Arutpadai Veedu - 6 Abodes of Murugan

Legend - First among the six. Murugan's celestial wedding to Devayani (daughter of Indra) took place at this rock-cut cave temple. This event is celebrated as the Thirukalyanam (divine wedding). The temple is among the oldest in Tamil Nadu - a rock-cut cave shrine more than 2,000 years old, with Pallava, Pandya, and Nayaka-period additions. The presiding deity is also linked to Murugan's victory over Soorapadman.

Grant - Grants auspicious marriage, removal of obstacles to matrimony, and overall well-being.

Legend - Second of the six. Murugan gathered his army here and defeated the great asura Soorapadman (Surapadman) at the seashore - the pivotal battle of the Skanda Purana's Tamil tradition. Senthilandavar ('the Red One of the shore') remains here as a mark of his supreme victory. This is the ONLY Arutpadai Veedu facing the sea directly. The temple is carved into a natural rock promontory overlooking the ocean.

Grant - Victory over enemies, removal of fear, courage in the face of adversity.

Note - Only sea-facing Arutpadai Veedu. The gopuram is visible from the sea.

Legend - Third. After a dispute with Shiva and Parvati over a divine mango (the fruit of jnana - wisdom - given as prize for the one who circumambulated the universe first; Ganesha won by circling his parents), Murugan, angered, renounced all royal possessions and retired to the Palani hills as a yogi - dressed only in a loincloth, carrying a staff (danda), meditating. The Nayanmars (Tamil Shaiva saints) sang Murugan's glory at Palani. The murti was fashioned by Bhogar, a Siddha, from nine herbal navapaashanam compounds.

Grant - Liberation, renunciation, moksha - and reversal of fortune for those who surrender their ego.

Note - The Palani murti is made from navapaashanam (nine herbal-mineral compounds) - the abhisheka milk is believed to have medicinal properties.

Legend - Fourth. Murugan taught the meaning of the sacred pranava mantra OM to his own father Shiva and to Brahma himself - who had forgotten or could not expound it. Because the son taught the father, Murugan is called 'Swaminatha' (the teacher who is lord of his own father). This event, celebrated as Murugan's triumph of wisdom, makes Swamimalai the Jnana-kshetra among the six.

Grant - Supreme knowledge, wisdom, clarity of understanding, and grace in teaching and learning.

Legend - Fifth. A forest shrine in a sacred grove (cholai). Murugan is worshipped here in the company of both his consorts - Valli and Devasena - making this kshetra the only one where both wives are present with the deity simultaneously. The ancient sthala-vriksham (sacred tree) is revered. The grove is considered inseparable from the deity.

Grant - Divine grace encompassing both worldly prosperity (Devasena's realm) and spiritual devotion (Valli's realm).

Legend - Sixth and final. After the great war with Soorapadman and his victory, Murugan retired to the Thanika hill to meditate in peace. The hill has 365 steps - one for each day of the year. The legend says serpents (nagas) are the devotees who guard the hill. Murugan married Valli here after his cosmic mission was complete - making Tiruttani also a wedding kshetra.

Grant - Peace after turbulence, removal of Sarpa dosha (serpent-curse), removal of sins accumulated over lifetimes.

Note - 365 steps to the temple - pilgrims climb barefoot as tapas.