THIRUTHANI MURUGAN TEMPLETiruthani Murugan Temple is a famous Hindu temple, in South India, dedicated to Lord Muruga. It is one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga. The other five are; palani (100 km west of Madurai), Swamimalai (150 km east of Madurai), Tirupparangunram (5 km for Madurai), Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai) and Thiruchendur (100 km south of Madurai).
The Temple is located in the township of Tiruttani 50 km north of Chennai en route to Tirupathi. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Murugan married Valli, the daughter of a hunting tribe cheiftain, here.
HISTORY
The origins of this temple, like most Hindu Temples, are buried in antiquity. This temple has been mentioned in the Sangam period work Tirumurugaatruppadai composed by Nakkeerar. It has been patronized by the Vijayanagar rulers and local chieftains and zamindars.
MYTHOLOGY
Legend also has it that Indra the king of the Gods gave his daughter Deivayanai in marriage to Skanda, and along with her presented his elephant Airavatam as part of his dowry offering. Upon Airavatam's departure Indra found his wealth waning. Subramanyar is said to have offered to return the white elephant, however Indra bound by protocol refused to accept a gift that he had made, and insisted that the elephant face his direction, hence the image of the elephant in this temple also faces the east.
Another legend has it that Indra presented a sandal stone as a part of his daughters dowry. The sandal Paste made on this stone is applied to the image of Subramanya and the applied paste is said to acquire medicinal value. Legend also has it that Skanda bore the discus thrown by the demon Tarakasuran on his chest, and hence there is a hollow in the chest region of the image of Subramanya in this temple. Legend also has it that Skanda gifted the discus to Vishnu (Please also see Tiruveezhimizhalai and Tirumalper). Skanda is also believed to have imparted knowledge of Tamil to the sage Agasthyar and he is regards as Veeramurthy, Gnanamurthy and Acharyamurthy in this shrine.
Lord Rama, after putting an end to Ravana, worshipped Lord Siva at Rameswaram and then came to Tiruttani to find perfect peace of mind by worshipping Lord Subramanya here. In Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna got the blessings of our Lord here by offering prayers to Him on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra (Pilgrimage to take sacred immersion). Lord Vishnu prayed to the Lord and got back. His powerful Chakra (sacred wheel), Shanku (sacred conch), which were forcibly seized from Him by Tarakasura, brother of Soorapadma. Lord Brahma propitiated the Lord her at the holy spring known as Brahmasonai after his imprisonment by our Lord for his failure to explain the Pranava (Om mantra) and got back his creative function of which he was deprived by our Lord due to his egotistic impudence in neglecting to worship Lord Subramanya on his way to Mount Kailasa to worship Lord Siva. The final steps to the eastern entrance.
On worshipped our Lord at Thanikai, the king of snakes Vasuki got his bodily wounds healed, which had been caused during the chuming process in the Milky Ocean to secure the Amrita (nectar of immportality) by the devas and asuras when the Mantotra Mountain was used as the chuming base and the snake king Vasuki as the rope. Sage Agasthyar Muni (of Potikai Hill) worshipped Lord Muruga at Tanikai when he was blessed with the divine gift of the Tamil language.
FESTIVALS
Besides the monthly Krittikais which attract a large number of devotees to this shrine, the two outstanding annual festivals are the Aadi Krittikai and the 31 st of December New Year step Festival. The float festival is celebrated in the month of Aadi, Bhramotsavam in the month of Maasi, during which Valli Kalyanam is celebrated on the 8th day, and the Skanda Sashti is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aippasi.
AADI KRITTIKAI
Aadi Krittikai festival (in Julu - August) last for three days with Float Festival when hundreds of thousands of devotees come to this holy place from far and near. The streets are througed to the full. About one fifty thousand flower Kavadis (which increase with each year) are offered to the deity. The sight of the devotees who carry them, uttering the sacred and inspiring "Haro Hara!" as they march and dance in long rows touches the very core of devotees hearts and makes them spellbound.
