Information on the temple:
This is one of the six of the holiest of Murugan shrines refered to as the Aarupadai Veedu.This is a holy shrine venerated by the Skanda puranam and by Nakkeerar’s Thirumurugatrupadai of the Sangam period. Arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh also reveres this shrine.This shrine is located on the solaimalai hill also known as Vrishabhadri or Idabagiri, adjacent to the Kallazhagar Temple on the outskirts of Madurai at about 19 kilometers from Madurai and 4 Kms above Azhagar temple.
There is a famous legend associated with the temple - it is said that Avvaiyar, a famous tamil poet and a Muruga Bakthai(Muruga Devotee), came here when her knowledge was put to test by Lord Muruga, taking the form of a small boy. It is firmly believed that this episode took place at a tree near the temple and the tree is worshipped even today.
Here Murugan is worshiped along with his consorts Valli as Iccha Shakti and Devayani as Kriya Shakti and himself as Jnana Shakti. The idol of the lord in standing posture with a single face and four hands is kept between the idols of his consorts. The Vel (spear) of the lord made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with a great veneration by devotees.
A natural spring called Noopura Ganga with a temple dedicated to Raakkayi Amman is located at the top of the hill. Pilgrims to the temple take a dip in this small, sacred spring which is said to have originated from the anklet of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the devotees who worship at this shrine are blessed with wealth and health. The Silambar river flows near the temple.
Most scholars, priests and devotees identify Palamutircōlai with the shrine of Palamutircolai, twelve miles north of Madurai in the Alagar Hills, above the Alagarcoil Vishnu temple. While this temple is not as large or bustling as the other five recognized shrines, it is just as incredible to visit.
This shrine is located on the northern outskirts of Madurai in a pleasant wooded hill not far from Alagar Visnu Kovil, a fortified temple complex revered as one of the 108 abodes of Vishnu glorified by the hymns of the Alwars. At the top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga, a perennial waterfall with a temple dedicated to Rākkayi Amman. The Nūpura Ganga atop the hill is said to originated from the anklet of Tirumal or Visnu and hence the name of the spring.
It is said that sitting in the madavi mandapa near the spring Ilangovadigal wrote one of the five mahakavyas in Tamil, viz., Cilappatikaram. Even today the place is very fertile with many trees and different flora and fauna, a standing testimony to the vivid description of the place's natural beauty as found in Tirumurugattruppadai of Nakkeerar.
Though the sthala is of ancient origin, the temple as in existence today was constructed only recently. From days of yore Vel has been worshipped as the moolavar or main deity. The idol of Lord Muruga in a standing posture has a single face and four hands with Valli and Teyvayanai on both sides. The Vel made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with a great veneration by devotees.
The sthala vriksha is a rose apple tree. The fruits of this tree ripen during Skanda Sashti festival. The temple that was in existence during Sangam period no longer existed in Arunagirinatha's time. The recently constructed temple is considered as Pazhamutircolai and worshipped by the devotees. It is needless to say that it is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga very extensively praised and described by Nakkeerar in Tirumurugatruppadai.
Arunagirināthar also reveres this shrine in his Tiruppukal. Arunagirinatha sang 16 Tiruppugzh psalms to Pazhamutircolai Muruga. Though one might be in possession of all types of wealth, if he wants to lead a healthy life bereft of any disease he should necessarily visit Pazhamutircolai. Arunagirinatha very emphatically says in the most unequivocal terms that Lord Muruga should come before him running to bless each and everyone with health and wealth as has been very clearly described in the Tiruppugazh psalm
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Legend on the temple:
The great Tamil poet and saint Avvaiyar had been tested by Lord Murga here. In order to play with Avvayar who was the one of the very famous devotees of Lord Muruga, he played the drama.
One day Avvayar became tired while travelling because of very hot summer and so came under the shadow of a fruit tree. She was very hungry and Thirsty. At that time one small boy who had sat on the tree asked her whether she wanted fruits from the tree? Avvaiyar told that she wanted fruits. At that time the boy asked Avvayar whether she wanted either roasted fruits or unroasted fruits? Avvayar who was a famous Tamil poet, litterateur and having depth knowledge in Tamil thought,”Is there any roasted fruit in the world?” and decided that the small boy didn’t have knowledge even about a fruit. But, as she was very tired, she didn’t want to argue with the small boy and asked him to pick roasted fruits for her. The boy shaked the tree and so fruits were fallen under the tree. The mud under the tree had sticked on the fruit. Avvayar had taken the fruits and blew on the fruit to remove the mud. It was seen that as the fruits were roasted and become heat and hence Avvayar had blown the fruits to reduce the heat. At that time the small boy asked Avvayar whether the fruits were heat?
Avvayar astonished, “How such a small village cowboy had played such intelligent drama? I thought that the small boy has no knowledge about fruits and how the fruits in the tree may become roasted fruits.But blowing the air on the fruit to remove the mud is like blowing air to reduce the heat as the fruit is roasted. How a beatiful comparision. Such a beatiful comparision may not rise in my mind even though I have gained rich knowledge in Tamil.” and asked the small boy, “Who are you actually?” At once the small boy had disappeared and Lord Muruga appeared. Now Avvayar came to understand that it was a play of God and she understood that there were more and more things to learn. she bowed Lord Muruga and requested to give more and more knowledge. Such interesting incident was held here. We are all try to visit such a holy place once in our life in order to get the mercy of Lord Muruga.
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Temple timings & Festivals:
Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Forenoon : Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.
Pankuni Uttiram festival in March
Visakam festival in May
Skanda Shashti festival in October
Tiru Karthikai festival in Nov/December
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How to reach:
The nearest town/city is Madurai which is at a distance of 23 kms from the town.
By Air:
Madurai is the nearest airport at a distance of nearly 23 km.
By Train:
We can reach Madurai via train and then reach Pazhamudircholai. Madurai is well connected to many cities in India by rail
By Road:
One can reach Pazhamudircholai by car, van, two-wheeler or bus. From Madurai one can catch the bus on route number 44 to reach it. There is a bus shuttle every 20 minutes from the foot of the hill to the Temple. It takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the temple.
This is one of the six of the holiest of Murugan shrines refered to as the Aarupadai Veedu.This is a holy shrine venerated by the Skanda puranam and by Nakkeerar’s Thirumurugatrupadai of the Sangam period. Arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh also reveres this shrine.This shrine is located on the solaimalai hill also known as Vrishabhadri or Idabagiri, adjacent to the Kallazhagar Temple on the outskirts of Madurai at about 19 kilometers from Madurai and 4 Kms above Azhagar temple.
There is a famous legend associated with the temple - it is said that Avvaiyar, a famous tamil poet and a Muruga Bakthai(Muruga Devotee), came here when her knowledge was put to test by Lord Muruga, taking the form of a small boy. It is firmly believed that this episode took place at a tree near the temple and the tree is worshipped even today.
Here Murugan is worshiped along with his consorts Valli as Iccha Shakti and Devayani as Kriya Shakti and himself as Jnana Shakti. The idol of the lord in standing posture with a single face and four hands is kept between the idols of his consorts. The Vel (spear) of the lord made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with a great veneration by devotees.
A natural spring called Noopura Ganga with a temple dedicated to Raakkayi Amman is located at the top of the hill. Pilgrims to the temple take a dip in this small, sacred spring which is said to have originated from the anklet of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the devotees who worship at this shrine are blessed with wealth and health. The Silambar river flows near the temple.
Most scholars, priests and devotees identify Palamutircōlai with the shrine of Palamutircolai, twelve miles north of Madurai in the Alagar Hills, above the Alagarcoil Vishnu temple. While this temple is not as large or bustling as the other five recognized shrines, it is just as incredible to visit.
This shrine is located on the northern outskirts of Madurai in a pleasant wooded hill not far from Alagar Visnu Kovil, a fortified temple complex revered as one of the 108 abodes of Vishnu glorified by the hymns of the Alwars. At the top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga, a perennial waterfall with a temple dedicated to Rākkayi Amman. The Nūpura Ganga atop the hill is said to originated from the anklet of Tirumal or Visnu and hence the name of the spring.
It is said that sitting in the madavi mandapa near the spring Ilangovadigal wrote one of the five mahakavyas in Tamil, viz., Cilappatikaram. Even today the place is very fertile with many trees and different flora and fauna, a standing testimony to the vivid description of the place's natural beauty as found in Tirumurugattruppadai of Nakkeerar.
Though the sthala is of ancient origin, the temple as in existence today was constructed only recently. From days of yore Vel has been worshipped as the moolavar or main deity. The idol of Lord Muruga in a standing posture has a single face and four hands with Valli and Teyvayanai on both sides. The Vel made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with a great veneration by devotees.
The sthala vriksha is a rose apple tree. The fruits of this tree ripen during Skanda Sashti festival. The temple that was in existence during Sangam period no longer existed in Arunagirinatha's time. The recently constructed temple is considered as Pazhamutircolai and worshipped by the devotees. It is needless to say that it is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga very extensively praised and described by Nakkeerar in Tirumurugatruppadai.
Arunagirināthar also reveres this shrine in his Tiruppukal. Arunagirinatha sang 16 Tiruppugzh psalms to Pazhamutircolai Muruga. Though one might be in possession of all types of wealth, if he wants to lead a healthy life bereft of any disease he should necessarily visit Pazhamutircolai. Arunagirinatha very emphatically says in the most unequivocal terms that Lord Muruga should come before him running to bless each and everyone with health and wealth as has been very clearly described in the Tiruppugazh psalm
Legend on the temple:
The great Tamil poet and saint Avvaiyar had been tested by Lord Murga here. In order to play with Avvayar who was the one of the very famous devotees of Lord Muruga, he played the drama.
One day Avvayar became tired while travelling because of very hot summer and so came under the shadow of a fruit tree. She was very hungry and Thirsty. At that time one small boy who had sat on the tree asked her whether she wanted fruits from the tree? Avvaiyar told that she wanted fruits. At that time the boy asked Avvayar whether she wanted either roasted fruits or unroasted fruits? Avvayar who was a famous Tamil poet, litterateur and having depth knowledge in Tamil thought,”Is there any roasted fruit in the world?” and decided that the small boy didn’t have knowledge even about a fruit. But, as she was very tired, she didn’t want to argue with the small boy and asked him to pick roasted fruits for her. The boy shaked the tree and so fruits were fallen under the tree. The mud under the tree had sticked on the fruit. Avvayar had taken the fruits and blew on the fruit to remove the mud. It was seen that as the fruits were roasted and become heat and hence Avvayar had blown the fruits to reduce the heat. At that time the small boy asked Avvayar whether the fruits were heat?
Avvayar astonished, “How such a small village cowboy had played such intelligent drama? I thought that the small boy has no knowledge about fruits and how the fruits in the tree may become roasted fruits.But blowing the air on the fruit to remove the mud is like blowing air to reduce the heat as the fruit is roasted. How a beatiful comparision. Such a beatiful comparision may not rise in my mind even though I have gained rich knowledge in Tamil.” and asked the small boy, “Who are you actually?” At once the small boy had disappeared and Lord Muruga appeared. Now Avvayar came to understand that it was a play of God and she understood that there were more and more things to learn. she bowed Lord Muruga and requested to give more and more knowledge. Such interesting incident was held here. We are all try to visit such a holy place once in our life in order to get the mercy of Lord Muruga.
Temple timings & Festivals:
Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Forenoon : Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.
Pankuni Uttiram festival in March
Visakam festival in May
Skanda Shashti festival in October
Tiru Karthikai festival in Nov/December
=================================================================
How to reach:
The nearest town/city is Madurai which is at a distance of 23 kms from the town.
By Air:
Madurai is the nearest airport at a distance of nearly 23 km.
By Train:
We can reach Madurai via train and then reach Pazhamudircholai. Madurai is well connected to many cities in India by rail
By Road:
One can reach Pazhamudircholai by car, van, two-wheeler or bus. From Madurai one can catch the bus on route number 44 to reach it. There is a bus shuttle every 20 minutes from the foot of the hill to the Temple. It takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the temple.
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