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Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, Palani
Once all sages and gods assembled in Kailasha, causing the earth to tilt. Shiva sent sage Agasthya south to restore balance. Agasthya tasked the asura Idumban with carrying the hills Sivagiri and Sakthigiri. Idumban placed the hills down and, when unable to lift one again, found Murugan atop it. Defeated by Murugan, the hill became Palani, inspiring the practice of Kavadi.
Murugan once left Kailasha for Palani after losing a contest to Ganesha over a fruit of knowledge. The region, mentioned in Sangam literature, was ruled by Chera and later Chola and Pandya kings, who expanded the temple. The main idol, made of navapashanam by sage Bogar, was restored by a Chera king after being neglected. The temple saw contributions from Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayaks, and after Indian Independence, it became part of Tamil Nadu.
Arulmigu Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai
The Swaminatha Swamy Temple in Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam, is dedicated to god Murugan and is one of his six abodes (Arupadaiveedugal). The temple sits atop a 60 ft hillock, with shrines of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Shiva (Sundareswarar) at the base. It features three gopurams, three precincts, and sixty steps named after the Tamil years. The temple has six daily rituals and three annual festivals, with the Vaikasi Visagam festival attracting thousands of devotees.
The Swaminatha Swamy Temple in Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam, is dedicated to god Murugan and is one of his six abodes (Arupadaiveedugal). The temple sits atop a 60 ft hillock, with shrines of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Shiva (Sundareswarar) at the base. It features three gopurams, three precincts, and sixty steps named after the Tamil years. The temple has six daily rituals and three annual festivals, with the Vaikasi Visagam festival attracting thousands of devotees.
Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur
Thiruchendur is significant in the Skanda Puranam, where the god Murugan slays the demon king Surapadman. After obtaining boons from Shiva, Surapadman troubled the Devas and imprisoned Indra. Murugan, Shiva’s son, fought a fierce battle at Thiruchendur, killing Surapadman’s sons and eventually splitting Surapadman into a peacock and a rooster, which became Murugan’s divine vehicles. The Skanda Sashti festival commemorates this victory. The Murugan temple at Tiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India Company from 1646 to 1648. Upon leaving, the Dutch stole the temple’s utsava murtis but abandoned them at sea after encountering a storm. Murugan revealed the location of the idols to devotee Vadamaliyappa Pillai in a dream, and they were retrieved in 1653. This story is depicted in paintings inside the temple.
Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple, Thirupparankundram
Thiruparamkundram is noted in the Skanda Puranam for Murugan’s defeat of demon king Surapadman. Surapadman, blessed by Shiva, troubled the gods until Murugan intervened, slaying him in Thiruchendur. Indra, in gratitude, wed his daughter Devasena to Murugan here, where Murugan worshipped Shiva as Parangirinathar. Originally a Jain cave, the site became a Hindu temple around the 8th century under Pandya influence, with later enhancements by the Madurai Nayaks. Maintained by Tamil Nadu’s HR&CE department, it remains a significant pilgrimage site.
Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
Atop a hill covered with lush greenery and dense forests lies one of the six divine abodes of Lord Muruga, The Pazhamudircholai Murugan. Also known as Solaimalai Murugan Temple, It is Twenty-five kilometers to the north of Madurai, India, and stands only two and a half kilometers away from the Vishnu temple of Azhagar Kovil.
It is said that the Azhagar Kovil was the original home to the main deity of this temple, and the deity was later relocated to Pazhamudircholai during Thirumalai Nayak’s rule in Madurai.
For ages, the Vel, which is the weapon of Lord Muruga’s primary weapon Vel(an ancient spear), which was crafted and handed over to Lord Muruga by goddess Parvati is worshipped as the presiding deity in the shrine. As per the Hindu mythology, Lord Murugan split the demon king Surapadman in half with the Vel during their vicious battle. Being the only temple amongst the six holy abodes where Lord Murugan blesses his devotees along with both his consorts, he stands along with Goddess Valli and Devayani.
The famous Tamil poet Nakkeerarm mentioned Solaimalai in his Tamil Poem Tirumurukaatruppadai. Though it is sixth among the Arupadaiveedugal(the six abodes), in terms of visitors, it still attracts plenty of devotees all over the world with its soothing charm and the lush green flora-fauna that surround the temple.
Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple, Tiruttani
The temple mentioned in Sangam literature and patronized by Vijayanagara rulers features Murugan with his original mount, an elephant, unique to this site and Tiruttani. Legend tells of Indra offering his daughter Devasena in marriage to Murugan, accompanied by the elephant Airavata, which still faces east due to Indra’s protocol. Another tale involves a sandal stone gifted by Indra, its paste believed to hold medicinal properties when applied to Murugan’s image. Murugan also taught Tamil to sage Agastya here and is revered with titles like Veeramurti, Jnanamurti, and Acharyamurti. The temple’s significance includes healing King Vasuki’s wounds from the churning of the ocean for the nectar of immortality.