Arulmigu Kandhaswamy Temple

Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple is a famed powerspot for Muruga, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is in Thiruporur, 40 km from Chennai en route to Mahabalipuram, beneath the Pranava mountain.

Murugan is a very popular god in South India, especially among the Tamils. In this temple, Murugan is known as Kandaswamy, and he graces devotees along with his two consorts- Valli and Deivanai. The Muruga idol here is Swayambhu (self-manifested), which is a unique aspect of the temple. It is coated by an anthill. Thiruporur is a small village, and its chief attraction is the imposing Arulmigu Kandaswamy temple.

Mythology says that Murugan waged war against the evil demon, Tharaka, in ether or air at this place. So this place is also called Yudhapuri. The seafront where Murugam battled the demons is Thiruchendur, while the landfront where he put an end to the demons is Thiruparakundram. Similarly, the Aghayamarg ( skies) where he confronted the demons is Thiruporur, as per the Puranas. It is where the battle was waged against the “thalayaya asuran” (signifying arrogance or pride). ‘Por’ in Tamil means ‘war’.

The founder of Thiruporur, Adhinam Srimad Chidambara Swamy, lived here 450 years ago. He was a great devotee of Madurai Meenakshi Amman and refused to take food until the Goddess gave him darshan. He fasted for many days and almost became comatose. One night, he dreamt that the Goddess told him to build a temple for Murugan at Thiruporur. Then he heard the sound of the Goddess’ anklets, and opened his eyes. He saw her divine feet, and the Goddess raised him to his feet. Her touch turned his skin golden.

She informed him that attempts to build the temple had failed on previous occasions. Chidambara Swamy made his way to the dense forest covered by palm trees and tried to locate the spot where there had been previous attempts to build the temple. But he didn’t find it. Then, Murugan appeared as a small boy and led him to the place that became the sanctum sanctorum eventually.

Later, Chidambara Swamy was able to find the Swayambhu idols of Murugan and his consorts, and he built the temple. In those days, the hamlet was under the control of a minor Muslim ruler. His daughter suffered from vertigo, which proved to be incurable. His minister told him to seek the blessings of Chidambara Swamy. So, the ruler took his daughter to the holy man. The duo prostrated before Chidambara Swamy, and the latter applied some sacred ash to the daughter’s body. To her amazement, her disease vanished. One can see a shrine dedicated to Chidambara Swamy in the temple.

History of the Temple

The temple was supposedly built in the 10th century CE during the Pallava rule. Chidambara Swamy was a descendant of the poets of the Tamil Sangam age. Supposedly, he rebuilt the temple in the 17th century.

The Architecture of the Temple

The temple reflects the Dravidian style of architecture. It occupies 4 acres of land. During the 18th century, it was expanded after the idols were excavated in Thiruporur. A beautiful five-tiered Rajagopuram that is 70 feet tall is the highlight of the temple. A hall with 24 pillars leads to the sanctum, which is made of granite. The presiding deity, Kandaswamy (Murugan), is in the sanctum.

The temple is east-facing, and the deity stands 7 feet tall. It is in a standing posture. The deity has 2 hands, and one of them has the Vel (spear). One can see an image of a peacock beside the presiding deity. There are separate shrines for Valli and Deivanai. Shiva and Parvati also have a separate shrine. The temple tank is outside the temple.

Significance of the Temple

The deity here was praised by Chidambara Swamy in 726 verses. He supposedly discovered the idol under a palm leaf. The temple still has a palm leaf that is believed to be the original one. The renowned Tamil saint-poets, Arunagirinathar, has sung praises of this temple in Thirupugazh.

Rituals at the Temple

As the idol of the presiding deity was self-manifested, no ablutions are performed to it. The rituals are performed on a yantra. There are Poojas daily, with weekly, monthly, and also fortnightly rituals.

Festivals at the Temple

Many festivals take place at the temple. They include Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Skanda Shasti, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Brahmotsavam, Navaratri, etc.

Temple Timings

Morning: 06.30 AM - 12.30 PM

Evening: 03.30 PM - 08.00 PM

How to Reach Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple?

By Air

The nearest airport is Chennai airport, 40 km away.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Chennai Railway Station, 50 km away. There are two railway terminals in Chennai. They are well connected, with trains plying north, south, east, and west.

By Road

Many cities of Tamil Nadu have regular bus services to Thiruporur. Many MTC buses connect Chennai and Thiruporur.