Tirupparamkunram Murugan Temple

Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple, one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six main abodes of Lord Muruga, the temple at Tiruparankunram offers a mystic beauty. It is carved in rock and is monstrous in size for such an architecture. According to legend it is where Lord Muruga married Deivayanai, the divine daughter of the king of heaven, Indra, and he is said to have worshipped Shiva here as Parangirinathar.

The temple is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Madurai in India. In the main shrine, apart from Muruga, deities of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Vinayaka and Goddess Durga are housed. The other Arupadaiveedu's dedicated for Lord Muruga are Thiruchendur (100 km south of Madurai), Palani (120 km west of Madurai), Swamimalai (150 km east of Madurai), Thiruthani (50 km from Chennai) and Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai).

The main shrine is a cave like the early cave temples of the Pallavas. There are three main caves; the foremost has Subramanyar, Deivayanai and Naaradar. The second cave enshrines Durga and the third enshrines Vinayakar. There are two cells in the cave enshrining Somaskandhar and Satyagireeswarar in one and Vishnu with Sridevi, Bhudevi and Mathangamunivar in the other. Subramanyar is seated and faces north with his consort Deivayanai on his left. He holds a silver Vel (spear) and abhishekam is offered only to the silver Vel. In this sanctum there are images of Vinayakar, Bhrama, Saraswathi, Devendran, Suryan and Chrandran. There is also a Shrine to Govardanar and Padmavathy, Shanmugar, Saneeswarar, the 63 Nayanmars and Panchalingams. Adhikaranandi faces the Panchalingam shrine. Inside this shrine is a small temple dedicated to Thiruchendur Murugan.

Architecture: Entrance to the hill temple is through the aasthana mandapam, which was built by Tirumalai Nayakkar of Madurai. It has beautiful pillars. Each of the 48 pillars is 20 feet in height bearing Yaalis, elephant, warrior bearing horses hunting tigers etc. A 7-tiered gopuram 150 feet high forms the entrance to the temple. There is Kalyana Mandapam, to its left is the sacred tank called Lakshmi Theertham. Steps lead to the Kambattadi mandapam, the Ardhamandapam and the Mahamandapam. There are few more mandapams within the temple complex. The Nayaks of Madurai developed many of the structures. The sculptures are beautiful. Two panels on the cave walls depict the cosmic dance of Nataraja, celestial beings playing the orchestra and the audience admiring the dance of Shiva.

Several inscriptions from the Pandya, Vijayanagar and Nayak periods are seen here. There is a tank here called Saravanapoigai (as in Palani) to the east of the temple and the caves have interesting sculptures.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam here falls in the Tamil month of Panguni. The Vishnu named Pavalakanivai Perumal, and Lord Muruga is taken in procession to Madurai to celebrate Minakshi's wedding (Chittirai festival), with residents of Madurai dressed in festive clothing. Nakkirar's association with this temple is also celebrated as a festival. Skanda Sashti, the ten day Kartikai festival, Vaikasi Visakam, and the float festival in Thai are other celebrations here. Since Vishnu is here Vaikunta Ekadashi is also celebrated.

Transport

See the holy transportation section of Thiruparangunram. Buses are available from Madurai Periyar bus stand. All the buses moving from Periyar bustand to Thirumangalam goes through Thiruparang Kunram.