Significance: The Kongu country of Tamilnadu in the Coimbatore - Erode area has three hill shrines to Murugan associated with the Siddhars or the enlightened souls. Sivanmalai is associated with Sivavakyar, Marudamalai with Pambatti Siddhar and Chennimalai with Pinnakku Siddhar.

It should also be mentioned that Palani, one of the Aarupadai Veedu shrines of Murugan is associated with Bhoga Siddhar. It is believed that there is a secret passage between the Bhogar cave in Palani and the Pinnakku Siddhar cave in Chennimalai.

Sivanmalai is located 5 km away from Kangeyam and 40km north of Daarapuram nearCoimbatore.

Arunagirinathar, the saint poet of Tiruvannamalai has sung of Sivanmalai in his Tiruppugazh, where he refers to this shrine as Pattiyalur.

Legend has it that Murugan married Valli against the wishes of her kinsmen who pursued the couple to Sivanmalai; all of the tribal huntsmen who fought with the couple were slain. An ahast Valli requested Murugan to restore to life, a long list of her kinsmen and Murugan obliged and restored all the Vedars to life.

The hill: It is believed that this hill is a piece of the Sanjeevani hill carried by Hanuman from the Himalayas to restore Lakshmana to life, with the medicinal herbs that grew on it. Another hill nearby associated with the same legend is Udiyurmalai and both these hills are believed to have rare medicinal herbs.

Precious and semi-precious stones have also been mined out of this hill. Sivanmalai was ruled by the Kongu Chieftains until the 13th century, and then by the Vijayanagar monarchs and then the Nayaka rulers of Madurai.

The temple: The temple is built on a hillock and is accessed through a flight of 200 steps. The main shrine enshrines Subramanyar and Valli.

Festivals: Kartikai asterism and new moon days in each month are considered to be of significance at Sivanmalai. Skandasashti is celebrated in great splendour as in other Murugan temples. Other festivals here include Thai Poosam, Aadi Kritikai andPankuni Uthiram.