Thirumurugan Poondi

 

Written in Tamil by

Marimaindhan Sivaraman

Translated into English by

Nandhini Krishnakumar

To read in Tamil click here 👈

Thirumurugan Poondi

The seven temples of Kongu refer to the seven Shiva temples in the Kongu region that have received the Thevaram hymns.

The second most worshipped temple among the seven sacred places of Kongu region is the Thirumurugan Poondi Muruganathar Temple.

This temple is of such ancient significance that it is maintained as a national heritage monument.

Come, let us have dharshan! Let us receive the grace of God! 

Historical Significance

Surapadma, the demon, did severe penance and received immortal boon from God. Lord Muruga was afflicted with Brahma Hatya dosha when He defeated this demon Surapadma in a battle.

Legend states that Lord Muruga, to get rid of the Brahma Hatya dosha, came straight to Thirumurugan Poondi from Tiruchendur where the battle of Surasamhara took place. He installed a Shiva linga at Thirumurugan Poondi and worshipped the Lord.

Since Lord Muruga worshipped Lord Shiva in this place, the Lord who bestows His grace here is called Muruga Natheswarar, Muruganatha Swami.

The name of the town also acquired the special name Thirumurugan Poondi. This town also has an ancient name, 'Kandapuri Pattinam'.

There are two Shivalingas installed and worshipped by Lord Murugan in this temple. One is in the main shrine. The other is in the Murugan shrine.

Sundarar Thevaram

Sundaramurthy Nayanar was heading to Thirumurugan Poondi with the gifts he had received from the great poet Cheraman Perumal Nayanar who lived in Kodungalur in Malayala desam (region in which the people speak Malayalam language).

Sundaramurthy Nayanar used to sing a set of ten verses in sweet Tamil language, praising the Lord at the shrines he visited during his national pilgrimage.

Lord Shiva was a little more fond of Sundaramurthy Nayanar. Therefore, he would play with him in different ways with great enthusiasm.

This time too, Lord Shiva wished to perform a holy play with Sundarar.

Lord Shiva sent His Bootha ganas (the attendants of Lord Shiva), disguised as robbers, to plunder all the gifs that Sundaramurthy Nayanar possessed.

Since it was night time, Sundarar stayed at a nearby Ganesha temple and was worried about what to do next.

Wishing to lessen Sundarar's lamentation, Ganesha pointed out the place where Lord Shiva resided.

Sundarar rushed in the direction that Ganesha pointed out. He became angry on seeing Lord Shiva in the temple and sang verses on the Lord questioning Him "Is this fair? Why is there fear of thieves when You and Mother Parvathi are here in this place? Why are the devotees here unsafe?"

Sundaranar, who always sang praises, cursed the Lord this time. However, Lord Shiva did not get angry after hearing that. In fact, He enjoyed listening to the songs. He called the Bootha ganas and made them return the looted goods.

"Having listened to the honey-dripping songs that always arise in your mind, I also loved to listen to your blasphemous songs."

"This play is to make the world know that Tamil is sweet and Sundarar's Tamil is sweeter than sweetness and that the sweetness of devotion drips sweeter," Lord Parameswara praised Sundarar at the time.

Thirumurugan Poondi has the distinction of being the place where Lord Shiva performed a holy play just to listen to Sundarar's songs.

Sundarar's Thevaram made this holy place to be blessed with the special name 'Padal Petra Thalam' (Temple of Thevaram hymns).

The Lord & The Mother

The holy name of Lord Shiva in this temple is Muruga Natheshwara, Muruganatha Swami, and that of Mother Parvathi is Avudai Nayaki, Mangalambika.

Thirumurugan Poondi is such a holy and powerful place worshipped by Lord Muruga, Agastya Maharishi, Markandeya, Durvasa Maharishi, Appar, Sundarar and Sekkizhar.

The Holy Tree & The Sacred Theerthas

Legend has it that Sage Durvasa brought the Madhavi (Kurukkhathi) tree (commonly known as Madhavi Lata) from the Karpaga world. That is why this place was also named 'Madhavi Vanam' (Vanam means forest).

The holy tree of this temple was the Kurukkhathi (spring jasmine) tree. But, that tree is no more. It has withered away.

There are three great sacred Theerthas: Brahma Theertha, Subramanya Theertha and Gnana Theertha.

The Subramanya Theertha is located inside the temple and the other two Theerthas are located outside the temple.

Lord Muruga created Brahma Theertha to get rid of his mental anxieties regarding Brahma Hatya dosha. He installed Subramanya Theertha to perform pujas to the Shiva linga installed by him inside the temple. In the joy of attaining wisdom at the end, he bestowed the Gnana Theertha.

This is the mythological legend about the creation of these Theerthas.

Even today, thousands of devotees take water from the three well-like theerthas and bathe to get rid of their problems. It is also evident that their wishes are granted.

Speciality of the temple

As a symbol of the enshrining and worship of Lord Muruga in the temple, there is a Shiva lingam facing west in the sanctum sanctorum of the Murugan shrine.

The powerful Vel and the peacock, which are always with Lord Muruga, are not in the sanctum. Lord Muruga placed the Vel outside the temple and made the peacock stand next to it thus worshipping Lord Shiva alone by Himself.

Generally, the idols of the six-faced Lord Muruga in temples have three faces in the front and three faces at the back. But in this temple, Lord Muruga, who is seated on a throne, has five faces in the front and only one at the back. This is called 'Atho Mukam'.

It is noteworthy that this idol of Lord Muruga was carved out of a single stone.

In the temple, deities including Lord Muruga Natheswarar, Avudai Nayaki, Lord Bhavaneeswarar, Lord Muruga, Lord Bhairava, and the nine planets await to bestow grace on those who come seeking mercy.

This temple has a separate shrine for Lord Bhairava. Worship of Lord Bhairava is one of the highlights of this temple.

There is a 16-pillar hall next to the entrance of the temple. If you go inside past the entrance, on the right there is a figure of Lord Shiva as hunter. Sundarar is also seen nearby in two forms. One is a happy face. The other is a withered face.

The withered face was the face of Sundarar when his wealth was plundered by hunters.

The happy face was the face when the looted goods were restored by God.

Outside the temple, there is the 'Aadal Vallan Sabha' (The dance hall of Lord Shiva). This is the area where the Lord performed the Brahma Thandava. This is why the Sabha is special.

Outside the temple, a square stone is found under a neem tree. This is considered to be the place of Brahma hatya which Lord Muruga left behind and is worshipped even today. Lord Ganesha, who is seated there, graces the devotees as 'Brahma Hatya Valampuri Vinayaka'.

There is an idol of a sage in the pillar of the temple. According to an ancient text, it is Arunagirinathar who attained salvation by singing the praises of Lord Muruga. But when we look at the statue structure, it also resembles Mahaguru Agastya.

The reason is that Sage Agastya performed a 'Bramai Nivarthi yagna' to Lord Muruga in this holy place to get rid of His delusions and sang the Verse 'Meiyunarvu Kovai' (a string of verses on self realization).

Goddess Varahi graces from the outer wall of the Mother's shrine.

Lord Hanuman is seen offering blessings near the Subramanya Theertha.

There is no entrance tower outside the temple which is typical of Kongu temples. There is only a black stone lamp pillar.

Glory of the Theerthas

Lord Muruga, who had performed the Surasamharam and come to Thirumurugan Poondi, hit the ground with His divine Vel. This made water flow and it formed a theertha. It is said that only after this water fell on Lord Muruga, His anxiety regarding the Brahma Hatya disappeared. This theertha is known as 'Brahma theertha'.

In olden days, a Pandya king, Maharathan,  worshipped the Lord of this place. He bathed in Subramanya Theertha, made payasam (a sweet porridge) with the holy water, mixed cow's milk and sugar candy and offered this as nivedhana to the Lord and fed the Brahmins.

It is said that he was blessed with twins as a result of his prayers.

It is said that there were once 27 theerthas in Thirumurugan Poondi. The nearby Noyyal River is also considered a theertha.

Prayer Methods & Benefits

Since it is a Shiva temple, where Sundaramurthy Nayanar recovered his lost wealth, if you pray at this temple to recover stolen items and lost wealth, you will get what you had lost.

As the son of Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga was relieved from the Brahma Hatya dosha, the doshas and sins of the devotees who worship here will be removed.

Karma, such as paranoia, madness, and witchcraft, is cured by praying to the Lord here. This temple also blesses the distressed to get rid of their problems.

Until recently, there was a custom of staying here for 48 days and bathing in the Brahma Theertha or the Subramanya Theertha, worshipping the Lord and getting cured of madness and delusion.

In those days, people who were affected by madness/paranoia were chained. Those practices no longer exist at present.

Now, after taking a bath in the holy Theerthas, devotees are healed by worshipping the sixth face of Lord Muruga during Deepa Aradhana (the lamp worship) who appears with six faces.

It is said that if one bathes in the Subramanya Theertha, which is filled with the grace of Lord Muruga, and worships the Lord by performing abishekam, he/she will be blessed with a child.

The Thala Purana (Legend about the temple) assures that bathing in these holy waters will cure deadly diseases like leprosy. One will get rid of impurities and attain salvation.

Koopidu Vinayakar Temple 

(The temple of Ganesha who 'called')

There is a Ganesha shrine near the temple where 'Vedupari' (looting Sundarar's wealth) took place. It is called 'Koopidu Vinayakar Temple'.

Located on a small hill, darshan of this temple and Lord Ganesha is an enormous blessing.

From this place, Lord Ganesha called Sundarar and showed him the location of the thief, hence His name 'Koopidu Vinayakar'.

Festivals

The 'Vedupari Utsavam' held in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-March), Masi Magam Brahmotsavam, The Chariot festival, Thaipusam, Surasamharam, Panguni Utthiram, Kanda Sashti, Annabhishegam and Maha Shivrathri.

Devotees offer kavadi (a semi-circular structure, often made of wood or metal, that is carried on the shoulders during religious rituals and festivals, particularly in Hindu traditions) and milk pot to the Lord.

Madhavaneswarar Temple

Those who visit Thirumurugan Poondi and worship the Lord must worship a holy temple nearby.

It is believed that worshipping here would bring the merit of worshipping at Mount Kailash.

This is the most ancient and the original temple of Thirumurugan Poondi.

Madhavaneswarar temple was worshipped by the hunter king Maladharan. The Lord is enshrined here as a self-manifested linga. In front of the temple is a big Nandheeswarar statue.

There is a spiritual legend that Durvasa Maharishi, who was cursed by a sage, came here, created a Theertha, bathed and worshipped the Lord. As a result, he was freed from the curse. The holy Theertham is known as 'Durvasar Theertham'.

Once upon a time, this temple was situated amidst a dense forest that had Mullai trees (a beloved Jasmine variety). Hence, the sacred tree of this temple was 'Mullai'. Now 'Mavilingam', commonly known in English as the Caper Tree, stands tall as the sacred tree of the temple.

This is a powerful Kethu dosha parikara temple. 

Once upon a time, Lord Kethu, who was cursed by a sage, came to this temple to get rid of the curse. He stayed there and worshipped Lord Shiva, got rid of the curse and by the grace of God, he also attained the status of a Navagraha.

The tower sculptures of this temple are beautifully crafted to depict many mythological events.

The sculptures of Lord Muruga worshipping Lord Shiva, Sundarar worshipping Lord Shiva, the King Maharatha Pandiyan praying to the Lord for a child, Vedupari scene, Lord Kethu worshipping Lord Shiva, Sage Durvasa worshipping the Lord, Brahma Thandava scene of Lord Shiva, a scene of cow offering her milk on Lord Shiva are all worthy to be worshipped.

Inscriptions

Inscriptions of Veera Rajendran, Konerinmai Kondan, Kulothunga Chola Devan, Vikrama Chola Devan and Veera Nanjai Raya Udayar can be seen, proclaiming the splendour, glory and references of the Thirumurugan Poondi Temple.

Nandhi Thevaram

Nandhi Thevaram is a divine verse in praise of Lord Shiva from Lord Nandheeswara through the Nandhi Jeevanadi reading from Swami Sidhaguruji of Sri Nandheeswarar Gnanapeedam.

வேடரிடம் சுந்தரர்க்கு மிக்கபொருள் பறிபோக

பாடலினால் பரமனை பழிகூறி வினாத் தொடுக்க

காடடரும் முருகன் பூண்டியிலே அமர்ந்தருளும்

ஆட அதிர கணம் சூழ அவையாவும் கையளித்த

வீடருளும் எம்பெருமான் மென்பாதம் பற்றியவர்

தேடவரும் செல்வமொடு சிவபதமும் சேர்வாரே

-Nandhi Thevaram

Meaning

Sundarar was robbed of a great deal of property by a hunter.

Sundarar questioned and criticized the Supreme Lord through a song.

The Lord sits and graces amidst the dense forest in Thirumurugan Poondi.

And the dancing Lord, who is surrounded by Ganas, restored the stolen wealth of Sundarar

One who surrenders to the lotus feet of the Lord will get salvation.

The seeker will be blessed with wealth and the path to attain the feet of Shiva.

Location of the temple

Thirumurugan Poondi is located 5 kilometres from the Avinashiyappar Temple.

Sri Thirumuruganadha Swami temple

Thirumurugan Poondi

Tirupur district - 641 652

Tamil Nadu, India

Nearby airport & Railway station

Coimbatore airport

Tiruppur Railway junction

Travel note

The seven temples of Thevaram hymns in Kongu region are located within the boundaries of four districts of Karur, Erode, Namakkal and Tiruppur, at a total travel distance of 130 kilometres. 

If you plan properly, you can get the privilege of visiting all the seven temples in 2 days.

Google map location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uVSEGBQCoEsJ2Aoq8

Om Namasivaya🙏