Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
Murugan Temple in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India
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Through Sangam literature
Mythology
As per Kanda Puranam, sage Narada once visited Shiva at Kailasha and presented him with a gnana-palam (fruit of knowledge). As Murugan felt cheated after the fruit was given to Ganesha, he left Kailasha to took up abode in the Palani Hills as a hermit.
After the incident, Tamil poet Avvaiyar came to pacify Murugan. Avvaiyar could not recognise Murugan, who was in disguise. Wanting to test Avvaiyar, Murugan, who was sitting atop a naaval tree, shook the tree to offer some fruits to the poet. Pazhamurdircholai is a combination of the Tamil language words, Pazham meaning fruit, udir meaning disperse, and cholai meaning orchard. As the fruits were dispersed at the location, it became the name of the temple.
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Religious significance
Earlier, only vel, the divine weapon of Murugan was worshiped in the temple. Later shrines dedicated to the deities Ganesha, and Murugan along with his consorts–Deivanai and Valli, were established.
The temple is mentioned in the Sangam literature Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai by Nakkeerar, and post Sangam literature such as Cilappatikaram by Ilango Adigal. Arunagirinathar composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being Tiruppukal, and included hymns about the temple.