Abhinavsinghshiva: made some location initial version - done

2026-01-15T23:18:10Z

made some location initial version - done

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{{Short description|Murugan Temple in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani
| native_name =
| image = Thiruttani Temple Rajagopuram.jpg
| alt =
| caption = [[Gopuram]] of the temple
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Subramaniya Swamy Temple, [[Tiruttani]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|10|18.6|N|79|36|13.57|E|type:landmark_region:IN-TN|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Thiruvallur]]
| location = [[Tiruttani]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Murugan]]
| festivals =
| architecture = [[Tamil architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = {{URL|www.tiruttanitemple.com}}
}}
'''Subramaniya Swamy Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] located on a hillock in [[Tiruttani]], [[Tiruvallur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India. It is dedicated to [[Murugan]], and is one of the [[Six Abodes of Murugan|six abodes of Murugan]] (''Arupadaiveedu''). As per [[Hindu mythology]], Murugan came to Tiruttani after killing [[Surapadman]] to subside his anger. He also married [[Valli]] at the location. In the temple, Murugan is seen holding a vajra vel (thunderbolt) instead of his normal weapon (vel), and has an elephant mount ([[vahana]]) instead of his usual peacock mount. The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|format=PDF|pages=244|access-date=13 November 2021|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Mythology ==
Hindu Texts ''[[Kanda Puranam]]'' and ''[[Kumarasambhavam]]'' recount a war fought by Murugan against the [[asura]]s. As Murugan was born to save the devas from the tyranny of the asuras, he was appointed as the commander of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s and engaged in conflict with the asuras.<ref>{{cite book |title=Works of Kalidasa:Kumarasambhava |year=1901 |last=Kalidasa |author-link=Kalidasa |publisher=[[Harvard University]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTcpAAAAYAAJ |access-date=21 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821045435/https://books.google.com/books?id=zTcpAAAAYAAJ |url-status=live |pages=120–135}}</ref><ref name="Clothey">{{cite book |first=Fred W. |last=Clothey |title=The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AevljBmCRQC |year=1978 |publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter]] |isbn=978-90-279-7632-1 |pages=55, 121-}}</ref> Murugan killed [[Tarakasura]] and Simhamukha and faced off with [[Surapadman]] in the final battle in [[Tiruchendur]]. Murugan threw his vel, and killed Surapadman.<ref name="Civaraman">{{cite book |title=Kandha Puranam |first=Akila |last=Civaraman |isbn=978-8-179-50397-3 |publisher=Giri Trading |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXwDdBdMJPwC |access-date=20 August 2024 |archive-date=20 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820142627/https://books.google.com/books?id=SXwDdBdMJPwC |url-status=live |p=55}}</ref><ref name="Handelman">{{cite book |title=One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology |last=Handelman |first=Don |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-004-25739-9 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWJTAQAAQBAJ |p=31–34}}</ref> After the battle, Murugan came to [[Tiruttani]] to cool himself.<ref name="DM">{{cite web|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=765|title=Subramaniya Swamy Temple|work=[[Dinamalar]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> Tiruttani was derived from "Seruttani" in [[Tamil language]], with "seru" meaning anger, and "thani" meaning sating.<ref name="MM">{{cite web|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/temples/2020/11/24070610/2103773/Murugan-arupadai-veedu.vpf|title=Arupadaiveedu|work=[[Maalai Malar]]|access-date=1 June 2025|language=ta}}</ref>

After the war with the asuras, Indra also gifted [[Airavata]], his white elephant, to Murugan for saving the Devas. However, the prosperity of [[devaloka]] began to wane as Airavata left. Indra prayed to Murugan to help with the same, and subsequently, the elephant turned towards east, facing the devaloka and restoring its prosperity.<ref name="DM"/>

As per [[Hindu mythology]], [[Deivanai]] and [[Valli]] were forms of Amudavalli and Sundarvalli, daughters of [[Vishnu]], and aspired to marry Murugan.<ref name="DM"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |author-link=Devdutt Pattanaik |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rjL3ogbdJNkC |title=The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine |year=2000 |publisher=[[Inner Traditions]] |isbn=978-0-892-81807-5 |page=29}}</ref> Deivanai was brought up by [[Indra]], the king of devas, and was married to Murugan at [[Thiruparankundram]], after he killed Surapadman.<ref>{{cite book |first=Roshen |last=Dalal |author-link=Roshen Dalal |title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC&pg=PA251 |year=2010 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=978-0-14-341517-6 |page=251}}</ref> [[Valli]] was brought up by Nambirajan, a tribal chief, after he found a baby amongst the plants. Murugan took the form of a hunter, to entice Valli, and later married her at Tiruttani.<ref name="MM"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Flipside of Hindu Symbolism: Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewRfp4qpvt4C |first=M. K. V. |last=Narayan |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-596-82117-0 |publisher=Fultus Corporation |page=149}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
Tiruttani is one of the ''[[Arupadaiveedu]]'' (six abodes), a set of Hindu temples dedicated to Murugan.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_T0HeWE-EAC&q=swamimalai&pg=PA839|last1=Cush|first1=Denise |last2=Robinson|first2=Catherine |last3=York|first3=Michael |publisher=Psychology Press|page=839|year=2008|isbn=978-0-700-71267-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=James G.|last= Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: Volume Two|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC&q=swamimalai&pg=PA680|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-823-93180-4|pages=643–}}</ref> The temple is mentioned in the [[Sangam literature]] ''[[Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai]]'' by [[Nakkeerar]].<ref name="DM"/> [[Arunagirinathar]] was a Tamil poet who lived in the 14 century CE.<ref>{{cite book |first=V.K. |last=Subramanian |title= 101 Mystics of India |year=2007 |publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8-17017-471-4|page=109}}</ref> He composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being ''[[Tiruppukal]]'', and included hymns about the temple.<ref>{{cite book|last=Aiyar|first=P.V.Jagadisa |title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA190|year=1982 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3|pages=191–203}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |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}}</ref> There is a statue of Arunagirinathar, in a seated form, in the temple.<ref name="DM"/>

==Architecture==
The temple is atop on a hillock named Thanigai hill. There are 365 steps which represent the days of a normal calendar year. Kalhara Theertham, a water body supposedly created by Indra, is located atop the hill. The temple has a nine-tiered main [[gopuram]] and four precincts (praharas). The [[vimana]] above the [[garbagriha]] (sanctum) has six petals.<ref name="DM"/> [[Ganesha|Vinayaka]] is located in forefront, and is known as "Abath Sahaya Vinayaka", meaning protector from evil.<ref name="DM"/>

Murugan is represented in a standing pose with his left hand on his hip. He is seen holding a vajra vel (thunderbolt) in his right hand, instead of his usual weapon (vel). There is a scar on the chest, a remnant from his war with the asuras. There is an elephant mount ([[vahana]]) instead of his usual peacock mount. The elephant signifies Airavata, which was gifted to Murugan by Indra, and faces east, in a direction away from the main sanctum.<ref name="DM"/> This iconography is maintained only in two places, Swamimalai and [[Tiruttani Murugan Temple|Tiruttani]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Tamil traditions on Subramanya – Murugan|last=Zvelebil|edition=1st|first=Kamil V.|year=1991|publisher=Institute of Asian Studies|location=Chennai|page=36}}</ref> The temple has separate shrines for Deivanai and Valli.<ref>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=48}}</ref> There are separate shrines for [[Durga]], and [[Bhairava]]. Bhairava is represented holding four dogs, which represent the four [[Vedas]].<ref name="DM"/>

== Practices and festivals ==
[[File:Thiruthani_Murugan_Temple.jpg|thumb|The main temple atop the hill]]

As Murugan came to Tiruttani to sate his anger after killing the asuras, the god is said to free one of anger and other evils. While [[Surasamharam]], a festival to commemorate the killing of Surapadman, is widely celebrated across Murugan temples, it is not celebrated here. On the Surasamharam day, Murugan is showered with flowers, in a gesture to sate his anger.<ref name="DM"/> Like other Murugan temples, the worship practises include [[tonsuring]] in the temple, and offering of [[Panchamrita|panchamirtham]] (a mixture of five ingredients) and milk. Carrying milk pots and [[Kavadi]] are other common forms of worship. A special [[sandalwood]] paste is applied on the deity during specific days. The paste is said to have medicinal benefits, and is later given as a [[prasadam]].<ref name="DM"/>

[[File:Thiruthani_Murugan_Temple_town_view.jpg|thumb|left|Sarvana pond at the foothill]]

There are few festivals and practices unique to the temple. A three-day festival is celebrated, beginning on the day when the [[Krittika]] [[nakshatra]] falls in the month of [[Aadi (month)|Aadi]]. Murugan is taken on a procession from the Sarvana pond in the foothills to atop the hill, and devotees carry kavadis decorated with flowers, as Indra was believed to have worshiped Murugan in this manner.<ref name="DM"/> In the month of [[Margazhi]], Murugan is ritually bathed before his wedding to Valli. He is bathed in hot water, as it is believed that the cold water might cause inconvenience to the young Murugan during winter.<ref name="DM"/> The steps leading to the temple are washed, and [[turmeric]] is applied on them on the [[New year's eve]], and a special [[puja (Hinduism)|puja]] is performed at 12 a.m. on the [[New year]].<ref name="DM"/>

The occasion of Murugan's wedding with Deivanai is celebrated during the month of [[Chithirai]]. The annual Brahmotsvam and Murugan's wedding with Valli, is celebrated during the month of [[Masi (month)|Masi]]. During the multi-day Brahmotsavam festival, Murugan is carried on various mounts on different days. He appears on [[tiger]] mount on the sixth day, signifying the disguise of the hunter he took to entice Valli. He appears on an [[elephant]] mount the next day, signifying his appearance during the marriage to Deivanai. On the final day of the festival, Murugan appears with Valli, and Deivanai.<ref name="DM"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Murugan temples}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvallur district]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]

Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani - Revision history

Abhinavsinghshiva: made some location initial version - done