Vijay visited this centuries-old seaside temple before the Assembly election results

Actor-politician Joseph Vijay's party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has won in Tamil Nadu with 107 seats in the Assembly Elections 2026 and is now all set for alliance talks. Days before the massive results were out, Vijay happened to visit a temple in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram, known as the 'pearl city.' The politician had a darshan at the beautiful Tiruchendur Murugan Temple, considered one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, or Subrahmanya, the son of Siva. 

Vijay was accorded a traditional welcome, known as a 'poorna kumbham,' a fully-filled metal pot with mango leaves placed at its mouth and decorated with sandal paste and flowers. He was also presented with a 'Vel,' a sacred spear associated with the deity. The temple, a place of worship that's even mentioned in ancient Tamil books like Silappathikaram. There are even scholars who opine that it is mentioned in the Ramayana also. Even the great Adi Sankara is said to have visited the Tiruchendur temple. 

A seaside temple
The temple, located on the Bay of Bengal coast in Tiruchendur, has the sea waves coming in very close to the temple walls. Many historians say that the temple is at least 2,000 years old. Its construction on the sandy coastal terrain would have been quite difficult, they say, yet it's stood for centuries. Interestingly, devotees often bathe in the sea before entering the temple. It also has a freshwater spring a few metres away from the sea! 

How to reach the temple
The Tiruchendur Temple is just about 2 km from the Tiruchendur Railway Station and is well-connected by state transport buses as well. The nearest airport is the Tuticorin Airport. It opens around 5 am and closes around 9 pm. For details, visit the temple's website.