The battlefield by the sea. Every year the victory is acted out again on the sand.
- Deity
- Murugan as Senthil Andavar
- Where
- Tiruchendur திருச்செந்தூர்
- Known as
- The second of the Arupadai Veedu, and the only one on the sea
- Oldest record
- Ancient
௧ The legend
The battle on the shore
The demon Surapadman ruled the three worlds and tormented the gods. Murugan, born to end him, camped his army here on the shore.
They fought for six days. At the end Surapadman became a great mango tree in the sea, and Murugan split it with his spear. One half became the peacock he rides, the other the rooster on his banner.
Every year, on Skanda Sashti, the battle is enacted on the beach in front of the temple before a crowd of lakhs.
As the story is told at the temple. Legends vary in the telling.
௨ Across the centuries
Built by many hands, tier upon tier
Ancient
The abodes
Sung in the Thirumurugatrupadai as Thiruchiralaivai.
1648
A stolen image
Dutch sailors carry off the image; a storm turns them back and it is cast into the sea, and later recovered.
௩ What to look for
When you stand inside
Nazhi Kinaru
A small well of sweet water a few steps from the salt sea.
The seashore Rajagopuram
A nine-tiered tower that stands over the beach.
௪ The temple’s year
The festivals that fill it
- சித்திரைChithiraiApr–May
- வைகாசிVaikasiMay–Jun
- ஆனிAaniJun–Jul
- ஆடிAadiJul–Aug
- ஆவணிAavaniAug–Sep
- புரட்டாசிPurattasiSep–Oct
- ஐப்பசிAippasiOct–Nov
- கார்த்திகைKarthigaiNov–Dec
- மார்கழிMargazhiDec–Jan
- தைThaiJan–Feb
- மாசிMaasiFeb–Mar
- பங்குனிPanguniMar–Apr
Aippasi Oct–Nov
Skanda Sashti and Soorasamharam
The battle, enacted on the sand.
Vaikasi May–Jun
Vaikasi Visakam
Murugan’s birth star.
Festival dates follow the temple’s own calendar and change each year. We confirm them before you travel.
௫ Going there
Journeys that bring you here
- Most Tamil Nadu temples close around midday and reopen in the late afternoon. Each day keeps temples for the morning and evening and puts the road in between.
- Dress traditionally and modestly. Footwear is left outside every temple.
- Darshan arrangements differ from temple to temple and can change on festival days. We confirm what is possible at each one before you travel.
To stand here yourself, with the car, the stay, the guide and the darshan arranged, ask us to plan your journey. We call you back and listen first.
Draft Legends and history are retold from widely published sources and await review. Timings, dress code and special-entry arrangements are published once each fact has a source and a review date.