Six Abodes of Murugan

The six most sacred abodes of Hindu god Lord Murugan called as "Aarupadaiveedu" in Tamil literature, are situated in the state of Tamil Nadu in south India.[1] The god is also known as Karthikeya, Skanda, Vadivela and Guha .[2] The six most sacred abodes of Lord Muruga were mentioned in the Tamil literature Thirumurugatrupadai, written by Nakeerar [3] and in Thirupugal written by Arunagirinathar [4]. In Hinduism the gods Shiva, Shakthi, Vishnu, Ganesh, Muruga, Surya are the six main gods and the supreme gods for the six sub-religions of Hinduism [5]. According to Kaumaram Lord Skanda is the supreme god, as told in Skandapuranam. The six abodes are Tirupparamkunram, Thiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai, Thiruthani, Pazhamudircholai. The six abodes of Lord Muruga has separate sthalapuranam.

Lord of mountains

In tamil literature five types of lands are seen. They are kurinji (mountaneous region), Mullai (forest region), Marutham (agricultural region), Neithal (coastal region) and Palai (desert region)[6]. Separate gods for these land types are clearly told in Sangam literature. According to the literature Lord Muruga is the god of mountaneous region [7], Lord Vishnu is the god of forest region, Lord Indra was the god of agricultural land, Lord varuna is the god of coastal region and Lord Kali is the god of desert region.

Six sacred abodes

According to the tamil tradition, it is believed that lord muruga is living in all the mountains [8]. Among them the six mountains are considered to be very sacred. But the second abode is now nearer to the sea. We can see the remains of a mountain in the second abode. The six mountains are described in sangam literature thirumurukatrupadai (Tamil: திருமுருகாற்றுப்படை) written by tamil sage nakkeerar (Tamil: நக்கீரர்) and in thirupugal.Tamil saint Avvaiyar, Rishi Agastya also sung many songs on the different form of Muruga seen in the six abodes. The six abodes are situated in the areas of Madurai district, Thoothukudi district, Dindigul district, Chennai district and Thanjavur district.

Short story of lord muruga

The story of Lord Muruga is described in Skanda Purana. According to legend in the olden days a demon called Soorapadman lived on an island situated south of Tamil Nadu. He tortured Deva. They complained about this torture to lord Shiva. Lord Shiva gave birth to Muruga from his Third eye. Lord muruga killed soorabadman and saved all the devas. Lord muruga married Valli and Deivayanai.[9]

Lord Muruga-The god of war and love

Tamil literature is classified into two divisions, they are agam (dealing with love) and puram (dealing with war). Lord muruga the tamil god is depicted as the god of love and war.Lord muruga married Valli by love [10] and married Deivayanai by winning the war held at Tiruchendur.[11] , [12].

Kaumaram

Kaumaram is the sub-set of Hinduism in which Lord Muruga is worshipped as the supreme deity [13].

Significance of the abodes

1.Tirupparamkunram

• Located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock
• As per the legends, Skanda married Indra's daughter Devasena (also called Deivayanai) here
• Sage-poet Nakkeerar worshipped Muruga in this shrine.

2.Tiruchendur

• Located on the sea-shore, near Tuticorin. [14]
• Remains of Gandhamadana Parvatam or santhanamalai(sandal mountain)[15]
• As per the legends, Lord muruga worshiped Shiva for victory in the war & waged the fierce battle against demon Soorapadman here. [16]
• A well situated nearer to sea has pure water. The well is called Naazhi kinaru.
• A very powerful god in India satru samhara moorthy is seen here,special pooja is conduted here for this god to weaken our enemies.

3. Palani:

• Located on the Palani hills, near Kodaikanal in Dindukkall district
• Lord Muruga in the form of a Yogi, clad in loin cloth and holding a shaft (Dandam) in hand. Hence called Dandapani or Dandayudha pani.
• Idumban God [17].
• Statue of Muruga Made from exotic medicinal herbs having divine healing powers as per Ayurveda & Siddha systems of medicine.[18]
• Shrine very famous for Kavadi festivals and head-tonsuring as a way of offering by devotees.

4. Swamimalai

• Located near Kumbakonam on a small hillock
• Lord Muruga in the form of a Guru. He is called Swaminatha. He expounds divine knowledge about the sacred Om to his father Shiva himself. Shiva agrees to be Muruga's disciple in a gesture of supreme fatherly love.

5. Thiruthani

• Located near Kanchipuram
• As per the legends, Lord Muruga remained calm and peaceful here after waging the war with Asuras. He also married Valli here.

6. Pazhamudircholai

• Located on the outskirts of Madurai, inside a forest range
• On the top of the mountain there is a holy pond called Nubra Gangai.

Other famous murugan temples

• Kunrakudy [19]
• Marudamalai [20].
• Chennimalai [21]
• Sikkal Singaravelan Temple [22]
• Viralimalai Murugan temple [23]
• Kalugumalai Murugan temple [24]

See also

• Muruga [25],[26],[27].
• Valli [28],[29]
• Deivayanai [30],[31],[32].
• Thiruppugazh [33]

References

• 1.Skanda shasti kavasam - a holy mantras on lord muruga:[34],[35],[36].
• 2.Thirumurugattrupadai - a tamil literature tells about the six adobes of lord Muruga:[37],[38].
• 3.Thiruparankundram murugan temple - The first adobe of lord muruga:[39],[40],[41],[42].
• 4.Tiruchendur murugan temple - the second adobe of lord Muruga:[43],[44],[45].
• 5.Palani murugan temple - the third adobe of Lord Muruga:[46],[47],[48].
• 6.Swamimalai murugan temple-The fourth adobe of lord Muruga:[49],[50].
• 7.Thiruthani murugan temple - the fifth adobe of lord muruga:[51],[52].
• 8.Pazhamuthircholai - The sixth adobe of lord Muruga:[53].
• 9.Worshippers of lord muruga is called as Kaumaras-One of the six prominent sub-religions of hinduism:[54].
• 10.Thirumurugatrupadai written by nakeerar:[55].
• 11.Thirupugal written by Arunagirinathar:[56]
• 12.Six sub-divisions of hindu religion [57].
• 13.Kaumaram-a religion of god Muruga [58].
• 14.Kumara Tantra-a tantra practised by kaumaras: [59],[60].
• 15.Kumara-Tantra,a ayurveda practice :[61]
• 16.A powerful god Shatru Samhara Moorthy seen in the second abode destroys our enemies:[62]