Murugan Chettikulam
Other Temples, Perambalur District
God
Dhandayuthapani, facing west
Goddess
None
Other Deities
Vinayaga, Veerabadhra
Murugan Chettikulam is a hill temple with 240 steps leading up and 243 down. Lord Dhandayuthapani here faces west towards the Ekambareswarar Temple nearby. The unique feature here is that the 4 feet tall Dhandayuthapani idol appears with his hair against the normal tradition of a tonsured head. Another unique feature is that he holds a sugarcane with 11 nodes instead of the normal Vel. The Panchanadhi stream here is always full of water flowing through herbal plants.
Holy Water (Theertham) – Panchanadhi
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)
History
Saint Arunagirinadar(15th Century CE) has sung the glory of the lord here. Murugan Chettikulam dates back to the Chola Period and is as old as the nearby Ekambareswarar Temple.
Legend
Lord Muruga is said to have appeared for Sage Againsthya as a bangle seller called Valayal Chetty (Valayal-Bangle, Chetti- trader) here at Murugan Chettikulam. He is also said to have guided Paranthaka Chola and Kulasekhara Pandiya and helped them contain the fury of Kannaki and calm her in the form of Madhurakali.
Directions
Murugan Chettikulam is about 8 kilometers from the Chennai – Thiruchirapalli highway after crossing Siruvachur. Alathur gate is the place where you can take a turn to west.
Stay and Food
None locally. Closest is Thiruchirapalli or Permbalur.
