The Kalhara Theertham created by Indira is on the hill.  Lord Muruga met and took Valli and married her in this place.  This is a beautiful Muruga temple with 365 steps.  Though traditionally devotees begin the worship in any temple with Vinayaka worship, He, Aabath Sahaya Vinayaka (Vinayaka coming to rescue of the devotee when in need) is worshipped at the last phase in this temple.  There is also a Vishnu Durga Temple in this place.  This is an ancient temple.

The Vimana-roof tower- above the sanctum sanctorum has six petals.

Devotees throng the temple seeking wedding, child boons, family welfare and prosperity and longevity.  People are freed from confusions and anger and become peaceful in nature after worshipping the Lord.

Lord Muruga is not holding the Vel weapon which is closely associated with Him, but Vajra Hastam in his right hand that would produce a sound as thunder.  His left hand is on the hip representing wisdom.  Only during dressings (Alankara) Vel and Cock Flag are placed with Him according to tradition.  There are separate shrines for Valli and Deivanai.  Pujas in the temple are performed in accordance with Kumara Tantra Agama order.

The festival Sura Samhara – destroying demon Sura in Tiruchendur being celebrated in all Murugan temples on Skanda Sashti day in October-November is not followed here, because the Lord is in pleasant mood without war plans. After destroying the demon, He came to Tiruthani with victorious and happy mood.  Therefore, the war festival is not celebrated here.  Instead, on this day, flowers weighing 1000 Kilograms are used to please the Lord.

In the place of peacock, the elephant is the vahan-vehicle for Muruga which also against tradition of facing the Lord’s shrine, faces the opposite side.  The story goes like this.  As Indira had offered Iravadham the white elephant as the wedding gift to Deivanai, the prosperity of Deva world began to shrink.  Indira prayed to Lord Muruga to allow the elephant in the shrine to turn the other side so that its aspect on Deva Loka would help the growth of prosperity in his kingdom.  Lord Muruga gracefully obliged.  Hence, the elephant faces the other side.

Gajavalli: Daughters of Lord Vishnu, Amudavalli and Sundaravalli performed penance seeking Lord Muruga’s hands.  Deivanai was under the care of Indira while Nambirajan took care of Valli.  They realized their aim and became consorts of Lord Muruga.  They wished to show that they were one and took the form of Gajavalli.  Gajavalli holds the Lotus in the Her right hand attributed to Valli and the Neelotpala flower in the left representing Deivanai.   She graces from Her parrot vehicle.

Sandal that cures: The sandal paste used in Muruga worship in Tiruthani has a divine significance.  It is not ground on the stone we usually use but the one gifted by Devendra.  Devotees do not put this sandal Prasad on their forehead but dissolve in water and consume it as it is believed that would cure them from any disease.  This Prasad is offered only on festival days.

Aadi Krithikai: It is believed that Indira worshipped here on the Kruthika star day in the month of Aadi-July-August.  This is a three day celebration in the temple.  Lord Muruga comes in procession to the sacred spring Saravana Poigai at the foot of the hill.  As Indira used the Kalhara flowers for his puja, the tradition of carrying Malar Kavadi – flower Kavadi is devotionally followed by the devotees in the temple.

Abishek with hot water: Sri Aadhi Balasubramania graces on the wall behind the sanctum sanctorum as a child.  He was the Lord with Akshara Mala and a Kamandala (a small pot with a handle to carry water usually held by Gods and Sages) before his wedding with Valli.  In the month of Marghazhi (December-January) abishek is performed with hot water as this is the winter season.  Devotees cannot see their Child Lord trembling with cold, hence bathe Him in hot water.

Puja to steps on New Year day: This is a temple with 365 steps representing the days of the year.  During the British rule, people use to greet their white rulers on the New Year day.  Using this custom to turn people to the spiritual side, Muruga devotee Sri Vallimalai Swamigal began Padi Puja (worshipping the steps) in the year 1917.  On the previous night, each step would be washed and adored with turmeric and kumkum offering Arti with camphor singing a Tirupugazh hymn.  After Puja to the steps, special pujas are performed to Lord Muruga at 12.00 midnight.

Bhairava with four dogs: Lord Bhairava graces in temple with 4 dogs vehicle representing 4 Vedas.  He is seen with two dogs in some temples.  Here, Bhairava has four dogs representing the four Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana.  While one dog is behind Bhairava, other three are around the Peeta.  Those aspiring to achieve academic excellence pray here.  Deivanai wedding festival is celebrated during the Chithirai (April-May) Brammotsava and Valli wedding festival in Masi (February-March).

During the final puja at night, Lord Muruga graces with Valli on a day and Deivanai the next day.  As Lord Muruga wedded Valli in the guise of a hunter, He graces on a Tiger Vahan on the sixth day of Brammotsavam and then on the Elephant Vahan.  A Muslim gentleman had the luck of being graced by Lord Muruga in this temple.  Remembering the event, during festival days, when the Lord comes in procession, a Muslim devotee plays the drum even today.  Tiruthani is the place where Lord Muruga shed His anger and fury after conquering and destroying demon Sura in Tiruchendur.  It is said that there is a scar on Muruga caused by clash with the demon.  Lord graces smilingly.  Also, Tiruthani is the place where Devendra gifted Iravadham the white elephant to Deivani as wedding gift.  Hence, the elephant before the sanctum sanctorum in the place of the peacock.

The story of Lord Muruga and Valli has a great message of philosophy.  Every one should walk towards the Almighty for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.  The world we live in is a rented house and what our own is the feet of the Lord.  Almost all of us feel that this is ours and are hunting for material wealth and pleasures.  Enlightened souls understand this truth and they win illusions and reach the final destination-the feet of the Lord.

Nambirajan, the head of the Gypsy-Kuravas- community found a female child amidst the Valli plants, took her and brought her up.  He named Her Valli after the plants.

Fields – Thinaipuam where this grain is cultivated represents the material aspiration of people that it belongs only to them.  The bird coming to pick the grain is the symbol of divinity telling that the grain belongs to them-Gods.  We drive the birds.  Valli was the watch woman in the field driving the birds.  Lord Muruga, to enlighten her of this truth, came in the guise of an aged hunter and persuaded Her to marry Him.  When She refused, He threatened her through an elephant.  When Muruga embraced Her, the touch cleared Her illusions.  This event is celebrated as Valli Kalyanam.  The place is called Tiruthanigai where Lord Muruga shed his anger after defeating demon Sura in Tiruchendur.  In the days followed, the name changed as Tiruthani.