Marudamalai Murugan is an ancient temple facing east and situated on a 599 feet high hill. This is a beautiful location and the evenings here are a wonderful experience. The festival times are extremely crowded. A 7 tiered Rajagopuram and beautiful flights of steps have been constructed recently on top. The temple can be reached by road and also by footsteps. There is a shrine called the “Paambaatti Sitthar Kugai” (Paambaatti Sitthar cave) near the Murugan temple. Paambaatti Sitthar is one of the most notable 18 Sitthars. Pambaatti Sitthar as his name indicates that he was associated with snake charming. As is the custom of the Sitthars of Tamil Nadu, he too, in the interest of mankind, has written extensively on the medicinal values and applications of plants. Vinayaga is at the base of hill, there are three suyambu deities also here. Idumban is in between the base and the top. The presiding deity, it is said, is a later installation. The original deity of Lord Subramanya with his two consorts, Valli and Deivannai, is enshrined nearby to the south in the outer Prakara. The deities are all believed to be of self ocurring origin (Svayambhu). The arrangement of the shrines of Lord Shiva and Parvati on either side of Lord Muruga is in the Somaskanda formation. Another literary work, Perurpuranam, lists the three neighbouring hills, Vellingiri, Nili and Marudhamalai as the very manifestations of Lord Siva, Parvathi and Subramanya respectively and the three hills together are considered as the symbol of Somaskanda.
The Muruga idol made of granite is about five feet in height, facing the east with the right hand holding the Dandayudham (rod), the left hand placed on the hip and a spear (Vael) placed across. The image bears a close resemblance to the Deity at Palani, the difference between Marudhamalai Muruga and Palani Muruga is the former sporting a turban on the head with a tuft behind.
Pancha Vriksham : There is a cluster of trees closely intertwining one another here. An old Irula tribesman identified the entangled trees as Korakattai, Ichi, Banyan, Vakkanai and Ottu Maram and also added there was one more Peepal tree in the group in the days of yore, and it is not present now. This is a unique phenomenon attracting not only devotees but also botanists. Under this is installed an Idol of Lord Ganesha for whom daily poojas are performed too. The breeze wafting along the foliage and the area is believed to have an unfailing cure for all diseases.
The 1970’s Tamil film “Deivam” by the famous producer M.A.Chinnappa Devar featured Marudamalai Murugan temple.
