Palamuthircholai Murugan Temple
Pazhamutircōlai is mentioned as the sixth of Lord Murugan's Āru Patai Vīdukal, the six holiest Murugan shrines described by Cankam poet Nakkīrar in his poem Tirumurukārruppatai. Regarding the identity of the sixth major site, there is no consensus among scholars and many local temples are ascribed the distinction.Most scholars, priests and devotees identify Palamutircōlai with the shrine of Palamutircolai, twelve miles north of Madurai in the Alagar Hills, above the Alagarcoil Vishnu temple. While this temple is not as large or bustling as the other five recognized shrines, it is just as incredible to visit.
This shrine is located on the northern outskirts of Madurai in a pleasant wooded hill not far from Alagar Visnu Kovil, a fortified temple complex revered as one of the 108 abodes of Vishnu glorified by the hymns of the Alwars. At the top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga, a perennial waterfall with a temple dedicated to Rākkayi Amman. The Nūpura Ganga atop the hill is said to originated from the anklet of Tirumal or Visnu and hence the name of the spring.It is said that sitting in the madavi mandapa near the spring Ilangovadigal wrote one of the five mahakavyas in Tamil, viz., Cilappatikaram. Even today the place is very fertile with many trees and different flora and fauna, a standing testimony to the vivid description of the place's natural beauty as found in Tirumurugattruppadai of Nakkeerar.
