Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple, Poombarai

The Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple is at Poombarai, a village in Dindigul district close to Kodaikanal. Its deity is Murugan in the form of a child, a name tied to the legend that he took that form to rescue the 15th-century poet Arunagirinathar from a demon, who sang of it in Poombarai Velan. The image is believed to have been made by the siddha Bogar from navapashanam, a mix of nine poisons. Tradition holds that the idol was swallowed by forest until a Chera king, Perumal, was told in a dream to recover it, and inscriptions credit a Chera ruler with the building.

The east-facing temple has no tower, and its sanctum is of early Chera design. Murugan stands inside, with his peacock placed by the flagstaff, and the walls carry niche figures of Nataraja and Dattatreya, an unusual pair. Devotees shave their heads in fulfilment of vows, and sandal paste left on the deity overnight is given out as rakkala chandanam. The car festival falls on Kettai nakshatra after Thai Poosam.