Thiruthani Murugan Temple

Information on the temple:

Tiruthani Murugan temple is located on the hill of Thiruttani town in Tamilnadu, India.
The primary deity Lord Murugan is worshipped as Thanigachalam. It is one of the Arupadaiveedu (6 abodes or holy shrines of Lord Murugan). There are 365 steps leading to the temple indicating 365 days of the year.

The beautiful temple of Lord Muruga at Tiruttani crowns a single rock 700 feet above sea level. It is situated amidst a range of hills with a dramatic panoramic view. This sacred place is on the Chennai-Mumbai route, 13 kilometers from Arkonam and 84 kilometers from Chennei.

Around this town are famous religious places such as Kancheepuram (Banares of the South) on the South, Sholingar and Vallimalai on the West, the popular and renowned pilgrimage centre, Tirupati (otherwise called Balaji) and Kalahasti (with its Vayu Lingam) on the North and Tiruvalangadu (of puranic fame) with Lord Nataraja on the East.

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Mythology and Legend:

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 regarded 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 Subrahmanya 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 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. The final steps to the eastern entrance.
On worshipping our Lord at Thanikai, 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.
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Greatness of Tirutanikai: Puranic Importance

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 unserving 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.

In Treta Yuga, Lord Rama, after putting an end to Ravana, worshipped Lord Siva at Rameswaram, at whose request Rama came to Tiruttani and found perfect peace of mind by worshipping our Lord Subrahmanya 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 our Lord at this place and got back His powerful Cakra (sacred wheel), Shanku (sacred conch), which were forcibly seized from Him by Tarakasura, brother of Soorapadma.

Lord Brahma propitiated our Lord here at the holy spring (by the sides of the steps to the shrine) 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.

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 worshipped our Lord here on the bank of the Nandi River and got His peerless initiation to realize the unique relationship between the soul (jeevatma) and God (Paramatma), which is the quintessence of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, the choicest product of the Dravidian intellect according the pioneering dravidologist Dr. G.V. Pope.


On worshipping our Lord at Thanikai, 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 our Lord at Tanikai when he was blessed with the rare divine gift of the ever-sweet peerless Tamil language, the beauty of which has been extolled by all the great saints and poets of Tamil Nadu.

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Religious significance:

Apart from its puranic greatness, Saint Arunagirinathar has praised this hill as the chosen place for worship by devas and the favorite abode of saints performing prolonged tapas. He also compared this hill to Sivaloka (Bhuloka) and as the very soul of the world. Sri Muttuswami Deekshitar, who lived 200 years ago (one of the trinity of Carnatic music) had his inspiration in Tiruttani when the Lord (in the guise of an old man) met him on the steps and sweetened his tongue with the prasadam of this temple, which impelled him to compose and render his first krithi "Shri Nathadhi Guruguho Jayathi Jayathi"(song) on Lord Murugan of Tanikai. The temple vimanam was covered by gold

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Specialities of Thiruthani:

Saravana Poikai
The sacred tanks of the shrines of our Lord are all known as Saravanapoikai ('sacred pond of the reedy marsh' where Lord Karttikeya was born). The tank at Tiruttani, which (unlike in other places) is at the very foot of the hill, is particularly renowned for its sacred water (teertham) having curative effect for ailments both bodily and mental, as it is rich in minerals such as sulfur, iron, etc. A bath in this holy tank refreshes the devotee and makes him hale and healthy to propitiate our Lord with faith and devotion.

Sapta Rishi Teertham
At the lovely garden on the south side of this sacred hill amidst a thick cluster of shady trees and seven cool sprints, the Seven Rishis (who today form the Great Bear stellar constellation) are said to have worshipped Lord Muruga and the Sapta Kannikas (Seven Virgins) enshrined at this place in a tiny temple.

On the outskirts of the Tiruttani town, on both sides of the Nandi River, are the ancient temples of Lord Vijayaragama Swami, Arumuga Swami and Veerateeswarar, the latter two of which are more than a thousand years old. In the temple of Arumuga Swami, there is soorya puja every year for three days in March when the rising sun is said to worship our Lord by casting its rays upon the holy Feet of the deity on the first day, Breast on the second day and Head on the third day through a hold in the wall, which reveals the marvellous intellect of the architects of ancient days.
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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 31st 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 July–August) lasts for three days with Float Festival when hundreds of thousands of devotees come to this holy place from far and near. The streets are thronged 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.

December 31st Step Festival:
When the new year srikes on 31st dec midnight, hundreds of thousands of devotees are present on the sacred Tanikai hill to have the darshan of their Lord. They come to Tiruttani to offer their heart-felt prayers to our Lord on that day and night to be blessed with peace and plenty during the New Year. This festival came into vogue during the British Raj when the famous Vallimalai Swamigal persuaded his followers to offer their homage first to Lord Tanigesan, the giver of all good, and only then to their official bosses. On this day, numerous bhajana parties gather and ascend the hill, singing the melodious Tiruppugazh songs and burning camphor on each of the hill's 365 steps, one for each day of the New Year.
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Special Days In Temple:

Bhramotsavam-Celebrated in the month of Maasi.
Kandha Sashti-It is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aippasi.
Aadi Krithigai-Aadi Krittikai festival (in July-August) lasts for three days with Float Festival when lakhs and lakhs of devotees come to this holy place from far and near.
31st of December New Year Step Festival-When the old (Gregorian) year is rung out and the New Year sets in (ie at the stroke of midnight on December 31st each year), lakhs of devotees are present on the sacred Tanikai hill to have the darshan of their Lord.
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Poojas Timings:

Nadai Thirapu 06.00 AM
Nadai Adaipu 09.00 PM
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Devasthanam Amenities:

The following amenities have been provided by Tiruttani Devasthanam for the benefit and convenience of the public:

• Ghat Road for easy and speedy access to the temple with Devasthanam buses and vans plying the route;
• Self-contained, well-furnished Devasthanam cottages and rooms within easy reach of the temple;
• Kalyana Mandapams for performance of marriages;
• Kalyana Utsavam (wedding ceremony) may be performed for a nominal fee;
• A Golden Car (Thanga Ther) 18 feet in height guilded with nine kilos of gold and crafted with exquisite craftmanship may be taken out and pulled in procession around the temple upon payment;
• Pure cow's milk (for abhishekam) and other puja articles are sold at the Fair Price Shop;
• Publications, calendars, rosaries and souvenir momentos are availble for sale;
• Palliyarai Puja (to obtain His Grace in divine slumber) may be performed. On payment of a lump sum, the puja will be performed in perpetuity for one day each year from the accrued interest.
• Orphanage and Karunai Illam for poor, parentless boys who are given free meals, lodging, clothing, public education and other facilities;
• Śrī Subramanya Swami Government Arts College at Tiruttani supported by Devasthanam donations;
• Siddha Vaidya Dispensary; and
• Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Library on the site of his birth in Thiruttani town

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Contact Details of temple: 

Sri Subramanya Swami Temple Office
Tiruthani 631209,
Tiruvallur district., India.

Telephone:
91-4118- 285225, 285387,285303, 2788 5243. 
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Hotels/Lodges in Thiruthani:

NEW WOODLANDS (Delux lodge)
Address   :    No 68/A, Sanadhi street, Tiruttani.

MAYURA RESIDENCY 
Address   :    No 64, near B.D.O officet,  Arakkonam road, Tiruttani.

ARUL MURUGAN A/C RESIDENCY 
Address   :    No 21, Arakkonan road, Tiruttani.

HOTEL SHANMUGA
Address   :    Arakkonan road, Tiruttani.

MONICA LODGE
Address   :    Mettu street,  Tiruttani.

K.G.S GUEST HOUSE
Address   :    Arakkonan road, Tiruttani.

I.J JAIN'S LODGE
Address   :    M.P.S Salai, Opp to Indian bank,  Tiruttani.

HOTEL SRIKUMARAN
Address   :    Arakkonan road,  Tiruttani.

OTEL SARAVANA BHAVAN
Address   :    Sanadhi street,near bus stand, Tiruttani.

J.J.K RESIDENCY HOTEL (Pure veg)
Address   :    Arakkonam road, Tiruttani.

GREEN PARK ROOF GARDEN MULTICUSIGN RESTAURENT
Address   :    Bypass road, Near VMG Muniyammal Marriage hall, Tiruttani.

BHIMAAS RESTAURENT
Address   :    Arakkonam road ,near Annamalayar Marriage hall, Tiruttani.
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How to Reach:
The nearest Major Town/City is Chennai which is at a distance of 87 km.

By Train:
Nearest major railheads to Thiruthani are Arakkonam junction and Chennai, which is well connected to all major railway stations in South India. The Chennai station is about 70 km away from Thiruthani.

By Road:
Thiruthani is well connected by Tamil Nadu state transport corporation buses. It is connected to Tirupathi (56 km) and Chennai (70 km) with regular frequent bus services.

By Air:
Devotees from Chennai, other states and foreign countries can reach Tiruchirapalli by air. From Tiruchirapalli frequent bus facilities are available to reach Kumbakonam & Swamimalai.