Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai

Overview

The Solaimalai Murugan Temple at Pazhamudircholai is a hill temple on the outskirts of Madurai, near the Vishnu temple of Alagar Koil. It is the sixth of the Arupadai Veedu and, according to Dinamalar, the only one where Murugan graces devotees with both consorts, Valli and Deivanai. The Kallazhagar temple lies at the foot of the hills and the Murugan temple is at the top.^[1][3][4]

The garbhagriha has three parts: Murugan with Valli and Deivanai in the centre, Vinayakar on the left, and the Aadi Vel, the primordial spear, on the right.^[2]

The legend of Avvaiyar

The poet Avvaiyar, travelling to Madurai in the heat, rested here. Murugan, disguised as a shepherd boy, sat on a naval (jamun) tree and shook it to drop fruit for her, and asked whether she wanted roasted or plain fruit. When the fruit fell in the dust and Avvaiyar blew on it, he noted that it was hot. She then understood that the boy was Murugan.^[2][3][1]

Dinamalar says the story teaches that the dust of materialism covers the human mind and must be removed through wisdom and true knowledge. The name Pazhamuthir Cholai refers to the fruit trees on the hill.^[3][2]

Dinamalar also says that the naval tree usually fruits in July-September, but here it fruits in Aipasi (October-November), when Skanda Sashti falls.^[3]

History

Wikipedia says that only the vel was originally worshipped, and that shrines for Ganesha and for Murugan with Deivanai and Valli were added later, without dates. The TN Temples Project says the original Murugan temple was at Azhagar Koil and was moved to the hills during the reign of Tirumalai Nayakar, a claim that is flagged.being verified^[1][2][3]

The Sangam text Tirumurukarruppadai by Nakkeerar mentions the temple, and Wikipedia says the later epic Cilappatikaram also refers to it. Arunagirinathar's Tiruppukal contains hymns about this temple.^[1][2]

Noopura Gangai and Rakkayi Amman

The temple's sacred water is the Noopura Gangai, a spring that flows beneath the feet of Rakkayi Amman, a few hundred metres further up the hill from the Murugan temple. Devotees bathe in it and worship Rakkayi Amman, the guardian deity, whose temple is linked to the Kallazhagar temple.^[2][3]

Worship and prayers

• Devotees pray for marriage, children and educational success, and offer milk abhishekam and clothes when their wishes are fulfilled.^[3]
• The wedding festival is celebrated along with Skanda Sashti.^[3]
• The TN Temples Project mentions kala pujas, a special darshan queue costing about Rs 50 or Rs 100, and says that visiting near a kala puja gives a seat just outside the garbhagriha. Please check current charges at the temple.^[2]

Nearby temples

• Kallazhagar (Sundararaja Perumal), a Divya Desam Vishnu temple, at the foot of the hills.^[2][3]
• Thiruparankundram, the first Arupadai Veedu, lies on the outskirts of Madurai.^[4]

How to reach

• Azhagar Koil is 23 km from Madurai Central Bus Stand, and the Solaimalai Murugan temple is 3 km from there. The temple administration operates a bus service to and from the temple. The nearest railway station and airport are both in Madurai.^[3]
• The TN Temples Project lists Madurai 29 km, Sivaganga 37 km, Dindigul 48 km and Karaikudi 76 km, and says the drive from Madurai takes 30 to 60 minutes.^[2]

Festivals

Photos

Timings

Sources

1. Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai — WikipediaEncyclopedia (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
2. Murugan, Alagar Koil, Madurai — TN Temples ProjectTemple database (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
3. Sri Solaimalai Murugan Temple — Dinamalar TemplesTemple guide (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
4. Arupadai Veedu temples — TN Temples ProjectTemple database (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31

Page last checked: 2026-10-31