Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Chennimalai is also known as Chennimalai Murugan Temple. The ancient name of Chennimalai Subramaniya Swamy Temple Siragiri and this Temple is said to be more than 3000 years old having crossed 4 Yugams. It is a hilltop Temple in Erode District and it can be reached either by steps or by a motorable ghat road. It is a beautifully maintained Temple ghat road and they levy a fee for each passing vehicle. Other than this there are steps too for the sake of Devotees who choose to come by foot. There are wayside shelters with a Divine Spear or Vel planted nearby and Devotees can rest in these shelters for a while before their uphill journey. Devotees may have to walk a few hundred metres from the car park to the Rajagopuram.

This Temple has a huge five tiered East facing Rajagopuram. On either side of the Rajagopuram are two huge multi pillared Mandapams. Both these Mandapams have several coloured Idols like Sri Murugan, Sri Panchamukha Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniyar etc on their Gopuram. The left side Mandapam has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Puliyadi Vinayagar. Apart from this a beautifully designed Vel has been fixed to its wall and close it is a Spiritual Book Stall. A Mothers Feeding Room is also available for feeding their babies. Both these Mandapams are fitted with multiple fans and Devotees visiting this Temple can sit and rest here for a while. Between these two multi pillared Mandapam is a four pillared Mandapam beneath which a Deepasthambam is seen. The base of this Deepasthambam has an East facing Idol of Sri Vinayagar and a West facing Idol of Sri Murugan embossed on it. 

Devotees may have to climb a few steps to reach the level of the Rajagopuram. There are several Dwara Baalaka Idols fixed on the Rajagopuram. There is an Idol of Sri Murugan and Sri Ganapathy on either side of Rajagopuram. On entering the Rajagopuram there are West facing Idols of Sri Suryan and Sri Chandran who seem to look towards the Moolasthanam. Heading towards the Moolasthanam two Divine Spears or Vel of two different sizes are planted on the ground. Beyond them is a Podium in which there is an East facing Vel or Spear embossed in the centre. Flanking it is a Rooster and a Peacock Idol. On a huge podium there is a Neivedhya Peedam or a Bali Peedam after which is a huge gold plated Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram. Beyond them is a West facing Mayil or Peacock Vaahanam looking towards the Moolasthanam.

There is a gold plated threshold leading to the Moolasthanam and atop it is the Gajalakshmi Image etched on it. On either side of the Moolasthanam are a pair of Dwara Baalakas who stand guard. Close to the left Dwara Baalaka Idol is an East facing Idol of Sri Saneeswara Bhagwan. Close to the right Dwara Baalaka Idol is an East facing Idol of Sri Bhudha Bhagwan. Then there are two more gold more thresholds leading to the Moolasthanam. One threshold has two Dwara Baalaka Images etched on it and to the left of it is an East facing Idol of Sri Sannadhi Vinayagar who is flanked by Sri Raahu and Sri Kethu. In the Sanctum Sanctorum the Presiding Deity of Sri Chennaimalai Subramanya Swamy is seen East facing. The upper half of the Deity is similar to that of Sri Palani Andavar and He is considered as a Swayambhumoorthy. Some say that the actual name of Chennaimalai Sri Murugan is Sri Dhandayuthapani. This is the place where Kandha Shasti Kavasam had originated. 

To the left of the Presiding Deity is the Shrine of Sri Markandeswarar who is seen in the Sanctum Sanctorum as an East facing Shivalingam. His Consort Sri Umayavalli is also seen within the same Shrine. Sri Umayavalli Ambal is seen South facing and in a standing posture. The Koshtam of Sri Markandeswarar Sannadhi has the following Idols: Sri Ganapathy, Sri Dhakshinamoorthy, Sri Lingothbhavar, Sri Brahmma, Sri Durgai and Sri Chandikeshwarar. Facing this Shrine is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam, a small Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram and a Nandhi Vaahanam which is seen facing the Moolasthanam. A Deepasthambam is also seen before this Shrine. The peripheral of this Temple has North facing Sub Shrines of Sri Arunagirinathar and Sri Balandevarayar Swamigal. It is noteworthy to mention here Sri Balandevarayar Swamigal had written the Kandha Shasti Kavasam. To the right of the Main Shrine of Sri Subramaniya Swamy is another East facing Shrine of Sri Kasi Viswanathar. He is seen East facing and in the form of a Shiva Lingam. With the same Shrine the Idol of His Consort Sri Visalakshi Ambal is also seen South facing and in a standing posture. Facing this Sannadhi is a Neivedhya Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam. There is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Bhairavar who is seen in a standing posture. Close to this Sub Shrine is the Temple's Navagraha Sannadhi.

The Consorts of the Presiding Deity of Sri Subramaniya Swamy or Chennimalai Sri Murugan occupy the same Shrine and this Shrine has to be reached by the Devotees by climbing several steps. In this Shrine the Consorts Sri Valli and Sri Devasena are seen East facing and in a standing posture. It is unique that the Idols of Sri Valli and Sri Devasena have been chiselled out of a single stone. Facing this Sannadhi is a Deepasthambam, a Neivedhya Peedam and a West facing Mayil Vaahanam. Before entering this Shrine there are Idols of an East facing Sri Dwara Vinayagar and Sri Dwara Skandar. 

It is worthwhile to mention that the Divine Cave and the Mukthi Sthalam of Sri Pinnakku Siddhar is beyond Sri Valli and Sri Devasena's Shrine and has to be reached by the Devotees by climbing several steps. This Siddhar was supposed to have a split tongue and hence called as Pinnakkku Siddhar. The strange fact of this Temple is that the Thirumanjanam Divine Water meant for the Abhishekam of the Presiding Deity is fetched by the Temple's Divine Bull and it brings the Water by climbing the entire 1320 steps on foot which is really a miracle. Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Skanda Shasti, and Aadi Murugan Pooja are some of the festivals that are celebrated in a grand manner. This Temple is considered as a Sukra Dosha Parihaara Sthalam.

Contact Details: Chinnaswamy Gurukkal 98432 11992, Rajasekara Gurukkal 88700 46174, Sivasubramaniya Gurukkal 94892 45434, 04294 250223, 04294 292263, 04294 292595 and Flower Shop 98947 57023

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 7.30 PM (No Closure)

Distance from Erode to Chennimalai is 28 Kms

Distance from Tiruppur or Thiruppur to Chennimalai is 35 Kms

Distance from Kangeyam to Chennimalai is 20 Kms

Distance from Sivanmalai to Chennimalai is 21 Kms

Distance from Thirumuruganpoondi to Chennimalai is 42 Kms

Distance from Avinashi to Chennimalai is 45 Kms

Distance from Konganagiri to Chennimalai is 39 Kms

Distance from Coimbatore to Chennimalai is 87 Kms

Distance from Bhavani to Chennimalai is 38 Kms

Distance from Mettur Dam to Chennimalai is 80 Kms

Distance form Salem to Chennimalai is 100 Kms

Distance from Palani to Chennimalai is 88 Kms

Distance from Marudhamalai or Marudamalai to Chennimalai is 98 Kms

Distance from Thiruparankundram to Chennimalai is 189 Kms

Distance from Pazhamudhircholai to Chennimalai is 186 Kms

Distance from Thiruttani to Chennimalai is 400 is Kms

Distance from Peruvayal, Tamil Nadu to Chennimalai is 312 Kms

Distance from Theerthagiri to Chennimalai is 314 Kms

Distance from Thamatakodi or Thamtakodi to Chennimalai is 286 Kms

Distance from Nadupalani to Chennimalai is 348 Kms

Distance from Thiruchendur to Chennimalai is 364 Kms

Distance from Uthiramerur is Chennimalai is 370 Kms

Distance from Kanchipuram to Chennimalai is 391 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirappalli or Trichy to Chennimalai is 150 Kms

Distance from Madurai to Chennimalai is 187 Kms

Distance from Dindigul to Chennimalai is 122 Kms

Distance from Guruvayur to Chennimalai is 221 Kms

Distance from Thrissur to Chennimalai is 195 Kms

Distance from Palakkad to Chennimalai is 134 Kms

Distance from Kochi to Chennimalai is 270 Kms

Distance from Kodaikanal to Chennimalai is 152 Kms

Distance from Vilpatti to Chennimalai is 159 Kms

Distance from Thanjavur to Chennimalai is 202 Kms

Distance from Swamimalai to Chennimalai is 238 Kms

Distance from Hosur to Chennimalai is 241 Kms

Distance from Dharmapuri to Chennimalai is 159 Kms

Distance from Krishnagiri to Chennimalai is 209 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Chennimalai is 441 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Erode R.S.

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