Temple Darshan, Pooja and Sevas Information Infoirmation Website Maruthamalai Temple History and Architecture details
Dress Code: Darshan is allowed to wear any decent outfit.
Darshan’s duration is 15 to 20 minutes on weekdays.
About 837 steps lead up to the Marudhamalai temple, which lies hidden in a beautiful hill station.
There is a shrine honoring Varadaraja Perumal along the route. In addition, on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, the auspicious occasion of Aadi Peruku, special devotion is held in the Sapta-kanniyar Sanctuary, which is on the path to the Pambatti Siddhar Sanctuary.
Maruthamalai Temple History
The temple has a long history and is linked to the well-known Pambatti Siddhar, also called the “Snake Doctor,” because of his skill at capturing snakes and using their venom for medicinal purposes. One day, Pambatti Siddhar met the sage Sattai Munivar in Marudhamalai while looking for a rare breed of snake called Naga Rathnam. It was during this meeting that he received spiritual wisdom.
Pambatti Siddhar resorted to worshipping Lord Murugan in Maruthamalai after realizing the meaninglessness of harming living things and making a promise never to damage any life on Earth again. Lord Murugan appeared before him with his wives Valli and Deivana, pleased with his penance, and bestowed upon him wisdom. Since then, followers have regarded Pambatti Siddhar as “Maruthamalai Mamani.”
At Marudhamalai, Pambatti Siddhar sculpted a unique idol of Lord Murugan after receiving his blessings. This idol depicts Lord Murugan with two arms, similar to the Palani Murugan, with his left arm resting on his waist and his right hand holding an anklet. The idol also has anklets on her feet and a distinctive ponytail (Kudumi) at the back of her head.
Lord Murugan wears various decorations daily, such as sandalwood adornments, Vibudhi Kappu, and royal ornaments.
He puts on magnificent golden armor for essential events like Thaipoosam and Karthigai.
But at Arthajama Puja, he manifests as Dandayuthapani, an unadorned figure with no crown or decorations, displaying his divine self-image.