Kundrathur Murugan Temple: History, Timings, Significance & Location

99Pandit Ji

Last Updated:July 21, 2025

The South of India is full of extraordinary religious sites. One of the vital temples is situated on the outskirts of Chennai, the Kundrathur Murugan Temple.

This temple is regarded as one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu where Lord Murugan faces north. The Kundrathur Murugan Temple in Chennai is also known as the South Thanigai.

Because of the north-facing temple, it is believed to bring immense spiritual benefits to devotees.

For devotees, this place is not just a place of worship; it is an eternal fusion of divine energy, mythology, and heritage.

Today, with 99Pandit, let us embark on the journey of finding the amazing facts about the Kundrathur temple in Chennai.

In this guide, we will discover some extraordinary knowledge about the temple that not many people are aware of.

We will tell you in detail about the history, significance, and timings of the Murugan temple in Chennai.

At 99Pandit, we realize the importance of such divine sojourns and rituals. Be it a marriage, childbirth prayer, or simply to offer a special puja, our website provides convenient Pandit booking facilities.

Timings of the Kundrathur Murugan Temple

The timings mentioned above might change on festival days.

Kundrathur Murugan Pooja

Major Festivals and Celebrations in Kundrathur Murugan Temple

There are the following major festivals that are celebrated in the Kundrathur Murugan Temple in Chennai. These are:

1. Vaikasi Vishakam

Vaisaki Vishakam is one of the significant festivals marked in the Kundrathur Murugan Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu war god.

The festival emerges every year during the Vaikasi month of the Tamil calendar, which corresponds to May or June in the English calendar.

The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days, and the devotees perform a series of rituals and ceremonies to appease Lord Murugan.

Hoisting the divine flag, Abhishekam (bathing) of the deity, and chanting devotional hymns are some of the major practices performed.

2. Skanda Shashthi

Skanda Sashthi is one of the major Hindu festivals in which Lord Murugan is worshipped.

The festival falls during the Tamil month of Aipasi, which is either October or November.

The festival is celebrated for six days, during which the devotees fast, pray, and offer flowers to Lord Murugan.

Another important practice during the festival is Vilvarchanai, where the devotees offer holy Bilva leaves to Lord Murugan as a symbol of devotion and seek his blessings.

The temple authorities decorate the temple with beautiful lights and flowers, and the devotees offer fruits and milk to the god.

3. Thirukarthikai

The Thirukarthikai festival occurs on the full moon day of the Karthikai month in Tamil, which comes either in November or December. Devotees visit the temple on this day to pray and indulge in rituals and ceremonies.

The Thirukarthikai festival involves the distribution of a sweet known as ‘Panchathertham‘ made from ripe bananas, honey, and jaggery, among other ingredients.

The devotees offer the sweet as prasad to Lord Murugan, and it is believed to be auspicious and prosperous.

4. Tamil and English New Year

The celebration of the Tamil and English New Year also takes place in the Kundrathur Murugan Temple, Chennai, India.

The occasion is one where people come together of people and celebrate the new year with joy.

The temple authorities illuminate and adorn the temple with flowers, while followers offer prayers and offerings to Lord Murugan, seeking his benediction for the upcoming year.

5. Thai Poosam

The festival of Thai Poosam occurs in the Tamil month of Thai, i.e., the English months of January and February.

The festival lasts for three days. Apart from this, Kavadi Attam is a ritual dance done by devotees as an act of worship.

The dancers carry a kavadi, an adorned arch structure, as a symbol of devotion to Lord Murugan.

Thirukalyanam is another important event at the festival, where the god is dressed in decorated costumes and worshipped in a ritual parade.

6. Thai Pongal

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated to mark the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun’s journey towards the north.

The festival is enjoyed to express gratitude to the Sun God, Lord Surya, for providing heat and life to crops and the earth.

The festival extends over four days, each of which holds special importance. The first day is Bhogi Pongal, in celebration of Lord Indra. The second day is Surya Pongal, in commemoration of Lord Sun.

The third day is Mattu Pongal, reserved for cows and bulls, who play a very essential role in agriculture.

The fourth day is Kaanum Pongal, where families reunite, pay visits to relatives and friends, and participate in cultural activities such as music and dance performances.

Finally, Thai Pongal is an important festival celebrating the Sun God’s blessing and the abundance of the harvest. It’s a time of spiritual rejuvenation and cultural enrichment.

7. Thai Karithigai and Panguni Uthiram in March-April

Thai Krithigai is celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month Thai, and marks the beginning of the temple festival season.

Panguni Uthiram, on the other hand, is celebrated on the night of the full moon corresponding to the Tamil month of Panguni.

It is the most significant of the festivals in honor of Lord Murugan. Devotees propitiate the god with elaborate ceremonies and rituals, and they take out a grand procession.

Significance of Kundrathur Murugan Temple in Chennai

Devotees come to the temple for multiple reasons. Those experiencing marriage delays pray to Lord Murugan to remove the obstacles to marriage.

For this reason, the couple conducts Abhishekam and even a wedding ceremony for the Lord. Some offer vastras or clothes.

There is a massive fig tree in the temple. Individuals who are childless visit the temple and tie a cradle on this holy tree.

When their desires are fulfilled and a baby is born, devotees revisit the temple and offer fruit or sugar equal to the baby’s weight. At times, a devotee’s child may have a disease.

In these circumstances, too, parents come to the temple and pray to the Lord for their child’s well-being. The temple offers Vibhuti, or holy ash, as prasad to the devotees.

The following are the reasons why the Kundrathur temple is so significant:

1. Devotion of Lord Murugan

The temple is of Lord Murugan, a widely worshipped Hindu god and son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The temple is the central place of devotion for Lord Murugan’s devotees and is one of the most significant Murugan temples in the area.

2. Rich Cultural Heritage

The temple boasts a rich cultural heritage and serves as a symbol of the region’s rich cultural traditions.

It reflects the long history of Hinduism in South India and the love of generations of Hindus for their religion.

3. Spiritual Value

The temple is a symbol of spiritual inspiration and sanctuary for worshippers who seek blessings, tranquility, and spiritual enrichment.

People come to the temple to pray, practice acts of devotion, and ask for directions from Lord Murugan.

Location and Travel Tips to Kundrathur Murugan Temple

The authorities built the Kundrathur Murugan Temple on the outskirts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. To be exact, the temple is located in Kundrathur, a suburb of Chennai in the Kancheepuram district.

As mentioned before, the temple is also known as the South Thanigai. Devotees believe that this temple is the only one in the world where Lord Murugan faces north.

For devotees, this place is not just a place of worship; it is an eternal fusion of divine energy, mythology, and heritage.

Travel Tips

If you are planning to visit the famous Kundrathur Temple, then you are at the right place. Here are some important and valuable tips to help you have a smooth Darshan experience:

1. Best Time to Visit:

• People consider weekdays the best time to visit the temple. Weekdays are best to avoid large crowds.
• Early mornings (6:00 AM – 8:00 AM) and evenings (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM) provide serene darshan.
• It is best to avoid the festival days as there is a large crowd at that time.

2. Dress Code:

• The temple committee of Kundrathur Murugan Temple has not decided any formal dress code. But when visiting a temple, you should dress traditionally.
• When visiting the Murugan Temple, avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless clothing in respect for temple traditions.

3. How to Reach:

• Local transportation makes it easy to reach the temple. It is readily accessible by bus, cab, or auto from Tambaram, Pallavaram, and Porur.
• The wheelchair-bound and those who cannot climb the 84 steps can drive up the hill to park close to the temple entrance.

Conclusion

The Murugan Temple, located in Kundrathur in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, is a mysterious and divine place.

It is famous not only for its unique architecture but also for its mysterious stories and faith. As said before, the great Chola emperor Kulothunga Chola II built this temple.

Another mysterious aspect of this temple is that Lord Murugan can be seen only with a goddess.

If you visit the temple from one direction, he is with Goddess Valli, and if you look from the other direction, he is with Goddess Devayani. So that is all for this article.

I hope you get valuable insights from the information provided about the Kundrathur Murugan Temple in Chennai. Stay tuned to 99Pandit for more such content.

100% FREE CALL TO DECIDE DATE(MUHURAT)

Book a Pandit

Book a Pandit