Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple
அருள்மிகு சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி திருக்கோயில்
Lord Subrahmanya · Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
The vital central node of the sacred "Somaskanda" sacred geography of Kanchipuram (situated precisely in the center between Lord Shiva/Ekambareswarar on the north and Goddess Parvati/Kamakshi on the south, like child Skanda sitting between Shiva and Uma); the hallowed literary birthplace where priest-poet Kachiyappa Sivachariyar composed the immortal Tamil epic "Kanda Puranam". Traditional belief: Attainment of supreme wisdom (Brahma Vidya), poetic excellence, removal of childlessness (Santhana Bhagyam), and victory over adversaries.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 11
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord SubrahmanyaGoddess ValliGanesha Family
- Deity form
- Majestic standing stone idol of Lord Murugan holding staff in Brahma Sastha posture (teaching the Pranava Mantra)
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Agamic Kaumara Tradition & Kanda Puranam Tamil Epic Heritage
- Sanskrit name
- श्री सुब्रह्मण्य स्वामी मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Kanchi Kumarakottam, Somaskanda Center Temple Kanchipuram, Kanda Puranam Arangetram Temple
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:30 PM
- Break timings
- 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM (Monday to Thursday)
- Special days
- Skanda Sashti, Vaikasi Visakam, Thaipusam: 04:30 AM - 11:00 PM
- Festival timings
- Open continuously till 11:00 PM during Skanda Sashti and festival days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 07:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti, Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Chatukkala Puja, Ksheerabhishekam, Kanda Puranam recitation, Kachiyappa Sivachariyar homage, Sandhya Deeparadhana
- Pooja timings
- 06:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:15 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 07:00 AM - 08:30 AM (Special Abhishekam on Tuesdays and Kiruthigai)
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Cholas; rebuilt in stone under Vijayanagara Kings and local Shaivite guilds
- Architect / builder
- Traditional Tamil stone sthapathis
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite, brick-lime vimana, brass flagstaff
- Historical events
- Kachiyappa Sivachariyar composed the 10,000-verse Tamil epic "Kanda Puranam" here; Lord Murugan gave him the opening words "Thigadachakkara" in a dream and personally intervened during the debate to prove its grammatical sanctity
- Renovations
- Renovated under Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with new entrance gopuram painting, marble flooring, and modernized queue corridors
- Archaeological importance
- Crucial literary monument preserving the original mandapa where the Kanda Puranam was premiered
- Legends
- Kanchipuram is geometrically designed as a living Somaskanda sculpture: Ekambareswarar is Shiva, Kamakshi is Uma, and Kumarakottam is the child Skanda resting between them
- Inscriptions
- Stone inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 12th to 16th century recording grants of land, gold coins, and perpetual lamps by Chola and Vijayanagara rulers
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 1050 - 1400 CE
- Structure
- Walled urban temple complex with entrance gopuram, pillared navaranga, inner sanctum, Kachiyappa Sivachariyar shrine, and temple tank
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Three-tiered entrance Rajagopuram decorated with stucco figures of Skanda Purana legends and peacock mounts
- Mandapa
- Pillared Navaranga hall supported by carved granite pillars depicting Murugan’s battles, peacock vahanas, and saintly devotees
- Sculptural features
- Ancient stone idol of Lord Murugan as Brahma Sastha; stone Kachiyappa Sivachariyar holding palm-leaf manuscript; shrines of Valli and Devasena; carved stone peacock (Mayil)
- Artistic elements
- Intricate ceiling medallions, embossed silver altar frames, and brass oil lamps
- Construction technique
- Interlocking monolithic granite block masonry of durable Dravidian execution
- Unique features
- Its sacred position as the child Skanda in the city’s Somaskanda layout, and the hallowed hall where the Tamil epic Kanda Puranam was composed
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Aippasi Sashti (Soorasamharam), Vaikasi Visakam
- Special celebration days
- Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti
- Cultural events
- Thevaram singing, Carnatic concerts, and dramatic re-enactment of Soorasamharam during Skanda Sashti
- Annual events
- Kumarakottam Subramanya Swamy annual car festival and Soorasamharam drawing over 100,000 devotees
- Peak crowd season
- October to February, every monthly Kiruthigai, and during Skanda Sashti
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
- 20-30 vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.