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Kothagiri is a hill 5 km far on the way to Ketti Cheliyur southeast of Thittamalai in The Nilgiris.  It was dense with tall trees.

There was a Swayambu idol under a tree.  Boy shepherds and those collecting dry leaves in the area noticed a serpent and a peacock worshipping this Swayambu.  They noticed it for six months continuously and then informed the elders in the village.  They came to the spot, stood at a distance and found the information true. After the serpent and peacock left the place, they went to the spot and worshipped.  They rightly concluded that the Swayambu should be of Lord Muruga as It was worshipped by the serpent and peacock closely related to Muruga.  The villagers built a small temple and began the pujas.  Devotee visits increased day by day.  With liberal contributions and the cooperation of the devotees, the temple grew in size and expansions.

The temple has separate shrines for Lords Aadhi Vinayaka, Swarnapureeswarar, Bhairava, Chandikeswara and Nagar and Mother Swarnambika.  Lords Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbava and Brahmma are in the Goshta.

Besides the Somaskanda design, the temple has many special features.  Lord Muruga generally appears with a Dhanda – Staff in His hand in a majority of Muruga temples.  Here He appears with His celebrated leaf shaped weapon Vel.  Vel represents wisdom that conquers all that are evil in nature.  Those worshipping the Lord with His Vel in hand gain wisdom and conquer all evils set on them from previous births and the present.  They are fearless and become enlightened.  As Vel has all the powers – Sakthi, the place is known as Sakthi Malai – Hill of beneficial powers.

Students come in large numbers seeking Lord’s blessings.  Devotees recall the visit of Sri Tirumuruga Kripananda Variar, who usually carried with him a puja box with Lord Muruga to perform pujas and abisheks in his camp places daily.  He did his pujas in this temple on a day and said that the place and environment of the temple had all divine features and that the temple would grow big and famous in the days to come.  His words had come true.  Now the temple had grown big with many shrines for other deities too.

As the temple is in a hill region, people come here in large numbers only during the summer holidays.  Foreigners who visit The Nilgiris do not fail to visit this temple for meditation and mental piece.  People of other faiths too visit this temple and experience the divine vibrations and spend time in meditation and return back with  happy feelings.  Foreigners come here throughout the year.