Pazhamudhircholai Murugan temple is one of the 6 Arupadaiveedu or abodes of Lord Muruga. It is around 25 km from Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The other 5 are Thiruparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar Temple, Palani Dandayudhapani Swami Temple, Tiruttani Subramanya Swamy Temple, and Swamimalai Swaminatha Swami Temple.
The temple stands atop a hill, and dense forests surround it. The temple of Lord Vishnu, Azhagar Kovil, is nearby. Muruga is present here with his two consorts, Valli and Deivanai. Many devotees come here to pray for wedding and progeny blessings as well as academic success. The scenic beauty of the location is a huge draw, and people come here not just to worship but also to enjoy the natural beauty.
Pazhamudircholai, as the name suggests (‘Pazham’ means ‘fruits’ in Tamil), is a place that is blessed with nature's bounty. One can find several fruits, vegetables, and natural springs here. Valli supposedly lived in this dense forest. The temple is not very large and has images of Muruga, Valli, and Deivanai in a separate shrine. Lord Ganesha has his own shrine. There is a Gopuram (Temple tower), a favorite haunt of monkeys. Above Pazhamudhir Cholai is another small temple where local tribes worship.
Pazhamudircholai is the last among the Arupadaiveedu. The deity here has been praised in many ancient Tamil texts like Silappathikaram, Ettuthokai, and Pattupattu.
Supposedly, the original home of the main deity here was Azhagar Kovil, and the deity was later shifted to Pazhamudircholai during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak in Madurai.
The Vel or lance, which is Muruga’s main weapon, was given to him by Goddess Parvati and is revered as the presiding deity in the shrine. Murugan used the Vel to split the demon king, Soorapadman, who was hiding in a tree. The demon split into two halves. One half became a peacock which became the mount of Muruga. The other half turned into a rooster which became the emblem on his flag. This is the only Arupadaiveedu where one can find Lord Murugan blessing his devotees along with his two consorts, Valli and Devayani.
History of the temple
King Cheraman Perumal, a ruler of Kerala (7th century AD), laid the foundation of the main temple. Though it dates back more than a millennium, the temple’s current structure came up in recent times. In the bygone era, devotees worshipped only the Vel as the main deity. Only a Vel, carved from stone, was in Pazhamudircholai earlier. Later, a wooden idol of Muruga standing with his consorts, Valli and Deivanai, was added.
Temple Architecture
This temple is a great example of the skill and craftsmanship of ancient architects. The Navaranga Mandapam, which the Nayaks built, is made fully of stone. It has four pillars and nine bays. The other parts of the temple reveal a strong Pandiya influence. Local chieftains, different religious groups, and individuals have contributed to building the temple at different times.
Temple Legend
There is a famous legend about this temple, which says that a great Tamil poet and Muruga devotee by the name of Avvaiyar was tested by Muruga here under a tree standing near the temple. Devotees who visit the temple worship this tree even today.
The story goes that Avvaiyar, who had been traveling, took refuge under a fruit tree. When she was resting under the tree, Muruga appeared before her in the guise of a young boy and asked her if she wanted roasted or unroasted fruits. Being an intelligent lady, Avvaiyar laughed at the idea of roasted fruits. She told the boy to pick unroasted fruits for her. Later, she picked up some of the fruits that had fallen from the tree. When she blew off the dirt and dust from the fruits, the mischievous lad enquired if she was trying to cool her roasted fruits. On hearing this, Avvaiyar was astonished. Despite being very intelligent and erudite, she had not understood the meaning of the young boy’s words. She realized that he was no ordinary boy. She pleaded with him to reveal his true identity, and Lord Muruga obliged. He also gave her his blessings. Thus, Muruga destroyed Avvaiyar’s pride and arrogance.
Nupura Ganga
A little above Pazhamudhircholai, there is a natural spring, Nupura Ganga, or Silambaru, which is supposedly 1000 years old. There is a temple for Goddess Rakkayi here. Devotees often bathe at the spot where this sacred pond falls. The water from this spring is used to make Samba Dosa, an offering made for the devotees of Azhagar temple. Mythology says that the spring originated from the anklet of Lord Vishnu. Supposedly, it has magical healing powers.
The Jamun Tree
The fruits of the jamun tree usually ripen in Aadi (mid – July) and Avani (mid – August) months. But the jamun tree here yields ripe fruits in Aippasi (October-November) as if by miracle. This is the time when the Skanda Shasti festival takes place.
Temple Festivals
Skanda Shasti is the main festival here. Special prayers and Abishekams take place on important days like Vaikasi Visakam, Aadi Karthigai, Krthigai Somavaram, Varushabishekam on Avani Pooram, Panguni Uthiram, Thirukarthigai, and Tamil New Year.
Offerings at the Temple
Devotees usually offer milk and clothes to Lord Murugan.
This is the only Arupadaiveedu, where Lord Muruga is seen along with Valli and Deivayanai. Many visit this temple for progeny blessings, happy marriage, and good education. Lord Murugan represents Jnana Shakti, while Goddess Valli and Deivanai represent Iccha Shakti and Kriya Shakti, respectively.
