Surasamharam, a reenactment of the victory over Surapadman, and Kanda Shasti, a devotional song in praise of Murugan are performed at the temple.
The temple is the fourth Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu to get ISO certification.[3]
Legend
Thiruchendur finds mention in the Skanda Puranam detailing the slaying of Surapadman by the god Murugan. As per Hindu legend, the demon king Surapadman, once obtained boons from the god Shiva on account of severe penance. He started ruling the world on account of the power attained. He married Padumakomalai and had several sons. Viramkendiram, a city created in the seas, became his capital and he started troubling the devas (the gods). He imprisoned Indra (the king of the gods) and also desired Indra's wife Indrani. Indra sought the help of Shiva's son and the god of war Murugan. Murugan sent his messenger Viravakutevar to the demon, who remained unmoved. A severe battle was fought in Thiruchendur where Murugan killed all the sons of the Surapadman except Iraniyan. Surapadman hid under the sea. Murugan split him into two pieces, which went on to become the god's divine vehicles, peacock and rooster. The day when Murugan slayed Surapadman is celebrated as Skanda Sashti festival in all the Murugan temples.
The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures 91 m (299 ft) north to south, 65 m (213 ft) east to west, and has a nine-tier gopuram, or tower gate, that is 157 feet (48 meters) high.[6] The principal entrance faces south, and opens into the first of two prakarams, the first of which is lined with rows of yalis. The inner sanctum of the temple is in a cave and the main deity, or mulavar, is Murugan as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving.[7] Nali Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a freshwater spring, is located 100 m (330 ft) south of the temple. Devotees undergo a ritual cleansing by bathing in water from the well after bathing in the ocean.[7]
The Murugan temple at Tiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India Company from 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with the Portuguese. The local people tried to free their temple, with no success. The Dutch finally vacated the temple on orders from the Naik ruler. However, while leaving, they removed the sculpture depicting the 2 utsava murtis (this representation of the deities comes out only during Masi and Avani Tirunal) which is made of an alloy named Shanmukhar and took it with them. During their sea voyage, they encountered a strong storm and realised their mistake of stealing the murti. They dropped it in the middle of the sea and saw the storm stop immediately. According to legend, Murugan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Murugan, and revealed the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai in the Tiruchendur temple, went to the spot in a fishing boat and retrieved the murti in 1653. The story is shown in paintings inside the temple.[8]
