TIRUMALAI - TIRUMALAI KUMARA TEMPLE

In this holy Muruga kshetra, the Saptamatrukas are adored with unprecedented ardour, as they had played a memorable role and became responsible for building of this famous shrine. According to sthalapurana, the much-revered Saptamatrukas directed an old devotee in a dream to approach the ailing monarch of this area, to installing the Murugan statue lying hidden under a big tree to the north of the hill. And he would be cured of his dreadful 'incurable disease. Being a devout worshipper of Saptamatrukas, he at once communicated the heavenly bidding. The king hastened to the spot with his men and started digging operations. To his horror, he found a big serpent in the ant hill under a tree, and by driving it out, he continued the digging operation and found an inexhaustible treasure - the beautiful image of Muruga. He built an imposing temple as advised and installed that swayamvyakta Muruga statue., And it is now receiving ardent worship by thousands of bhaktas everyday. Arunagiri Nathar eulogised the glory of the Lord in sweet verses. Agasthya and Saptamatrukas adored this Lord and got their desires fulfilled.

There, are temples both atop the hill and down at the foot of the hill too. There lies Vallabha Vinayaka Sannidhi at the foot of the hill under a huge tree and on the way uphill there are separate nuni-shrines for Idumbari, Gopalan and Iillayar and they are worshiped by the visiting bhaktas with great piety. In the hill temple there are many well-built mini-shrines installed with the charming images of Vinayaka, Saptakanyas, Edumban Sunai and Poon Sunai. The temple has two prakaras and is facing south. The Moolavar is in standing posture facing east. He is popular by several names like Shanmuga, Muthayyan, Muruga etc. There are thirthas too for visitors to bathe and avail darsan. There is another Muruga sannidhi cared Adisannidhi in which Muruga in standing posture with Vel in his hand gives darsan. Among the annual . festival Brahmotsav celebrated in Alpasi masa draws huge crowds.

It lies 5 km off Shengottai, one of the towns of Tamilnadu, accessible by bus.

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