Mayileri Murugan Temple is located near Ambasamudram, in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. It is situated on a small hillock, with about 500 steps from the base of the hill. A small shrine of Lord Ganesha is found at the foothill.
The main deity of this temple is Lord Murugan, depicted in a seated posture on a peacock (Mayil), along with his divine consorts Valli and Deivanai. The deity appears in a wedding posture, which is unique. The peacock is shown prominently, highlighting Murugan’s association with wisdom and victory.
This is a hill temple constructed on a naturally elevated rock surface. The sanctum is simple and traditional, preserving the ancient Tamil hill-temple style. The temple has steps leading up the hill and a separate route for climbing up and coming down. The idol of Murugan is beautifully crafted, with clear features of the Vel (spear), the peacock mount, and the two consorts by his side.
Long ago, near Ambasamudram, there was a small rocky hill used by local villagers and stone cutters. One day, while cutting rocks, the workers noticed something unusual — a natural carving of a “Vel” (Murugan’s spear), a peacock figure, and the sacred symbol “Om” on a rock surface. Out of respect, they stopped breaking the rock and began worshipping it with simple offerings like flowers and oil lamps.
As time passed, something miraculous began to happen. Many people reported seeing a divine peacock dancing on the hill during nighttime, especially on auspicious days. This strange yet peaceful occurrence made the villagers believe that the rock was blessed by Lord Murugan himself, as the peacock is his divine vehicle.
Meanwhile, a young boy from the nearby village had a divine dream, where Lord Murugan guided him to the very spot where the Vel and peacock symbols were found. The boy told his family and villagers, who then confirmed his story matched their own experiences. Seeing this as no coincidence, the villagers believed Lord Murugan had chosen this spot to bless his devotees.
Motivated by deep devotion, the villagers built a small shrine atop the hill. They carried stones and materials by hand and slowly created what is now known as the Mayileri Murugan Temple, where the Lord is worshipped in a seated posture on his peacock mount, along with Valli and Deivanai.
The Ambasamudram Mayileri Murugan Temple celebrates several important festivals with devotion and traditional rituals. Vaikasi Visakam, which marks the birth star of Lord Murugan, is one of the grandest festivals here. Thai Poosam is observed with devotees offering kavadi and performing abhishekam. During Karthigai Deepam, the temple is beautifully lit with oil lamps, especially on Karthigai star days. Skanda Sashti is another significant occasion when special pujas and fasts are observed to commemorate Lord Murugan’s victory over evil. On every full moon night, devotees perform abhishekam and offer prayers on the hill. Many people also visit the temple on 13 consecutive Tuesdays to seek blessings for marriage, employment, and relief from financial difficulties.
