Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is located about 25 km from Madurai. The temple is one of the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga, popularly known as Arupadaiveedu. The temple is located in a dense forest on the top of solaimalai hill, about 4 Kms from Azhagar temple.

Devotees visit the temple for marriage boon, child boon and educational excellence. When their wishes come true, they perform milk abhishekam and offer Vastra to the Lord. Among the six abodes of the lord, this is the only temple where the idol of the presiding deity graces the devotees, with his consorts on either side.

As per legend, Pazhamudircholai is the holy place where Lord Murugan enacted a divine play with the Tamil poetess and scholar Avvaiyar who was an ardent devotee of the Lord. Once Avvaiyar came to rest under the shade of a tree. Realizing that she was tired, Lord Muruga, in disguise as a small boy, was sitting on the tree. He asked her if she would like to have some fruits to eat. When Avvaiyar agreed, the boy inquired if she wants roasted or unroasted fruit. Avvaiyar smiled at the child’s innocence about the non existence of roasted and unroasted fruits. However she chose to have unroasted fruit to please the little boy. The Lord shook the tree branches, for the fruits to fall. Avvaiyar picked up a fruit and blew off the sand on the fruit. The boy playfully asked her if she was blowing to cool down the roasted fruit since it was hot. Avvaiyar was surprised to see the instantaneous wit of the boy and beseeched him to let her know who he was. It was then that the boy revealed his true identity as Lord Muruga.

The name ‘Pazhamudicholai’ (Pazham-fruit, udir-fall, cholai-grove) is believed to have gained its name from the above incident.

The temple’s sthala vriksha is rose apple tree. Unlike the rose apple trees that usually yields fruits in the month of july to september, the tree in Pazhamudircholai yields fruits that ripen only in the month of Aippasi(October/November).

Special Festival Days:

Temple Timings:

06:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Temple Address:

Sri Solaimalai Murugan temple, Alagar Hills R.F, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu 624401

Temple Contact Details:

Phone: 0452-247 0228

How to reach:

By Air:

The nearest airport to the temple is that of Madurai at a distance of 40 km.

By Rail:

The nearest major railway station is that of Madurai at a distance of 25 km.

By Road:

There are frequent buses available from the foot hill to the temple atop the hill. Adequate buses are available from Madurai bus station.