Six Abodes of Murugan

2021-08-02T19:22:57Z

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{{About|the temples in Tamil Nadu|the Tamil film|Aarupadai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{location map+|India Tamil Nadu|width=260|caption=The Six Temples' location in [[Tamil Nadu]]|places=
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Thiruparankundram Murugan temple|Thiruparankundram]]|lat=9.8798|long=78.0711}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Tiruchendur Murugan Temple|Tiruchendur]]|lat=8.495833|long=78.129167}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Palani Murugan temple|Palani]]|lat=10.438805|long=77.520261}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Swaminathaswamy Temple, Swamimalai|Swamimalai]]|lat=10.956844|long=79.325776}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Thiruthani Murugan Temple|Thirutani]]|lat=13.171833|long=79.603769}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Pazhamudircholai]]|lat=10.094069|long=78.223445}}
}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Six Abodes of Murugan
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = 
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates =
| native_name = Six Holy Abodes of Lord Muruga
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district =
| location = [[Thiruparankundram]], [[Tiruchendur]], [[Pazhani]], [[Swamimalai]], [[Thiruthani]], [[Pazhamudircholai]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Murugan]]
| festivals = [[Kaumaram]], [[Thaipusam]]
| architecture = [[Ancient Tamil Architecture]]
| temple_quantity = 6
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| established =
| creator =
| website =
}}

The '''Six Abodes of Murugan''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: ''Āṟupaṭai vīṭu'') are six temples situated in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[South India]]. The god is known by different names such as [[Kartikeya]], Kanda, Vadivela and Murugan at various temples. The six most sacred abodes of Murugan was mentioned in Tamil [[sangam literature]], "Thirumurugatrupadai", written by [[Nakkeerar]] and in "Thiruppugazh", written by Arunagirinathar. The six abodes are [[Thiruparankundram Murugan temple|Thiruparankundram]], [[Tiruchendur Murugan Temple|Tiruchendur]], [[Palani Murugan Temple|Palani]], [[Swaminathaswamy Temple, Swamimalai|Swamimalai]], [[Thiruthani Murugan Temple|Thiruthani]] and [[Pazhamudircholai]].

==Murugan==
The story of Lord Murugan is described in [[Skanda Purana]]. According to the legend, in the olden days the demon Soorapadman tortured the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]], who went to complain to Lord [[Vishnu]] and [[Brahma]]. They assigned [[Kamadeva]] to awake Lord [[Shiva]] from his penance, who later gave birth to [[Kartikeya]]. Karthikeya killed Soorapadman and saved the devas. Muruga is depicted as the god of love and war. Kartikeya married [[Valli]] by love and married [[Deivayanai]] by winning the war held at [[Tiruchendur]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Arupadaiveedu|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111259230200.htm|date=12 November 2010|access-date=3 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120063752/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111259230200.htm|archive-date=20 November 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Tamil literature five types of lands are explained. They are Kurinji (mountainous region), Mullai (forest region), Marutham (agricultural region), Neithal (coastal region) and Palai (desert region). Separate gods for these land types are clearly told in [[Sangam literature]]. According to the literature Lord [[Muruga]] was a leader of the mountainous region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/murugan.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126014218/http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/murugan.asp |archive-date=26 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Religious importance==
[[Arunagirinathar]] was a 15th-century Tamil poet born in [[Tiruvannamalai]]. He spent his early years as a rioter and seducer of women. After ruining his health, he tried to commit suicide by throwing himself from the northern tower of [[Annamalaiyar Temple]], but was saved by the grace of god [[Murugan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=V.K. |first=Subramanian |title= 101 Mystics of India |year=2007 |publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7017-471-4|page=109}}</ref> He became a staunch devotee and composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being ''Thirupugazh''.<ref>{{Citation |last=Aiyar |first=P.V.Jagadisa |title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=tiruvannamalai&pg=PA190 |year=1982 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3 |pages=191–203 |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221033942/https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA190&lpg=PA190&dq=tiruvannamalai#v=onepage&q=tiruvannamalai&f=false |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Kamil |last=Zvelebil |title=Tamil literature, Volume 2, Part 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ33i496MsIC&q=tiruvempavai&pg=PA105 |year=1975 |publisher=E.J. Brill, Leiden |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-04-04190-7 |page=217 |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221032209/https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ33i496MsIC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=tiruvempavai#v=onepage&q=tiruvempavai&f=false |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Arunagirinathar visited various Murugan temples and on his way back to Tiruvannamalai, visited Palani and sung praises about Swaminathaswamy.<ref>[[#kamil|Zvelebil 1991]], p. 53</ref> Tiruparamkundram is considered the first of the six abodes. This is the only temple where abishekam is performed for [[Vel]] instead of Lord Murugan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arupadai Veedu - Famous Murugan Temples|url=https://www.dharisanam.com/pages/arupadai-veedu|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Dharisanam|language=en}}</ref> Palani is considered the most prominent abodes of Lord Muruga.<ref>{{cite book|title=Economic Reforms and Small Scale Industries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIHLq5XvZMEC&q=palani+murugan+temple&pg=PA35|page=25|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=2009|isbn=9788180694493}}</ref>

==Traditions==
One of the main traditions of the six temples, is the [[tonsure|tonsuring]] of devotees, who vow to discard their hair in imitation of the Palani deity. Another is the anointing of the head of the presiding deity's idol with sandalwood paste, at night, prior to the temple being closed for the day. The paste, upon being allowed to stay overnight, is said to acquire medicinal properties, and is much sought after and distributed to devotees, as ''rakkāla chandaṇam''.<ref name=JSTOR>{{cite journal|title=Pilgrimage Centers in the Tamil Cultus of Murukan|jstor=1461919|last=Clothey|first=Fred W.|year=1972|page=82|publisher=Oxford University Press|journal=Journal of the American Academy of Religion|volume=40|issue=1}}</ref> Devotees carry ''kavadi'', an ornamental mount decked with flowers, glazed paper and tinsel work and wearing ochre clothes themselves on foot from long distances is a commonly followed worship practice.<ref>{{cite journal|title=N.P. Mohamed in Conversation with A.J. Thomas|jstor=23341738|last1=Mohamed |first1=N.P.|first2=Thomas|last2=A.J.|year=2003|page=147|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|journal=Indian Literature|volume=47|issue=1}}</ref>

==List==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#FFC569"
| style="width:200pt;"| '''Temple'''
| style="width:200pt;"| '''Original name'''
| style="width:200pt;"| '''Location'''
| style="width:200pt;"| '''Picture'''
| style="width:500pt;"| '''Description'''
|-
| [[Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram]]
| திருப்பரங்குன்றம்
| [[Thiruparankundram]], [[Madurai district]]
| [[File:Thiruparamkundram (22).jpg |200px|center]]
| Located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock where Kartikeyan married Indra's daughter Deivanai. Nakkeerar worshipped Murugan in this shrine and is said to have worshiped Lord Shiva here as Parangirinathar. This is the first of the Arupadaiveedu.
|-
| [[Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur]]
| திருச்சீரலைவாய்
| [[Tiruchendur]], [[Thoothukudi district]]
| [[File:Thiruchendur11.jpg|200px|center]]
| Located on the sea-shore near Thoothukudi amongst the remains of Gandhamadana Parvatam or Santhanamalai (Sandal Mountain). The temple commemorates the place where Murugan won a decisive victory over demon Soorapadman by worshipping Lord Shiva.
|-
| [[Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani]]
| திருவாவினன்குடி
| [[Palani]], [[Dindigul district]]
|[[File:Palani Hills 1.JPG |200px|center]]
| Located in Dindigul District, on the Palani hill bottom ( Malai Adivaram ) called 'Thiruaavinankudi', where the deity is known as 'Kuzhanthai Velayuthaswami' and was worshipped by Goddess Lakshmi ('Thiru' in Tamil), owner of cows ('Aavinan' in Tamil), living place ('kudi' in Tamil).
There is also a Murugan temple on the Palani hill top where 'Dhandayuthapani' is the main deity, in a meditating state, carrying a staff ('danda') as weapon ('ayutha') in his hands ('pani'). This is the place where Murugan resided after his feud with his family over a divine fruit. Here, the main deity is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly called Navabashanam and was established by Saint Bhogar.
|-
| [[Arulmigu Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai]]
| திருவேரகம்
| [[Swamimalai]], [[Thanjavur district]]
| [[File:Swamimalai temple.jpg |200px|center]]
| Located at 5 km from Kumbakonam, the temple is built on an artificial hill. The temple commemorates the incident where Muruga explained the essence of the pranava mantra "[[Om]]" to his father [[Shiva]].
|-
| [[Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai]]
| பழமுதிர்சோலை
| [[Pazhamudircholai]], [[Madurai district]]
| [[File:Pazhamuthir solai Murugan 2.JPG |200px|center]]
| Located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock with a holy stream nearby called "Nupura Gangai". Murugan is seen with both his consorts Deivanai and Valli.
|-
| [[Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani]]
| குன்றுதோறாடல்
| [[Thiruttani]], [[Thiruvallur district]]
|[[File:Thiruthani Murugan Temple.jpg |200px|center]]
| Located near Chennai, Murugan reclaimed his inner peace after waging a war with Asuras and married Valli here.
|}

==Lord of the Regions==
According to Tamil sangam literature five types of lands are seen, where Lord Muruga is the God of Mountainous Regions.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#FFC569"
| style="width:200pt;"| '''Region (Tamil)'''
| style="width:200pt;" | '''Region (English)'''
| style="width:500pt;"| '''Chief God'''
|-
| '''Kurinji'''
| '''Mountainous region'''
| '''Murugan''' (Lord [[Karthikeya]])
|-
|Mullai
|Forest region
|Maayon (Lord [[Vishnu]])
|-
|Marutham
|Agricultural region
|Indiran ([[Indra]])
|-
|Neithal
|Coastal region
|Varunan ([[Varuna]])
|-
|Palai
|Desert region
|Kotravai ([[Kali]])
|}

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==External links==
{{Murugan temples}}
{{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Six Abodes Of Lord Muruga}}
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Kaumaram]]

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Six Abodes of Murugan