Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple

Lord Murugan’s holy played in His every house temple. As such He played in this house also of fruit felling holy play. The Silapathikaram says that this place was situated on the way to Madurai in ancient times. The grand lady poet Avvai was going towards Madurai in that way. She had perennial affection for Lord Murugan she was tri Tamil scholar, praised by three kings Cheran, Chozhan and Pandiyan. For the cause of the welfare of Tamil and affection, Lord Murugan pitied Avvai. He thought to show grace to the grand lady. Much fairness is referred to by Lord Murugan through this holy play to the world. The Tamil grandmother Avvai was going towards Madurai with weariness on a very hot day. Lord Murugan disguised as a cowboy, climbed in the branch of a jamun (Naval) fruit tree on the coming way of Avvai and waited for her.

Avvai sat under that tree for rest. Then the cowboy sat on that tree branch and asked her about the need of that Naval fruit to pacify the apathy. She replied to him, &amplsquoyes&amprsquo. Then Lord Murugan as a cowboy asked her two questions, Whether need hot fruit or hot less fruit? His questions gave astonished to her. However, she replied to him, Give hot less fruit The cowboy well shakes the branch. The ripe fruits fell. The fell-down fruits were touched by sand.

Thus Avvai took the fruits one by one and released air through her mouth to remove the sand. Then the cowboy laughed and told to Avvai, Grandma is the fruit very heat? eat after getting the normal condition. Avvai wondered the wisdom of the boy and wept and sang a Tamil poem at the place as follows:- Lord Murugan disclosed a philosophy to the world through this holy play. That is, all human beings were passed by global aspiration like sand academic knowledge is not enough to remove the sand. Consciousness is a must to realize God. The sand alias desire can be removed only by the consciousness. Lord Murugan removed the apathy of Avvai and showed grace to her as a cowboy through this holy play.

The series of jamun trees is on the right side of the temple and it appears as a temple tree. Lord Vinayaka appears under the tree. All jamun trees give fruit in the seasons of Aadi, and Avani months. But the above Jamun tree only yields fruit in Aipasi Tamil month during the Kantha Sasti festival. We can see this miracle even now. Though Lord Murugan gave jamun fruit, in fact, the fruit is wisdom fruit (Gnanappazham). Murugan Himself is wisdom fruit. As the wisdom fruit Lord Murugan shakes the jamun fruit; this place bears the name ‘Pazhamuthir Solai’

Mythological History

The great Tamil Poet and saint Avvaiyar was tested by Lord Muruga here. In an episode of Divine Play with Avvaiyar, one of the most famous devotees of Lord Muruga, the Lord enacted the following drama. Important in Lord Muruga`s history happened in these places. Among the Arupadaiveedu, Pazhamudircholai is the last. Lord Muruga at Palamuthircholai is praised in several works of old Tamil literature such as a Silappathikaram, the Ettuthokai and the Pathupattu.

It is the place where the song was sung by the illam Peruvaluthiyar, Nakkirar, Arunagirinathar and Srimath Kumaragurupara Swamy.

Lord Murugan appears with His wives Valli and Deivanai in this temple alone among six house temples and a separate shrine for  VEL’ situated in this temple only. If every Tuesday do ‘Balabishekam’ to the ‘Vel’ during ‘Kala Santhi pooja’ the desired things would be fulfilled. This temple is also the ‘Redeem temple’.

Temple Amenities

Marriage hall

• Marriage ceremonies permitted inside temple grounds during regular hours.

•  Booking timeframe: Apply 1 to 2 months in advance at the temple office.

Tonsure Facility

• Available at foothill area: Tonsure booths are set up at the base of the hill.

Vehicle Parking

• Parking available for cars, buses, and bikes at the foothill/base area of the temple.

• The temple features spacious lots, including space for larger vehicles like buses.

• Local bus service runs between Madurai and the temple, offering an alternative to driving.

• Parking near the base saves the 3 km hike; devotees can then walk, take a shared van, or trek up the hill.

Information Center

• There is no formal information center.

• However, help desks and volunteer guides are stationed near the foothill entrance, offering:

  • Temple timings (typically 6 AM–6 PM) and daily puja schedules.

  • Directions to important sites like the naval tree (where Avvaiyar met Muruga), Noopura Ganga spring, shrines, and darshan routes.

  • Guidance on festival dates (Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Aadi Krithigai, Skanda Sashti)