Thiruthani Murugan Temple - Legends
Like many Hindu temples, you cannot put an exact date to
the origins of the Tiruthani Murugan Temple. Tiruthani is one among Lord
Murugan's six Aaru Padai Veedus, the special camps of the warrior
god. Of Lord Murugan's six Padaiveedus, Tirutanikai ranks prominent as the crown jewel of our
Lord. As its very name indicates, when we propitiate our Lord in this holy
shrine, He blesses us with mental peace and bodily happiness.
His righteous indignation towards the asuras for their
cruelty is said to have been quelled and cooled at this place which is,
therefore, known as Shantipuri (Abode of Peace). As the prayers and
desires of the devotees who worship our Lord Tanikesan on this hill with faith
and intense devotion are fulfilled in no time, this hill is also called Chanikasalam.
When our Lord came to this hill after wedding Goddess
Valli at Vallimalai, She implored him to enlighten her on the importance
and greatness of this hill. In reply, our Lord said that if one worshipped him
with heart and soul for five consecutive days in this hill temple, that person
would be blessed with all that is best in this life and hereafter.
This temple has been mentioned in ‘Tirumurukatrupadai’,
the work composed by poet Nakkeerar in the Sangam period. The temple was
patronized by the Vijayanagar rulers, local chieftains and Zamindars.
Etymology:
The word ‘Tiruthani’ comes from ‘Tirutanikai’ meaning
‘place of propitiation’ (Tamil: thiru-lord; thanigai - propitiate/cooling
down). Muruga’s righteous indignation for the cruelty of the asuras (demons) to
all creatures set him against the evil forces in various battles. It is said
that his anger cooled down at this place and so it is also known as Shantipuri
(abode of peace). This hill is also called Thanikachalam as devotees’
devotion and prayers are answered by the lord (Thiru+ Thani, chalam-hard, firm
or steady).
Airavatham
facing east:
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 Airavatham 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.
Sandal
Stone as Dowry:
Another legend has it that Indra presented a sandal
stone as a part of his daughter’s 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.
Scar in
the Lord Muruga’s Chest:
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.
Gifting
Discus to Lord Vishnu:
There are two versions about this discus. One says that
Muruga gifted the discus to Vishnu. Another one says that Lord Vishnu prayed to
the warrior god in this kshetra (holy place) and reclaimed his powerful Chakra
(wheel) and Shanku (conch) that had been seized from him by Tarakasura, brother
of Soorapadman.
Imparting
Knowledge of Tamil to Sage Agasthiyar:
Skanda is also believed to have imparted knowledge of
Tamil to the sage Agasthyar and he is regarded as Veeramurthy, Gnanamurthy and
Acharyamurthy in this shrine.
Lord
Rama worshipping Lord Muruga:
In Treta Yuga, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Siva at
Rameswaram after killing the ten-headed demon king of Lanka, Ravana. Rama was
asked by Shiva to come to Tiruthani and he finally found peace of mind by
worshiping Lord Subrahmanya in this temple.
Arjuna
pilgrimage:
In Dvapara 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.
Imprisoning
Lord Brahma by Muruga:
Lord
Brahma propitiated the Lord
here 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 Subrahmanya on his way to Mount Kailasa to worship
Lord Siva.
Vasuki
worshipping Lord Muruga:
On worshipping our Lord at Thanigai, the king of snakes
Vasuki got his bodily wounds healed, which had been caused during the churning
process in the Milky Ocean to secure the Amrita (nectar of immortality) by the Devas
and asuras when the Mantotra Mountain was used as the churning 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.
Love
Story of Lord Muruga:
The story of Lord Muruga and Valli has a great message
of philosophy. Everyone should walk towards the Almighty for liberation from
the cycle of births and deaths. The world we live in is a rented house and
what our own is the feet of the Lord. Almost all of us feel that this is
ours and are hunting for material wealth and pleasures. Enlightened
souls understand this truth and they win illusions and reach the final
destination-the feet of the Lord.
Nambirajan, the head of the Gypsy - Kuravars - community
found a female child amidst the Valli plants took her and brought her
up. He named Her Valli after the plants.
Fields – Thinaipuram where this grain is cultivated
represents the material aspiration of people that it belongs only to
them. The bird coming to pick the grain is the symbol of divinity telling
that the grain belongs to them -Gods. We drive the birds. Valli
was the watch woman in the field driving the birds. Lord Muruga, to
enlighten her of this truth, came in the guise of an aged hunter and persuaded her
to marry Him. When she refused, He threatened her through an
elephant. When Muruga embraced her, the touch cleared her
illusions. This event is celebrated as Valli
Kalyanam. The place is called Tiruthanigai where Lord Muruga shed
his anger after defeating demon Sura in Thiruchendur. In the days
followed, the name changed as Tiruthani.
Lord
Indra worshipping Muruga:
Lord Indra planted and reared in the pool known as
Indrasonai adjoining this hill temple the rare plant known as Karunkuvalai,
which gave three flowers a day and worshipped our Lord thrice daily with these
flowers and , thus, got back the precious wealth of Deva Loka such
as Sanghaneeti, Padmaneeti, Chintamani, etc seized by the Asura titan.
Nanda
Devi worshipping Muruga:
Nanda Devi worshipped our Lord here on the bank of the
Nandi River and got His peerless initiation to realize the unique relationship
between the soul (Jeevathma) and God (Paramatma), which is the quintessence of
Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.
Saint
Arunagirinathar praising Lord of Thiruthani:
Saint Arunagirinathar, who lived 600 years ago, was a
great devotee of Lord Muruga. He praised this hill as the chosen place for
worship by Devas and the favorite abode of saints for performing penance. He
compared this hill to Sivaloka and as the very soul of the
world.
Vision
of Muruga to Ramalinga Swamigal:
It is said that 150 years ago, Saint
Ramalinga Swamigal was blessed by a vision of Muruga in the mirror of his
puja room at Madras and was asked to visit Tiruthani. This inspired the saint
to spontaneously compose soul-stirring Arutpa (moral/meaningful)
hymns.
Muthuswami Dikshitar
encountering Lord Muruga:
Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835 CE), from the
famous trinity of saint-musicians and poets of Carnatic music, had his
inspiration in Tiruthani when Muruga, in the guise of an old man, met him on
the steps and sweetened his tongue with the Prasadam (blessed offering) of
this temple. This inspired him to compose and render his first Krithi (song)
‘Shri Nathadhi Guruguho Jayathi Jayathi’ on Lord Murugan of
Tanikai.