Facts:7
Stories: of Peacock
History: Dutch Destruction of Tiruchendur Temple
Facts:
1.The legend is that the Temple exists, since the Victory of Lord Murugan over Surapadman.
2.After Surasamharam, Lord Murugan desired to worship his father, Lord Shiva. Hence Mayan, (Non Tamils, read him as Viswakarma) the divine architect constructed this shrine at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Senthil Andavar is seen in the posture of worshiping Lord Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum.
3. It is believed that the demigods (read devotees/ sanyasis) of Muruga wanted to worship him in a place where there was a mountainous tract, sea and river and hence Tiruchendur was chosen.
4. No record exists on the data of actual construction of the temple, which may be over 2500 years, but there are records of improvements to the temple by Pandiyan and Chera Kingdoms.
5.The temple find a place in Tevaram, sung by Appar. Earlier temple inscription starts from 875AD.
6. The temple in current form was reconstructed in 17th century (after 1649) during Tirumalai Naicker rule by his devotees/ Sanyasis with the funding from the public.
7. The consecration of the idols were done in the presence of Tirumalai Naicker in 1653.
Story:
How did the peacock become the vehicle for Murugan?
Space: The place is Tiruchendur, in Tamil Nadu.
Time:This is one of the six abodes of Murugan. Every year millions of devotees, celebrate Shasti, Skanda Shasti here. Skanda Shasti falls sixth day after Deepavali.
Event: Sura Samhar
Surapadma, Simhamukha and Tarakasura are sons of Kashyap Muni. They made havoc in all the worlds. Surapadma got a boon that only Shiva’a power should kill him. Murugan born to achieve this mission.
Sakthi, his mother gifted him “Spear” called “Vel” in Tamil to be used as unique weapon.
Murugan vanquishes the demons Tarakasura and Simhamukha. But Surapadma hide in the form of tree. When Murugan severed the tree into two parts, one become “cock” and another become “peacock”. The cock is Murugan’s flag and “Peacock - none other than Surapadma S/O Kashyap Muni” become Murugan’s vehicle. before becoming national bird of India.
History: Dutch Destruction of Tiruchendur Temple
Vijayanagara Kingdom ended in 1646 with their defeat at Vellore. Alongwith them the support to Tenkasi Pandiya Kingdom weakened and so the protection to Tiruchendur Temple.
Madurai Naicker kingdom during Tirumalai Naicker (1623- 1659), was under constant threat from the armies of Bijapur Sultanate and the other neighbouring Muslim kingdoms from North.
Dutch and Portugese were based at Kayalpattinam, Tuticorin for the trading spices to Europe.
Fortification of temples and looting of temples were a common thing with European traders and invaders when there is an adverse situation.
Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar temple invasion by Dutch in 17th century is an example.
When Tirumalai Naicker engaged in war with Bijapur Sultans, Dutch occupied and fortified the temple and looted the treasures.
On hearing Thirumalai Naicker returned from the war victorious, Dutch set fire the temple and had taken away the idol to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and demanded 100000 reals money. The structure, though damaged but withstood the fire.
The temple recovered from Dutch. Tirumalai Naicker warned them to return the idol. He also requested the Kandy Buddhist Kings to attack Dutch if they do not return the idols stolen from the temple. Finally Dutch returned the idol through a Kayalpattinam Marakkayar.
For strategic reasons, Tirumalai Naicker shifted his capital from Trichy to Madurai in 1634 and initiated Meenakshi Thirukkalyanam and Kallalagar Festival to maintain the harmony between Shaivites and Sri Vaishnavites.
The present Tiruchendur temple was reconstructed alongwith Rajagopuram in 1650.
Meanwhile the new idol made by locals is consecrated in Kurukkuththurai and a new temple is built there.
The consecration of the idols were done in Tiruchendur in the presence of Tirumalai Naicker in 1653.
Panchalankurichi Polygars were given the responsibility to vigil. The polygars took the food daily, only after hearing the Nei vedhiyam ritual from the temple.
Many may be aware that Tirumalai Naicker himself took food only after the feeding ritual done at Andal Thayar at Srivilliputtur.
A devotional legend version of the history is picturised in Tiruchendur Temple praharam.
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