Pazhamudircholai Subramanya temple - one of the six holy abodes, Tamil Nadu temple


Pazhamudircholai, the sixth of Lord Murugan's Aaru padai Veedukal - the six holiest Murugan shrines is  is associated with Sangam poet Nakkirar and his poem Tirumurukarruppadai.
The temple, 16 km from Madurai city, is located in the pleasant scenic wooded hill, not far from Alagar Vishnu Kovil, one of the 108Divyadesam shrines. It is said this was once the Muugan temple and during the Nayak period, the main deity was shifted to the present location.



Pazhamudircholai Murugan temple, Tamil nadu. www.flickr.com

 This fertile hilly place is rich in fruits and vegetables and is endowed with a lot of scenic places. At top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga a perennial waterfall and there is also a temple dedicated to Rakkayi Amman.

This fertile hilly place is rich in fruits and vegetables and is endowed with a lot of scenic places. At top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga , a perennial waterfall and there is also a temple dedicated to Rakkayi Amman, a form of Kali.

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple,Tamil nadu.www.tripadvisor.in


In the Madhavi mandapa near the spring, it is believed, Tamil poet Ilangovadigal wrote one of the five Mahakavyas in Tamil, viz., Silappatikaram, etc. Though the sthala is very old dating back to several centuries, the temple was built recently. For centuries Vel – Spear has been worshiped as the moolavar or main deity here. Arunagirinathar, another Tamil poet and saint in his Tiruppugazh sang in praise of Pazhamudircholai Muruga.


Famous legend has it Avvaiyar, a  Tamil poet of great repute after her long wondering in the wilderness, had a chance meeting with a small boy in the shadow of a tree and asked him to get some fruits as she was hungry. Lord Muruga in the guise of a boy played a trick on the old woman and asked her a funny question whether she wanted ''roasted warm'' fruits. The learned poet, to avoid hurting the tiny boy, asked him to get her un-roasted fruits. The boy shook the tree and down on the ground fell the fruits. Avvaiyar astonished to find that the fruits fallen from the tree were very warm. Realizing her folly, she asked the boy who he was. Lord Muruga (Karthikaya) appeared before her and blessed with bountiful knowledge.


Unlike many other huge temples with various stone sculptures and ornate pillars, etc.,  this one is small and simple. On a visit to this hilly temple in the cool shadows of dense trees, one never fails to get peace of mind and  tranquility with lush hillocks forming the back drop.


It is worth visiting this temple nestled in a quiet place away from hustle and bustle of polluted city life.

Ref:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartikeya
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Abodes_of_Murugan