Coimbatore is the unannounced capital of the Kongu region in the Tamil country. It is part of the Vadaparisaranadu which falls among the 24 parts of Kongunad. The region has hosted international commerce for millennia with the Romans establishing a settlement at Vellalore in order to augment their interaction with the local populace. Long ago in the seventh century there lived the Shaivaite Saint Siruthondar and he was once known as Commander Paranjothi who headed the powerful Pallava army under Narasimhavarma Pallava (630 - 668 AD). Sekkilar has immortalised the history of Saint Siruthondar in the "Thiruthondar or Periya Puranam" during the twelfth century. Subsequently the devout of the Tamil country began installing the icons of the 63 apostles of Lord Shiva known as the Nayanmaars in the temples. In some cases they established choultries or flower gardens in the names of one of the Nayanmaars. One such choultry or Chathiram was established in the name of Saint Siruthondar in the Sukrawarpettai area of old Coimbatore.
The Siruthondar Chathiram existed in the neighbourhood of the roads that one could take in order to reach Perur and Marudamalai. The devout established a "Sellapillaiyar" under a Peepal tree while also adding a tiny shrine for his younger brother "Baladhandayudhapaniswamy" within the same premises. The Chathiram boasted of a well and a number of lovely trees. "Murugu" means beauty in Tamil and the beautiful icon of Lord Baladhandayudhapani stole the hearts of the people living in the neighbourhood of the Siruthondar Chathiram. People consider Lord Muruga as a beacon light of knowledge and a representation of the sacred Vedas from time immemorial. Those days it was not possible to visit the shrine of Lord Baladhandayudhapani at Palani often and therefore they had established a shrine for the same Lord in Coimbatore in consonance with the habit of the times. Over the years the people of Sukrawarpettai prospered along with the rest of the people from this region due to the grace of Lord Baladhandayudhapaniswamy. The weavers built lovely townhouses while the people living in Sullivan and Telugu Brahmin streets prospered due to their knowledge quotient. Eventually growth took its toll and the boundaries of the Siruthondar Chathiram shrunk in size. Thankfully it still housed the Sellapillaiyar and Lord Baladhandayudhapaniswamy. However the grace of the Lord expanded beyond the horizon and the city prospered. The temple was under the custody of Sadhu Swamigal at one time and later on the holy seer moved over to Palani and established a place for free food distribution. His memorial and the food distribution centre are famous in Palani.
The People of Coimbatore wished to build a nice temple for Lord Baladhandayudhapani in marble for the first time in Tamilnadu. Finally the twentieth century Nayanmaar Thirumuruga Kripanandha Varier came forward to raise resources for the construction of the temple by delivering his discourse at Coimbatore. Thanks to this initiative, a lovely temple came up and the consecration took place on the 26 th of January 1972. The temple work took place in a proper manner due to the involvement of Dr.T.V.Sivanandham and T.K.Pattabirama Iyer those days. They were ably supported by C.N.Subbiah, A.Narayana Iyer, M.K.Swamy and Karana Ellappa Chettiar. The wealthy among the devout gave their best with the rest of the devout offering their heart and soul for the noble initiative. The temple was one of the earliest to be built with marble in Tamilnadu and the entire work had to be entrusted to "Rashmi Marble Stone Industries" from Chennai for Coimbatore was yet to excel in this arena. Thereafter the people of this area used to seek the benediction and consent of the lord by placing flowers and accepting his choice in the time honoured "Poo Kettal" tradition.
The temple has a nice shrine for Kalvi Vinayagar and also boasts of a huge Navagraha Sannidhi. The Nine planets have been finely sculpted with Lord Surya at the centre displaying his resplendence with his consorts and seven horses. The temple celebrates a number of rituals and festivals in full gusto. Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakham, Kiruthikai are celebrated well here. Thousands visit the temple at this time and people bring "Paal Kavadis" in big number to this powerful shrine. Soora Samharam is celebrated in all grandeur at this temple which is kept open by 5.00 AM everyday. The temple closes during the forenoon by 12.30 PM and is open for the devotees once again in the evening hours between 4.30 and 9.00 PM. People greatly appreciate the authorities of the HR & CE Department of Tamilnadu for keeping the temple open for long hours. Abhishekhams are performed between 6.00 and 10.00 Am everyday. The Odhuvars recite melodious compostions of the past in front of the Lord everyday. His Holiness Santhalinga Ramaswamy Adigal and Palani L. Palaniswamy have composed a couple of poems in Tamil on Lord Baladhandayudhapaniswamy at Sukrawarpettai.
The jeweller P.A.Raju Chettiar who used to visit Palani on Mouna Vratham on the day of Kiruthika and S.R.P.Ponnuswamy Chettiar were among the popular devotees of this temple. The devout couple Shantha and Damodaran have been greatly devoted to the Lord and have contributed much here. The Lord Baladhandayudhapaniswamy has a gold kavacham, gold crown among many other lovely ornaments. The Lord awaits a diamond crown and once it is hoped that once he is adorned with a lovely "Vairamudi" or diamond crown he is sure to bless Coimbatore with the best.