CHINNALAPATTI

Chinnalapatti is a panchayat town, 11 km south-west of Dindigul, on the National Highway 7 (NH7) which connects Madurai with Dindigul. Ambathurai is the nearest railway station. All the passenger trains and some express trains stop at this station. Madurai Airport is the nearest airport for this town. This place is well known for its handloom products and the sarees produced here are renowned all over the country. Chinnalapatti is also famous for iron locks and tobacco.

Lord Shadhurmuga Murugan temple

This temple located on the main bazaar.

Legend 1 - Since Bramha could not give the meaning for Pranava and did not realize the truth that Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan are the same, Lord Murugan kept him in jail (Paadala Sirai) and himself carried on the work of creation. To commemorate this occasion, Goddess Easwari created the form of Lord Murugan with 4 faces and having 12 hands having the name "Sadurmugar".

Legend 2 - Vishwamitra Maharishi went into to deep meditation towards Lord Shiva with the aim of attaining the title of Brahma Rishi. Pleased Lord Shiva appeared before him and informed that only Goddess Bala Tripurasundari will be able to guide him in fulfilling his wish. So Viswamithra Maharisdhi started meditating on Bala Tripurasundari. After a long time he heard the sound of anklets like someone coming near him. When he opened his eyes, the Goddess was standing before him. The Goddess told him that his wish will be granted but before that he should fulfill her one wish. She asked him to apply Kumkum Pottu (Bindi) on her forehead. Vishwamitra did as told. After the kumkum was applied, the Goddess bent low to see her own reflection in the waters of a nearby pond, when a little of the kumkum fell into the water. A divine figure emerged from the pond. Later a second figure emerged and merged with the first one. Likewise two more figures emerged and merged with the first. The Goddess told Vishwamitra that the divine figure with 4 faces and 12 hands is Lord Murugan and told him that he may ask for his the Lord. When Vishwamitra looked at Lord Murugan, he felt his ego vanishing. Lord Murugan pointed out to Vishwamitra a spot far away near the horizon where it was raining small stones from the sky and asked him to go that place. It was revealed to Vishwamitra that all his doubts would be cleared at that place. As Vishwamitra started moving towards that distant place, he saw that it was also moving away from him. After wandering for a long time, he came to Chinnalapatti where he saw a small boy and asked him for directions. The small boy told him that this was the place Vishwamitra was looking for and took him to the Murugan temple. At the temple, Vishwamitra had darshan of the Goddess Bala Tripurasundari and Lord Murugan together and prayed to them. Then he heard somebody calling him as Brahmarishi Vishwamitra. Turning around he saw Vasishta rishi who embraced him and told him that he had attained the Brahmarishi title with the blessings of the goddess and Lord Murugan.

Temple – The temple stands in an elevated platform. The main entrance faces east with a mandapam in front. Inside the temple, the maha mandapam is seen. After this comes the Ardha Mandapam and thereafter the sanctum. On both sides of the entrance to the Aradha Mandapam stand the majestic Dwara palar. The prakaram goes around the Ardha Mandapam and the sanctum.
Moolavar here is Siva Subramania Swamy (with 4 faces and 12 hands) with his consorts Valli and Deivayanai facing towards South and the two sides of the Karuvarai are protected by Veerabaghu and Veeramahendrar. He is seen mounted on his vahanam peacock.
Also there are sannidis for Kamakshi amman Sameda Sri Ekambareswara peruman and Dakshina Moorthy.
Since this is a parikara stalam for Sevvai, there is a sannidi for Dhandapani also in the prakaram.
On the walls of the prakara and also separately, shrines of Shri Vinayagar, Kukudatwajar (Mayil Vahanar), Chandikeswarar, Sakthidarar, Balasubramaniar and Durgai are there.

Prayers and Festivals - In Tuesdays Sempaal Abisekam (Milk mixed with Kumkumam) is conducted for Sadurmuga Murugan. It is believed that those who have Sevvai Dosam get relieved from the marriage problems (Thirumana Thadaigal).
Kiruthigai during the month of Karthigai and Panguni Uthiram arelebrated grantly here.
It is believed that conducting marriage here is more special.

Timings - Morning - 7:30 to 11:00; Evening - 5:00 to 9:00