Maruthamalai

 

Temple View

Marudhamalai Murugan Temple  dates  to 12th-century and is a beautiful  hill temple situated 500 feet above the MSL 15 kms from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Like many other Murugan temples, this temple is situated upon a hill  of  the Western Ghats in the suburb of Coimbatore. Marudhamalai is dotted with medicinal herbs and has a lot of trees called Marudham trees ,hence the name for the abode.

 According to legends a siddhar known as Pambatti Siddhar performed penance on the Marudhamalai hill. Lord Murugan is said to have appeared in a snake form to him, along with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, and is said to have blessed him. A connecting tunnel route from Lord Murugan's sanctum sanctorum and Siddhar's cave was formed and Siddhar is believed to have used it to worship the Lord.

Cave where the Siddhar pereformed the Penance

You can trek from the hills to temple either through 1000 plus steps or a much less  arduous route meant for temple elephants to reach the hill temple called 'aanai padhai' ( Elephant route) or drive your car near to bottom of the temple. However there restrictions for the vehicles to go near the temple on Tuesdays,Saturday,Sunday and festival days. A bus from foothill to near the temple is available every 10 minutes. At the time of writing this, there is an elevator planned to take pilgrims very close to temple from the parking lot.

Lord Muruga here is known by several divine names such as Marudhamalaiyan, Marudhappar, and Marudhasala Moorthy. He is seen in a standing posture, 'Nindra Thirukolam' blesses devotees under the sacred name Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy.

According to the Perur Purana, the nearby Vellingiri hill is considered to be the form of Lord Shiva, the Neelimalai hill as the form of the Goddess Parvati, and this Marudhamalai hill as the form of Lord Murugan. Together, these three hills represent the divine form of Somaskanda (a composite form of Shiva, Parvati, and Murugan).

In Tamil literature, it is praised that Lord Murugan has six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu). Among these, the Marudhamalai shrine—where Lord Murugan is believed to have arrived with his spear (Vel) across the hill—is revered by devotees as the seventh abode.

Pancha Muga Vinayagar

As you enter the temple after ascending the steps you can a Pancha Muga Vinayaga shrine under a combination of five trees 'Korakottai','ichi' Banyan and other two entwined together. Beyond that is the 'Aaadhi Moolasthanam' sannidhi, where Lord Muruga and his consorts Valli,Deivanai appear in a lingam form.

Maruthachalamurthy (Courtest TN HR&CE)

Next to that is the main sannidhi of Lord Muruga who is seen in a standing posture with the gnana thandam in his hand and a spear (vel) besides that facing east. In his left he is seen carrying the flag with the cock (Seval Kodi).The idol without the apparels (alankarams) will be just seen with a loin cloth and a tuft behind his head (though we can't' see that) with the gnana thandam in his hand.

There are other sannithis for Pateeswarar, Maragathambikai, Perumal and Navagrihas.

Festivals

Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day.

Monthly Krithikai festival, Visakam festival in May, Navarathri festival in May, the important Skanda Sashti festival during October,Thiru Karthikai in Nov/December, Thai poosam in January and Pankuni Uttiram in Pankuni (March-Apr) are celeberated in a very grand scale. Unprecedent crowds throng the temple during theses festival days.

The Golden Chariot procession is held on some days as per the devotees' requests.

Temple Timings It is open from 6:00 am – 8:00pm with occassional breaks of 30 minutes for alankarams. The entry to the temple will be closed after 7:00 pm as there may be wild elephants tend to cross the roads.

How to reach?

The temple is located at 15 Kms from Coimbatore . Plenty of state run buses ply to the foothills and from there temple buses will take you to the top. easily accessible by your two wheeler and cars too. You can trek to the top from the foothill.

Where to Stay?There are plenty of budget and semi deluxe hotels and five star hotels in Coimbatore. 

Where to Eat?There are several restaurants in Coimbatore.

Contact Arulmigu Maruthamalai Temple Devasthanam
Coimbatore 641046
Tamil Nadu. India
phones: 0422-2422490
E-Mail : dcmreocbe_9762[dot]hrce[at]tn[dot]gov[dot]in

Useful data

State: Tamil Nadu
District: Coimbatore
Famous for: Pilgrimage
Languages: English,Tamil,Malayalam
Best Season: Throughout the year. Summer( from May to July) could be very hot and dry when the mercury shoots to 37 degree celsius.
Weather: Summer 33-37°C, Winter 16-21°C
Altitude: 500 ft above sea level

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