Devendran Maruthuvamalai

Devendran, Maruthuvamalai

Other Temples, Kanyakumari District

God

Devendran, facing west

Goddess

None

Other Deities

Shiva, Parvathi, Agastya, Anjaneya, Muruga with consorts, Ayyappa, Gayatri

Devendran Maruthuvamalai is a small hill temple with a carving of Indra, the King of the Devas, on a rock slab in a small cave. Along with the carving of Indra are carvings of Ganesha, Shiva & Parvati, Sage Agastya, and a Shiva Lingam. You have steps to climb up first and after a stage rock-hewn steps with railing for holding taking you up to the cave temple. The place is windy and climbing the rock-hewn steps is to be done carefully. On the way to the hill temple along the steps is a Gayatri Devi temple. There is a natural spring on top. Small shrines for other gods have been added in recent times. A shrine has been constructed around the Devendra Carving. There are two perennial springs near the temple. This is part of the Maruthavamalai Hill which is considered very holy and has a lot of medicinal herbs growing in it. On the other side of the hill is the steep pathway that takes you all the way to the top passing an ancient Anjaneya temple. After climbing this steep hill with great difficulty, at the top are a few rocky caverns, openings through a large pile of rocks, and a small shrine for Anjaneya. Read more about this hill in our blog.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Springs on top, Oushada Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Devendran Maruthuvamalai is an ancient rock carving going back maybe a few centuries. The temple structures have been built up in recent times.

Legend

Devendran Maruthuvamalai is connected with the story of Ahalya, wife of Sage Gautama, being seduced by Indra in the disguise of the Sage. Cursed by Sage Gautama to be covered with eyes all over his body he came to these areas seeking relief from the curse. Devendran Maruthuvamalai is believed to be one spot where he stood looking at the Lord of Sucheendram. The carving also depicts that view. The steps to reach the temple are believed to have been created and hewn out of the rock by a local grindstone maker who used to hear heavy noises and at times the sound of instrumental music from the hill. Intrigued, he went up to discover the carving. He then created access to the temple as ordered by Lord Indra in a dream.

Directions

Devendran Maruthuvamalai is about 12 kilometers from Nagercoil and 8 kilometers from Kanyakumari on the road connecting the two towns. Get down at a stop called Sai Baba Temple or Maruthavamalai and take a local auto to reach the base of the hill temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Kanyakumari or Nagercoil.

Other Temples - Kanyakumari District

Tamilnadu Temples