Murugan Thoranamalai

Other Temples - Tirunelveli

God

Murugan, facing east

Goddess

None

Other Deities

Vallabha Vinayakar, Navagraha, Dakshinamurthy, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Saptha Kanniyar, Kannimaaramman, Naagar, Kaliamman

Murugan Thoranamalai is an old hill temple that can be reached by climbing steeply over 1000 steps. In the olden days there were no steps and the climb was said to be difficult with people using holes in the rocks for fingerhold. The path up was being refurbished with stone steps, shelters and paved areas as we visited in 2020. At the base is a shrine for Vinayaka, Navagraha and others. There are two ponds on rocks near the base. Just before the climb starts there is a shrine for Bala Murugan for the benefit of those who cannot climb the steep path to the hill temple. On the way up are springs and rocky crevices where water accumulates from the hill. We understand that there are about 64 such ponds in this hill. The hill has many medicinal herbs and the water is considered to have medicinal properties. At the top is the small temple for Lord Muruga. Nearby at the very edge of the hill is a small shrine for Kaliamman. The cliff face below this shrine is white in color probably due to huge quantities of paint poured sometime. The climb, view and the experience is great and should be relished patiently. The unbeleivable beauty of the Kutralam range of hills in the background can be appreciated from distance and from atop.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Ramanadhi, Jambunadhi (minor rivers that run near the area)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Murugan Thoranamalai is said to be old. The history is not clear but the temple originated as a cave temple with an idol in it and later a small concrete sanctum has been built. The present day temple was created by a gentlemen called N.Perumal of Muthumalaipuram and his grandson is one of the custodians today, taking good care to provide necessary facilities.

Legend

Sage Agastya and his disciple Theraiyar have lived and practiced medicine here at Murugan Thoranamalai. It is also believed that this hill was a medical center of Sage Agastya. His disciple continued the service and was laid to rest somewhere in these hills. They are believed to have installed and worshiped Lord Muruga here. The idol got lost through time and was discovered submerged in one of the rock ponds above by N.Perumal of a nearby village. The lord is believed to have appeared in his dream and informed him of his presence in the rock pond. He bailed out the water and discovered the idol which was installed in an east facing cave at the top. Lord Rama is believed to have visited Sage Agastya here. It is said that Mahakavi Bharatiyar, while mentioning Lord Muruga in his cave in one of his poems (“Guhaikkul Vaazhum Guhane’), was inspired by Murugan Thoranamalai.

Directions

Murugan Thoranamalai is abut 8 kilometers north of Kadayam and 10 kilometers south of Tenkasi off the road connecting the two towns. The hill is visible from a distance.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Tenkasi.

Other Temples

Tamilnadu Temples