Tiruchendur is situated in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu state and is the most important tourist attraction of the district. It is 56 kms from Tirunelveli and can be reached by train and by buses. This place is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga called Arupadai Veedu. This is the only one standing on level ground among the others. Lord Muruga offered his thanksgiving prayers to his father Lord Siva here for obtaining victory over the demon Surapadman by killing him.
The temple is situated on the edge of the sea and the main deity has been cut on a rock lying on the shores. The idol of the Urchavar or festival-deity is kept in a separate shrine facing the opposite direction. A local chief called Vadamalai recovered this idol from the sea and installed it there. The silver vessels of this shrine were presented by the erstwhile collector of this district, Lushington.
It is said that the famous saint and poet Kumarakuruparar of the 17th century A.D got back his power of speech in this temple and sung hymns on the deity.
