathambiran

This blessed devotee of Lord Muruga lived in the early half of the 19th Century. His tomb is in Vêttuvappalayam, 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, Tirumathil, Palani Poosari Madam, and also initiated the Arthajama puja, Panguni Uttiram car festival and Avinashi car festival.

Pujas

The daily puja is conducted as per the tradition of Kamika Agamam. The puja timings are as at right.

Monthly, Annual Festivals

On every month new moon day, Shasti and Krittikai special festivals are conducted.

Inscriptions

On the foothills of the temple we find a stone landmark in the Mandapam built by Vêttuvapallayam Vêlan Thambiran. This gives information on the offering made by Murungai Perunthozhuvar to Lord Murugan during the reign of Kumara Varman Sundara Pandiayan. In the Chennimalai Velavar temple Garbagraham, on the left side of the entrance we find an inscription. According to this inscription this was made in Kaliyuga year 1641. This may be approximately 357 years old. We find another 600 years old inscription and according to the inscription this place is called Pidariyur. The other name Tiruvirundhapuram is also believed to be in existence before 600 years.

Literature

The Sthalapuranam of the temple was written in the remote past before many centuries. The original was palm leaf inscriptions and was published as a book by Sri. Teyvasigamani Gounder after research and conversation with scholars. Arunagirinathar has made references to this temple in his works. The poet saint Saravana Munivar has also written the sthalapuranam for this temple and has sung many songs on the bliss of salvation and god-Love. Other than these there are many hymns and songs written by Padikasu Pulavar and others.

Hymns & Songs

• Kanda Shasti Kavacham
• Kappu
  • huthiporkku Valvinaipom ThunbamPom Nengil
  • Pathiporkku Selvam Palithu - Kathithongum
  • Nishtaiyum Kaikoodum, Nimalar Arul Kandar
  • Shasti Kavasam thanai.
• Kural Venba
• Amarar Edar Theera Amaram Purindha
• Kumaran Adi Nenjae Kuri.

Chennimalai Devasthanam address:

Index of Murugan Temples