Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

The Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Tiruchendur, in Thoothukudi district, stands on the Laccadive Sea shore at the town's eastern edge. It is one of the Arupadai Veedu, the six most sacred abodes of Murugan, and one of the Vaippu Sthalams. The Kanda Puranam sets here Murugan's last battle with the asura Surapadman: when the god threw his spear, the demon fled into the sea as a huge mango tree, which Murugan split in two, one half becoming his peacock mount and the other the rooster on his banner. The re-enactment of this victory, Surasamharam, is the main festival and draws thousands.

The Dutch East India Company held the temple from 1646 to 1648 during its war with the Portuguese, until Thirumalai Nayak had them removed. Leaving, they took two festival images of Murugan, dropped them at sea in a storm, and these were recovered in 1653 by Vadamalaiyappa Pillai; paintings inside the temple tell the story.