Thiruchendur - Sri Senthil Andavar Temple
Karu Jeyakumar <sambaviSPAMFILTER@srividya.org>
Friday October 29 2004
- Legends - Puranas and Mythology: This holy shrine of Lord
Muruga has been sung by various poets like Arunagiri Nathar and Kumara
Guruparar. References to this place, are available as Senthil in Purananooru and
Alaivai in Againanooru. The ancient sangam age literary work Silappathigaram
hails Tiruchendur as "Kandavel Koil kondulla thalam" (Murgan's abode).
Tiruchendur has also been known by other names such as Tirucheer Alaivai,
Senthil Jayanthi, Kanda Madana Parvatham, Veeravaghupattinam and Vyazha
kshethram. The name Vyazha Kshethram comes after the worship by Vyazha bhagavan
or Jupiter God at this shrine. Legend has it that Lord Senthil Andavar fought a
battle to win over the demon Soorapadhman (commonly referred to as the
Soorasamharam) and his army, on the seashore at Tiruchendur. While all other
temples of Arupadaiveedu are located on hilltops, Tiruchendur Murugan temple is
the only shrine located on seashore.
- The battle of Lord Muruga with Soorapadman is enacted to the fervor of the
Muruga Bakthas in the Tamil month of Masi at Tiruchendur ending with the
marriage of Lord Murugan with Deivayanai (Devanai). It was ordained by lord
Shiva, to whom Lord Arumugan is born, that Skanda would triumph over the evil
prevailing in the form of demon Soorapadhman. Murugan camped on the seashores of
Tiruchendur and won the battle against Soorapadman (Surapaduman). The battle of
Soora samharam is depicted very well through paintings that adorn the walls of
Skanda at Tiruchendur. The battle was fought to kill the arrogance and ego of
the demon who thought that he was invincible. Soorapaduman is known to have
taken many forms during the battle to deceit the Murugan. At the end of the
battle, Soorapadhman is torn into two pieces from which emerges the Seval or
Cock, which became the flag of the Kandan, the other piece becoming the peacock
or Mayil, which become his vehicle or vahanam. Lord Senthil Andavar is believed
to have worshipped lord Shiva at the temple built by Mayan, the sculptor of the
Devas, before and after the battle. Thus was born the mayilvahanam and the name
of Mayil Vahanan for Muruga himself.
- Location and Temple Precincts Near Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu
in South India Tiruchendur Murugan temple is located along the seashore. The
Rajagopuram of the temple, renovated in the 1930's, is a towering structure,
visible to the sailors and fishermen, from several miles away. Measuring to a
height of over 130 feet, the majestic gopuram is made up of nine tiers. Several
legends are embedded in the icons that glorify the temple tower. One notable
mythology is that of the churning of the ocean by the Devas (Sura) on one side
and the Asuras (Demons) on the other side, using the Kali python as the rope.
The episode is known as "Kali Manthan" in Hindi and points to the extraction of
the Amritham that is nectar, which prevents death. This episode is normally
overlooked by the pilgrims.
- Thundukai Vinayagar, the lord who destroys all obstacles, has a sanctum on
the approach path to the temple of Skanda. It is widely followed that Lord
Muruga with his Vel or lance, created a never drying rivulet that flows with
water now called as Nazhi Kinaru. Muruga Bakthas cleanse themselves in the
Skanda Pushkarini before entering the sanctum sanctorium of the Tiruchendur
Murugan Temple. Vasantha Mandapam is a living testimony to the architecture of
the designers. The valli gugai or Valli cave in the premises nearby houses the
sannithi for Valli, Murugan's consort and for Lord Dattathreya. Entering the
Murugan temple through the Shanmuga Vilasa mandapam, one gets enchanted by the
124 pillars that stand as testimony to the architecture and craftsmanship that
prevailed then. One gets enthralled by the sculptures of Shanmugar (Shanmuka),
Subrahmanyar, Natarajar and Ganapathi, each carved out from a single rock.
Sivili mandapam can be reached in the second ring or "praharam" with access to
the Kanda Madana Parvatham - a rock carving housing the lord of seven hills -
Venkatachalapathi. Idols of the 63 nayanmars, Valli, Deivayani and Karaikala
Ammaiyar take us to the mythological past. There is a special depiction of Lord
Murugan's battle with Surapadman, which shows Lord Muruga piercing the demon
Surapadman with his lance. The moolavar at Tiruchendur has four arms holding a
rudhraksha malai and his lance or Vel, noticeably missing, as he is known to be
worshipping Shiva Lingam. Holy water tank is Saravana Theertham (Nazhi Kinaru)
- History of the Temple The Pandiya kings who ruled Madurai
and greatly patronized the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, are known to have
contributed to the Temple construction at Tiruchendur. The dynasty that served
includes Ugira Pandiyan, Marravarman and Vikrama Pandian. The heirs of
Veerapandiya Kattobomman worshipped at the Tiruchendur Shanmugar swamy sannithi,
the sanctum that is still available as evidence. It is widely believed that
temple's history includes an episode with the Dutch sometime in the 17th
century. The icon of Lord Murugan, worshipped at Tiruchendur, over several
centuries was carried away by the Dutch who were sailing back. Thunder and storm
lead the Dutch to jettison the idol in the sea. Later, a dream that appeared to
one of the local Muruga bakthar triggered the search for the idol, which was
then recovered and restored. The pictures in the Tiruchendur temple walls also
depict Lord Skandavel being worshipped by the local Collector Washington, one of
the European leaders during the foreign rule in India. He generously donated
silver to the temple. The King of Tiruvankoor Samasthanam, Maharaja
Marthandavarma of Travancore was an ardent devotee who donated greatly in kind
and cash to this Murugan temple at Tiruchendur. He patronized this Senthil
Andavar shrine and instituted the "Ettukala Pujai".
- Temple timings & Festivals Daily pujas to the deities are performed six
times a day (six kalams). Forenoon : Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas
are performed in the and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and
Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night. Thai pusam or Thai
Poosam and Panguni Uthiram are celebrated with grandeur. Falling on the day of
Poosam star, during the month of Thai - sometime during the end of January, Thai
Pusam, is a Murugan festival celebrated all over the world. Notable is the
festival at Patu caves in Kuala Lumpur where over one million Muruga Bakthar
visit the shrine for Thai Pusam.
|
