Source: Kandaraghav

Thiruchendur is one of the six prime shrines in India where the Hindu god of war Murugan or Kartikeya is revered as the principal deity.

This temple is also one of the few religious site with ISO certification and finds references in ancient texts like Purananuru, Silappadikaram, Tirumurugatrupadai, Adi Sankarar Sri Subramanya Bhujangam, Kanda Puranam, Tiruppukazh, etc.

Source: Aravind Sivaraj

In 17th century AD, Dutch looted everything in the temple, even the panchaloha (five-metal alloy) idol of Murugan. While crossing the sea, the ship fell prey to a storm. Believing it as the wrath of the local god from the temple they had looted, they decide to throw the idol into the ocean.

One of the priests who performed the sacerdotal duties in the shrine had a dream in which Murugan urged the man to bring back the idol from the clutches of the ocean.

Source: Essar