Ratnagiri Bala Murugan Temple

Ratnagiri, a quaint village near Vellore on the route connecting Chennai and Bangalore in South India, has garnered fame due to its hilltop Murugan temple. Having explored the vicinity of Chennai extensively, I can confidently say that this temple's pristine cleanliness sets it apart.

Given that the 14th-century saint Arunagiri praised the Ratnagiri Bala Murugan temple in his verses, it's safe to assume the temple's age to be around 600 years. However, its condition was far from satisfactory. In 1968, a devout individual who visited the temple was so moved by its dilapidated state that he renounced worldly life to become a saint. He dedicated himself to the upliftment of the temple. Thanks to his selfless efforts and unwavering devotion, the temple underwent reconstruction and stands today as a magnificent structure. The saint who sacrificed his life for this noble cause was Bala Murugan Adimai.

Perched atop a small hill, Ratnagiri Bala Murugan temple used to be accessible via a flight of steps. Nowadays, vehicles can reach the temple directly.

Upon arriving, the first shrine to embrace the devotee is that of Karpaga Vinayaka. Subsequently, a shrine houses Lord Murugan along with his consorts Valli and Devasena, in the form of metal procession images.

Adjacent to this, another shrine boasts Shanmukha (Murugan with six heads) along with Valli and Devasena. These, too, are metal processional images. A unique depiction in this shrine portrays Brahma atop an elephant, positioned before Murugan.

The sanctum hosts Bala Murugan alongside his consorts Valli and Devasena. The presiding deity's image is strikingly exquisite. Niche images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Murugan, Brahma, and Durga adorn the walls surrounding the shrine. Chandikeshwara finds his place near Brahma.

This is a temple visit that should never be omitted from your itinerary.

Happy travelling.