✦ Arupadai Veedu

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

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📖Soorapadman 📍Tiruchendur Seashore 🎉Skanda Sashti 📖Soorapadman 🎉Skanda Sashti+13 more

Location

Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu

Timings

5:00 AM � 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM � 9:00 PM

Dress Code

Traditional attire. Men: veshti or full pants with shirt. Women: saree or salwar kameez. Dhotis available on rent.

Deity

Senthilandavar (Lord Murugan) with Valli and Deivanai

Significance

Tiruchendur is the second Arupadai Veedu and the only Murugan temple located directly on the seashore. It is the sacred site where Lord Murugan waged war against the demon Surapadman and wielded the Vel (divine spear) for the first time. The 7-tier gopuram facing the Bay of Bengal is an iconic silhouette.

Architecture

The temple is built in the Dravidian style with a 7-tier gopuram standing 42 meters tall, decorated with exquisite stucco figures. The main shrine has a square sanctum with a gold-plated vimana. The 1,000-pillar mandapam is a later Nayak addition with intricately carved pillars. The prakaram (outer corridor) runs along the shoreline. The sanctum faces east towards the rising sun over the Bay of Bengal. The temple complex covers over 2 acres.

Festivals Celebrated

Skanda Sashti (October-November, grand Soorasamharam on 6th day)Kanda Sashti Viratham (6-day fasting and prayer)Vaikasi Visakam (May-June)Thaipusam (January-February)Panguni Uthiram (March-April)