Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple
அருள்மிகு சுப்பிரமணியசுவாமி திருக்கோயில்
Lord Subrahmanya · Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
Revered as the unofficial "Seventh Padaiveedu" (Seventh Abode) of Lord Murugan; situated on a scenic 600-foot lush green hillock of the Western Ghats covered in medicinal Marudha trees; home to the sacred cave of Pambatti Siddhar who attained Jeeva Samadhi here. Traditional belief: Miraculous healing of physical and mental illnesses through medicinal hill breezes and Marudha Theertham; freedom from planetary and snake doshas.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 12
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord SubrahmanyaGoddess ValliGoddess Devasena
- Deity form
- Radiant stone idol of Lord Murugan holding the Vel (spear) in Dandayudhapani posture, flanked by Valli and Devasena
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Agamic Kaumara Tradition & Siddha Medicine Heritage of Kongu Nadu
- Sanskrit name
- श्री सुब्रह्मण्यस्वामी मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Marudamalai Murugan Temple, Seventh Padaiveedu of Murugan, Marudhachalam Temple, Pambatti Siddhar Temple
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 01:00 PM, 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM
- Break timings
- 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Monday to Thursday)
- Special days
- Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram, Skanda Sashti: 04:00 AM - 11:00 PM
- Festival timings
- Open continuously till 11:00 PM during Thaipusam and major festival days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 06:30 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:30 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti, Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Arukala Puja, Ksheerabhishekam, Sandal paste Alankara, Pambatti Siddhar Cave Puja, Golden Chariot (Thanga Ratha) procession
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 06:30 AM - 08:30 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- Yes
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Kongu Chola Kings; expanded by Vijayanagara rulers and local Gounder chieftains
- Architect / builder
- Traditional Kongu stone and timber sthapathis
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed granite stone masonry, brick-lime vimana towers, brass flagstaff, hill road
- Historical events
- Pambatti Siddhar, one of the celebrated 18 Siddhars, performed intense penance in a cave here, had direct darshan of Lord Murugan as a child, and prepared divine alchemy
- Renovations
- Modernized under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with ghat road for mini-buses, lift facilities, and covered queue mandapams
- Archaeological importance
- Epigraphical records mentioning grants by Kongu Chola King Vikrama Chola (12th century)
- Legends
- The hill gets its name from the abundant medicinal Marudha trees (Terminalia arjuna); Lord Murugan created the Marudha Theertham spring to quench the thirst of a tired devotee
- Inscriptions
- Tamil stone inscriptions on the temple outer walls recording endowments of land and cows by Kongu Chola and Hoysala kings
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- 12th Century CE with 18th - 20th Century CE expansions
- Structure
- Hilltop stone temple complex reached by 600 stone steps or a winding ghat road, featuring Rajagopuram, Pambatti Siddhar cave, and viewpoint terraces
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Stepped Dravidian stone and stucco Rajagopuram adorned with colorful sculptures of Murugan’s Arupadaiveedu legends
- Mandapa
- Pillared Mukhamandapa and open circumambulatory corridors supported by polished granite columns
- Sculptural features
- Radiant stone idol of Lord Murugan holding Vel; beautiful standing bronze Utsava deities; Pambatti Siddhar cave with stone snake relief; carved Nandi and Ganesha
- Artistic elements
- Intricate ceiling medallions, embossed silver sanctum frames, gold-plated kalashas, and golden chariot
- Construction technique
- Interlocking monolithic granite masonry constructed atop an exposed Western Ghats hill spur
- Unique features
- The subterranean Pambatti Siddhar Cave where the mystic saint meditated, and the natural perennial spring Marudha Theertham flowing through Ayurvedic herbal roots
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Thai month Poosam Nakshatram (Thaipusam), Panguni Uthiram
- Special celebration days
- Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti, Sundays
- Cultural events
- Classical Carnatic vocal concerts, Nadaswaram recitals, and Kavadi dance processions during Thaipusam
- Annual events
- Marudamalai Thaipusam Maha Rathotsavam and Float Festival (Teppotsavam)
- Peak crowd season
- October to February, every monthly Kiruthigai, and during summer school holidays
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 100+ Vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.