Coimbatore Marudamalai Murugan Temple Chithirai Pirappu Utsavam… Marudamalai Murugan Temple, also known as Marudasalamurthy Temple, and as Marudagiriswamy Temple is situated on the top of Marudamalai, which is situated a few km faraway from Coimbatore. At the bottom of Marudamalai, we can find a small Ganesha temple which is popularly worshipped as Sri Thanthondri Ganesha(The self-emanated Ganesha).
The Chithirai Pirappu festival (Tamil New Year) in the first Tamil month Chithirai (Usually falls on April 14th). Some Devotees used to observe fasting, worship God Murugan and breakfast the next morning. This festival helps dispelling darkness to the souls. So Murugan worship and festival start on this day in the first day of the Tamil month as Tamil New Year.
Similar celebrations as stated above take place in many Murugan temples. Devotees used to visit Marudhamalai Temple from early morning by wearing new clothes, and they would buy Archanai Sets containing fruits, Coconuts and other puja items. The festival would be celebrated as a token of showing our gratitude to Tamil God Marudhamalai Murugan, and on that day, he can be seen in a decorative look, wearing rich costumes, with a smiling face, and his Abaya Mudra renders kind blessings to everyone, even for those who are not supposed to be his devotees!
This temple is considered to be the seventh earthly abode of Lord Muruga. Marudamalai was maintained by Tribal kings in ancient times. As per the Tirumurukanpoondi temple inscriptions, the Marudamalai temple was believed to have been constructed during 12th Century AD.
There is an ancient cave temple of Pambatti Siddhar which is found nearby this temple, who is one among the popular eighteen Siddhars, who was believed to have been performed penance on Marudamalai Murugan in this cave for some time. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Muruga aroused in this cave temple and had shown his wonderful divine darshan to him along with his consorts, Ma Valliammai, and Ma Devasenambigai. His Ayurveda writings are considered to be marvellous, and his writings are mostly based on curing poisonous diseases, curing the ailments caused due to snake bites, relief from mental tensions and worries.
“OM SRI MARUDAMALAI ANDAVANUKKU AROGARA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR