| Six Abodes of Murugan | |
|---|---|
Āṟupaṭaīvīṭukaḷ | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Deity | Murugan |
| Festivals | Karthikai Deepam,Panguni Uthiram,Surasamharam,Thaipusam,Vaikasi Visakam |
| Location | |
| Location | Thiruparankundram,Tiruchendur,Palani,Swamimalai,Tiruttani,Pazhamudircholai |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Tamil architecture |
| Temple | 6 |
TheSix Abodes of Murugan (Tamil:Āṟupaṭaīvīṭukaḷ) are sixHindu temples dedicated to theHindu deityMurugan, located inTamil Nadu, India. These areThiruparankundram,Tiruchendur,Palani,Swamimalai,Tiruttani, andPazhamudircholai. These temples, which are associated withHindu mythology associated with Murugan, are associated withTamil literature such asTirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai byNakkeerar, and inTiruppukal byArunagirinathar.
According to the seventeenth-century CETamil textKanda Puranam, the asura brothersSurapadman,Simhamukhan, andTarakasuran performedtapas toShiva, who granted them with various weapons and a wish wherein they could only be killed by the son of Shiva, which offered them near-immortality. They subsequently oppressed other celestial beings including thedevas, and started a reign of tyranny in thethree worlds.[1][2] When the devas pleaded to Shiva for his assistance, he manifested five additional heads on his body, and a divine spark emerged from each of them. The sparks were taken to the Saravana lake, where they developed into six baby boys.[1] The six boys were then raised by the Krittikas and they were later fused into one byParvati. Thus, the six-headed Murugan was born.[2]
As perKanda Puranam, Murugan imprisonsBrahma as he could not explain the meaning ofAum.[2] When Shiva asks for the meaning of themantra, Murugan teaches it to his father.[3][4] As per the same text, sageNarada once visited Shiva atKailasha and presented him with aGnana palam (fruit of knowledge), which is generally regarded as amango.[5][6] Shiva expressed his intention of dividing the fruit between his two sons,Vinayaga and Murugan, but Narada counseled that the fruit could not be divided. So, it was decided to award the fruit to whomsoever first circled the world thrice. Accepting the challenge, Murugan started his journey around the globe atop hispeacockmount. However, Vinayaga surmised that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and Shakti combined, circumambulated them, and won the fruit. When Murugan returned, he was furious to learn that his efforts had been in vain, and felt cheated. He discarded all his material belongings and left Kailasha to take up abode in thePalani Hills as ahermit.[7][8]
Shiva granted him celestial weapons and the divine spearvel, an embodiment of the power ofShakti (Parvati). On obtaining the vel, Murugan was imparted with the knowledge of distinguishing between good and evil.[2] As Murgan was born to save the devas from the tyranny of the asuras, he was appointed as the commander of the devas and engaged in conflict with the asuras.[3] He killed Tarakasuran, and Simhamukhan before facing off with Surapadma in the final battle atTiruchendur.[2][4][9] Surapadman escaped to the sea and took the form of a largemango tree, which spread across the three worlds. Murugan used his vel to split the tree in half, with each half transforming into apeacock and arooster, respectively. After Surapadman was killed, Murugan took the peacock as hisvahana and the rooster as hispennant.[2] Murugan is married toDeivanai, the daughter ofIndra, for his help in saving the devas from the asuras.[2] He later marriedValli, the daughter of atribal chief.[10]
InTamil literature, fivetypes of land are explained. According to these texts, Murugan is the deity of the mountainous Kurinji region.[11] ExtantSangam literature works dated between the third century BCE and the fifth century CE mention Murugan "the favoured god of the Tamils."[12]
The sixHindu temples (Tamil:Āṟupaṭaīvīṭukaḷ) areThiruparankundram,Tiruchendur,Palani,Swamimalai,Tiruttani, andPazhamudircholai.[13][14][15]Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai is aSangam era text attributed toNakkeerar, and was composed in Thiruparankundram.[16]Tiruppukal, written byArunagirinathar, consists of verses sung in praise of each of the temples.[17]
| Temple | Tamil Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subramaniyaswamy Temple | தென்பரங்குன்றம் Teṉparaṅkuṉṟam | Thiruparankundram,Madurai district | Located on a hillock, it is the first of the Arupadaiveedu temples. Murugan's marriage with Deivanai took place here.[16][18] |
| Subramanya Swami Temple | திருச்சீரலைவாய் Tiruccīralaivāy | Tiruchendur,Thoothukudi district | Located along the coast ofBay of Bengal, the temple commemorates the place where Murugan won a victory over the demon Surapadman.[15][19] |
| Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple | திருவாவினன்குடி Tiruvāviṉaṉkuṭi | Palani,Dindigul district | Located at the foothills of a hillock, the deity known as 'Kulanthai Velayuthaswami' is depicted as a young form of Murugan, and said to have been worshipped by the goddessLakshmi. In the temple on the hilltop where 'Dhandayuthapani' is the main deity, Murugan is depicted as a hermit carrying a staff ('danda'). This is the place where Murugan is said to have arrived after his feud with his family over a divine fruit.[15][20] |
| Swaminatha Swamy Temple | திருவேரகம் Tiruvērakam | Swamimalai,Thanjavur district | Located atop a small hillock, the temple commemorates the incident where Murugan is regarded to have explained the essence of the Pranava mantra "Om" to his father Shiva.[15][21] |
| Subramanyaswamy Temple | குன்றுதோறாடல் Kuṉṟutōṟāṭal | Tiruttani,Thiruvallur district | Located atop a hill, Murugan is said to have reclaimed his inner peace after winning a war over the Surapadman and marriedValli here.[15][22] |
| Solaimalai Murugan Temple | சோலைமலை Cōlaimalai | Pazhamudircholai,Madurai district | Located on a hillock near a stream called "Nupura Gangai", Murugan is seen here with both his consorts, Deivanai and Valli.[15][23] |
One of the major traditions of the temples, is thetonsuring of devotees, who vow to discard their hair in imitation of the deity at Palani.[24][25] Newborns may undergo a ritual of tonsuring andear piercing at the temples.[26] At Palani, the head of the presiding deity's idol is applied withsandalwood 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, asrakkāla chandaṇam.[27]Panchamritam is a sacred sweet mixture made ofbanana,honey,ghee,jaggery andcardamom along withdate fruits andSugar candies, which isoffered to Murugan.[7] Worship practices involve devotees wearing ochre clothes and carrying akavadi, a mount decked with flowers, and tinsel work, on foot for long distances.[28][29]
Various festivals related to Murugan are celebrated in the temples.Vaikasi Visakam marks the birthday of Murugan.[30]Surasamharam commemorates the victory of Murugan over the asura Surapadman.[31]Thaipusam is a major festival celebrated during theTamil calendar month ofThai.[32] Other festivals includeKarthika Deepam,[33] andPanguni Uthiram.[34][35]
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