Thiruvidaikkazhi kshetra

Thiruvidaikkazhi is known as the Tiruchendur of Chola Nadu, said T. Rajarathiunam in a discourse. It is six kilometres from Thirukkadavur. Arunagirinatha has sung six verses in his Thiruppugazh in praise of the Murugan of Thiruvidaikkazhi. It is the place where Sendanar attained mukti. Soorapadman’s son Hiranyasuran told his father about the greatness of Murugan and advised him to release the devas. But Soorapadman paid no heed to his son’s words. When Murugan fought against Soorapadman, Hiranyan did not desert his father, but joined his forces. But he was unable to face Veerabahu, the chief among Murugan’s warriors. So Hiranyan assumed the form of a fish and hid in the ocean in Tharangambadi. After killing Soorapadman, Murugan killed Hiranyan at Thiruvidaikkazhi.

Sendanar composed Thiruvisaippa in praise of the Thiruvidaikkazhi Murugan. The sacred tree of this temple is the Kura (webera corymbosa). Under this tree is a bali peetha. Aradhana is offered to this tree first during ardhajama puja, because Murugan did penance under this tree. This tree usually grows on hill slopes, which makes the tree in Thiruvidaikkazhi very special, since this kshetra is not on a hill. Murugan appears with two hands in this temple. The Siva here is called Papavinasa. In inscriptions, Murugan of this temple is called Thirukkurathudaiyar. The magizham tree in this temple is the sacred tree for Lord Siva here. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai wrote Thiruvidaikkazhi Murugan Pillai Tamizh in praise of the deity of this kshetra. Vannacharabham Dandapani Swami and Sri Chidambara Munivar also sang poems in the Pillai Tamizh genre in praise of the Thiruvidaikkazhi Murugan. Thiruvidaikkazhi has a special place in the hearts of devotees, because both Siva and Murugan are enshrined here.