Thiruchendur - Tamil Nadu

One of the six places of worship dedicated to Lord Muruga, the shore temple of Arulmigu Subramanya Swami at Tiruchendur has a unique significance as the culmination of the concept of Muruga. With its lofty tower of about 140 feet, it has a holy past dating back to 2,000 years, if not earlier. References are available in such texts as Puranan?ru, Silappadikaram, Tirumurugatrupadai, Adi Sankarar ?r? Subramanya Bhujangam, Kanda Puranam, Tiruppukazh, Tiruchendur Pillai Tamil, etc.

As one of the foremost spiritual centres, the temple has been an attraction for Hindus for ages. In the Tirumurugatrupadai, a classic of the third century AD, six chosen spots in The Tamil soil were referred to by Nakk?rar as of more than ordinary sanctity fo the worshipo of Lord Muruga, among which Tiruchendur is number two. This was the only temple of Lord Muruga located on the seashore. His shrines are always situated amid mountains and forests, for these regions are considered dear to Lord Murugan. The variance here is possibly due to Muruga's divine mission to free the devas, and the vanquishing of evil in the form of Surapadma and his mighty hosts in V?ra Mahendram, their mid-ocean fortress. The Tamils have ever since been celbrating the event as an annual festival during Skanda Sashti.