Murugan Viralimalai

Other temples, Pudukottai

God

Subramaniaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Valli, Devyanai with the main deity

Other Deities

On way up – Ganesha, Baladhandayudhapani, Chokkanadar, Meenakshi, Idumban. Prakaram on top – Sanagar, Sanadanar, Sanadanar, Sanakumar, Veerabahu, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Moola Vinayagar, Arunagirinadar, Ganesha, Naagar, Kalabhairava, Navagraha. Sanctum niches – Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Chandikeswara

Murugan Viralimalai is a hill temple reachable through a flight of about 200 steps. The hill has many peacocks and would be a beautiful place in the evenings when they come down to feed and fill the air with their calls. The temple tank is below the hill. The temple on top has a 3 tiered Gopuram facing south and a single covered Prakaram with small windows on all sides. All deities are in this Prakaram. The Lord with 6 faces and 12 hands graces facing east, seated on his peacock mount with his consorts. The temple itself is filled with monkeys. Caves in the hill are said to house Yogis. Muthu Pazhani Kavirayar authored Viralimalai Kuravanchi which is used to be staged as a play regularly in earlier days.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Naga Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Viraali (Dodonaea viscosa)

History

Saint Arunagirinaadar (15th Century CE) has visited this temple and rendered 18 Hymns of Thirupugazh for Lord Muruga. The temple should be at least a thousand years old. Stone inscriptions are found on the sanctorum sanctorum’s outer walls.

Legend

Lord Muruga is believed to have led Saint Arunagirinadar to this temple from Vayalur and given Darshan to him here at Murugan Viralimalai. The spot where this happened is marked in the temple. He is also said to have to taught the saint the secret of the eight great miracle arts including entering another persons body. A devotee who was working in renovating the temple was said to have offered a cigar to another person who approached him as he took shelter from heavy rains and gale. The person vanished after that and later when the devotee went to the lord’s shrine he found cigar bits lying below the deity. From then offering Cigar to the lord became a practice. This was considered as a heinous act by the Maharaja of Pudukottai who put a stop to it. But the lord appeared in his dream and convivced him otherwise. The practice continues to this day. sages Sanagar, Sanadanar, Sanadanar, Sanakumar are belived to have worshiped the lord here at Murugan Viralimalai.

Directions

Murugan Viralimalai is about 33 Kilometers south of Thiruchirapalli in the highway going to Madurai. The hill temple is visible from a distance and can be reached through the exit and entry in the highway comfortably.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Closest is Thiruchirapalli.

Other Temples

Tamilnadu Temples