மருதமலை முருகன் கோயில்Marudamalai Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

Perched on a spur of the Western Ghats about 12 km west of Coimbatore, Marudamalai is a celebrated hill shrine of Murugan worshipped as Marudhachalamurthy or Subramanya Swamy. The hill takes its name from the native marudham (Arjuna) trees that cloak its slopes, and its herbs are traditionally believed to hold curative powers, earning it a reputation as a hill of healing. Tamil tradition popularly reveres Marudamalai as a 'seventh padai veedu,' honouring it alongside the six canonical abodes of Murugan. Legend holds that Pambatti Siddhar, one of the eighteen Siddhars, performed penance here; Murugan first appeared to him as a serpent and later granted darshan with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. The temple, with a Chola-era core, is praised in Arunagirinathar's Thiruppugazh. Devotees ascend the sacred slope to worship the Lord believed to have rested here after vanquishing Surapadman. Chief festivals include Thaipusam, Thai Karthigai, Panguni Uthiram and Vaikasi Visakam, drawing vast crowds up the hill.