It is said that Lord Muruga camped here along with his army to defeat the demon, Surapadma. It is for this reason that this place has become one of the “Padai Veedu”, meaning, the battle camp. After killing the demon, Lord Subramanya desired to worship Lord Shiva. Hence Maya, the divine architect constructed this shrine at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Subramanya is seen in the posture of worshiping Lord Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum. Arunagirinathar, a great Tamil poet saint compared Tiruchendur with Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas. Sandal paste and sacred ash in paneer leaf is offered to the devotees here. This sacred ash is said to cure diseases. It is said that Adi Sankara took this viboothi and got his disease cured and sang the famous Subramanya Bhujanga Stotram here.

Go on a virtual tour of the Tiruchendur Temple: