Significance: This ancient
Murugan temple located at Ayikudi near Sengottai near Tirunelveli-Tenkasi-Kutralam, has been revered by the Tiruppugazh
hymns of Arunagirinathar.
This small temple enshrines Balasubramanyar - the youthful form of Skanda,
seated on a peacock. This image was
discovered buried in this spot, and the temple was constructed upon unearthing the image
in the 13th century.
It has been renovated later by the royalty of Travancore.
The image of Balasubramanyar has been installed, amidst five
deities - Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu and Surya. The festival image
here goes by the name Muthukumaraswamy.
Worship services carried out here, resemble those of Kerala.
Paal Payasam is the prasadam offered here, especially to
children nearby, and local belief has it that Balasubramanyar partakes
payasam as one among the several children. Skanda Sashti is celebrated in
great splendour here.