Typetemple
Nearest baseKanchipuram
Best timeCooler months and Murugan festival days such as those in the Tamil month of Karthigai are especially rewarding
Time neededAbout 30 minutes is enough for a focused darshan
EntryFree entry for darshan; nominal charges for special archanas where applicable (indicative)
Kumarakottam Murugan Temple is a centrally located Kanchipuram temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Its position between the Shiva temple and the Kamakshi Amman (Shakti) temple is said to complete a Somaskanda arrangement, with Murugan seated symbolically between his divine parents. The present temple was rebuilt in the early twentieth century.
The temple is closely tied to Tamil literary tradition as the place where Kachiappa Sivachariyar, a priest here, is believed to have composed the Kandha Puranam, the major Tamil epic on Murugan. Temple lore holds that Murugan himself blessed and helped perfect the verses, giving the site deep devotional and cultural significance.