The Six Holy Abodes of Lord Muruga - Arupadai Veedu - Thiruthani !!

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

Vetrivel Muruganukk Ara Aro Ara !!

 

Thiruthani / Thiruthanikai / Thanikachalam is one of the famous six holy abodes of Lord Muruga is located at a distance of 75km from Chennai Anna International Airport.   This hill temple is situated at a height of 700ft from the sea level, can be reached climbing through the stairs of 365 stone steps. 

Irumalu rOka muyalakan vAtha
     merikuNa nAsi ...... vidamEnee

rizhivuvi dAtha thalaivali sOkai
     yezhukaLa mAlai ...... yivaiyOdE

peruvayi ReeLai yerikulai chUlai
     peruvali vERu ...... muLanOykaL

piRavikaL thORu menainali yAtha
     padiyuna thALkaL ...... aruLvAyE

varumoru kOdi yasurarpa thAthi
     madiya anEka ...... isaipAdi

varumoru kAla vayirava rAda
     vadisudar vElai ...... viduvOnE

tharunizhal meethi luRaimuki lUrthi
     tharuthiru mAthin ...... maNavALA

salamidai pUvi naduvinil veeRu
     thaNimalai mEvu ...... perumALE.

The Presiding deity: Lord Subramanya Swamy/ Thanikesa Peruman facing East with his consorts Sri Valli and Deivayanai

Sthalavruksham – Makuda Maram

Pushkarani: Saravana Poikai, Kumara Theertham,

Mangalasasanam: Sri Nakkirar, Saint Arunagirinathar, Thiru Ramalinga Adikalar

Sannidhis: Lord Ganesha – Apath Sahaya Vinayakar

Worshipped by: Lord Indra, Lord Rama, Lord Vishnu and Arjuna

Festivals: Thiru Karthikai, Adi Krithikai, Thirupadi Poojai, Brahmostavam, Skandha Shashti Vizha and Thirukalyanostavam.

Significance of this temple: Lord Muruga married to Sri Valli, daughter of Nambi Rajan in this place.   Lord Muruga arrived in this sacred hill after the fierce battle with the demon Surapadman at Thiruchendur.  Lord Muruga resided in this hill  to calm down himself, thus the place has got its name ‘Thiru Thanikani’ / ‘Thanikaimalai’ also known as Thanikachalam, Kundruthoradal, Skandhagiri, Shantipuri, Neelotpala, Purnagiri, Mooladri.  In Skanda Puranam Lord Muruga discloses the authenticity to Sri Valli that Thanikaimalai as one of His favorite amongst Six holy Abodes.

In this temple Lord Subramanya gives dharshan to his devotees in a peaceful and tranquil mood, in his celestial vehicle elephant.   Surasamharam is not celebrated in this temple. The sandle paste distributed here is capable to cure all the illness.  

The legend has that Lord Indra worshipped Lord Subramanya on one Adi Karthikai in this sacred place, so Adi Karthikai is celebrated widely in this temple. In Thretha Yuga Lord Rama worshipped Lord Subramanya in this temple after worshipping Lord Ramanatha Swamy at Rameshwaram.   In Dwapara Yuga Arjuna visited this temple on his pilgrimage, worshipped Lord Subramanya in this sacred place and got blessings of the Lord.  Lord Vishnu prayed to Lord Subramanya and got back his Conch and dice which was forceibly seized by the demon Tharakasura.

Behind the Moola Sthanam (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple situated the idols of Six Balasubramanian.    On Thiruvathirai day in the Tamil month – Markazhi and in the Tamil New Year Day abhishekam (sacred bath) for the idols are performed.    In the Tamil month Chithirai the celestial marriage of Lord with Sri Deivanai and in the month of Masi Sri Valli Thirumanam also celebrated in a grand manner.  In the palliyarai pooja, Lord Muruga spends a day with Sri Valli and another with Sri Deivayanai.

Vetrivel Muruganukk Ara Aro Ara !!

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!