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Of the six army camp temples (Aaru Padai Veedu)
of Lord Muruga, this is the first temple. While Lord Muruga graces in a
standing form in other five army camp temples, He graces in a sitting,
wedding form with His consort Deivanai. Maharshi Narada, Indira the king of
Devas, Brahmma the Creator are also around Him. Goddess of Wisdom
Saraswathi without Her Veena, and Savithri are by His side while Sun, Moon,
Gandharvas a community in the upper world skilled in the art of music, are
above Him. The other vehicles of Lord Muruga, the sheep and the elephant
are below Him. Only a scented paste called punugu is applied on the Lord as
this is a cave temple.
Abishek is performed only to the Vel weapon of
Lord Muruga as this is a cave temple. The Vel is taken to the Kasi
Viswanatha shrine in the hill on the last Saturday of Purattasi month
(September-October). This is the only temple where abishek is performed to
Vel. More importance is attached to Vel as the Lord came to this place victoriously
after defeating the demon Surpanma with the power of this weapon. Recently,
a golden car has been made for the temple. As a prayer commitment to take
Muruga in procession on this golden car, devotees may register in advance.
Nakkeerar shrine: Celebrated Tamil poet laurate
in Pandya’s court, Nakkeerar came to this sacred place to perform penance
for cleansing himself of the sin of arguing with Lord Shiva in a contest. A
leaf in the tank was partially of fish form and bird form partially. As
Nakkeerar saw this strange creature, his penance was disturbed. A devil
(Bhoodam) had already captured 999 such persons whose concentration was
disturbed during Shiva worship. The devil now took Nakkeerar its captive
and made the count to 1000 round.
Poet Nakkeerar sang Tirumurugattrupadai in
praise of Lord Muruga to save all the prisoners of the devil. This is the
invocation song in Pathupattu (10 songs) being the first section of the 18
works of Sangam literature edited as Pathinenkeezhkanakku. Lord Muruga appeared
before the poet, killed the devil, shattered the cave prison with His Vel.
The poet expressed his wish to have a dip in the Holy Ganga to wash of the
touch of the devil. Lord Muruga pounced on a rock with His Vel. Ganga
sprang up. Nakkeerar was happy. This spring, never going dry, is at the top
of the hill. Kasi Viswanathar-Visalakshi shrine is near this spring facing
west. Muruga Shrine is opposite of this shrine with a place to Nakkeerar.
There are sculptures of four Shivalingas, one Shiva idol, Kasi Viswanatha,
Subramaniar, Ambica, Bhairava and Karpaga Vinayaka. The Panchakshara cave
where Nakkeerar was locked up by the devil and Saravana Poigai are near
this shrine.
9 soldiers: When Lord Shiva created Muruga from
the sparks of His eye, unable to bear the heat, Mother Parvathi ran from
the place, when Her anklet broke. From the pearls, came nine Shaktis called
Nava Kalis. These women loved Lord Shiva and became pregnant. Knowing this,
Parvathi cursed them to live with their pregnancy. The Navakalis appealed
to Lord Shiva for a remedy. Lord Shiva made a compromise with Parvathi
saying that they should deliver for the welfare of the world and to help
Lord Muruga in his war to kill demon Surapanma. Parvathi agreed. They
delivered 9 male children named Veerabagu, Veerakesari, Veera Mahendran,
Veera Maheswaran, Veera Rakshan, Veera Marthandan, Veerandhagan,
Veeradheeran and Veera Suran. There is a separate shrine for these nine
heroes in the front hall – mandap in the temple.
Garuda near Lord Muruga: The vehicles of the
Lords – bull for Shiva, mouse for Vinayaka, peacock Muruga are in front of
the respective shrines in the temples. Here, these vehicles are by the side
of the flag post-Kodimaram, facing south.
The eagle vehicle of Lord Vishnu, Garuda is in
the Karthikai Murugan shrine in Shanmuga mandap as Lord Vishnu shrine is
opposite of Lord Shiva.
White peacoks: We know peacocks in their
natural colours only. White peacocks can be seen in Tiruparankundram.
According to tradition, the Devas are here in the form of white peacocks to
worship Lord Muruga.
Rudrabishekam to Lord Dakshinamurthy: Lord
Dakshinamurthy graces with His left hand on a snake under His feet. Those
afflicted with bad effects in their horoscopes, those suffering from
prolonged illness offer Rudrabisheka worship in the shrine. They personify
Lord Dakshinamurthy in a silver pot and engage Vedic scholars to chant the
powerful and effective Rudra, Chamaha mantras for relief. The worship
yields huge benefits to the devotee.
Devi Lingam: While Lord Shiva was teaching the
Pranava Mantra to Mother Parvathi, Muruga sitting on the lap of Mother also
was also listening. Any lesson should be learnt from the Guru in a proper
way. To make amends for the mistake, Lord Muruga performed penance here.
Lord gave darshan to His beloved Son on a Thaipoosam day. This Shiva shrine
is in a separate shrine in the name of Aadhi Sokkanathar. Those visiting
Tiruparankundran should worship this Shiva first according to tradition.
But as the temple is the first army camp temple of Lord Muruga, traditions
changed in later days.
During the festival times, flag hoisting is
done only for Lord Shiva, but Lord Muruga is taken in procession. As Lord
Muruga is no less than Lord Shiva, it is said that this procedure is
followed. Lord Muruga is also known here as Somasubramaniar (Soma-Shiva,
Subramaniar-Muruga). Lord Muruga graces as Somaskanda with Shiva and
Parvathi in the sanctum sanctorum behind the Shivalinga. It is also said
that Lord Shiva graced Durga granting Her relief from a curse.
As this Shivalinga was installed by Durgadevi,
the Linga is known as Devi Lingam. As the Linga is treated with a paste
called Shantakaram, no abishek is performed to Him except offering oil.
Sages Veda Vyasa and Parasara had worshipped in this temple.
This is the temple graced by five deities,
Shiva, Pavalakanivai Perumal (Vishnu),Karpaga Vinayaka, Subramaniar and
Durga. Mother Durga is in north of the Main Tower-Rajagopuram- demon
Mahishasura under Her feet. Left of Durga is Karpagavinayaka holding a
sugarcane sitting on a lotus with sages around Him. Right of Durga is Lord
Muruga in a wedding pose with Deivania facing north. Narada, Indira,
Brahmma, Saraswithi without Her Veena and SAvithri are also here by Muruga’s
side.
Lord Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum is facing
east. Sage Madanga Mahrshi is by His side. Lord Vishnu is in the place of
Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva. Hence, the temple is known as Mal
Vidai (Mal-Vishnu, Vidai-bull) temple and this is a very rare design. It is
said that Lord Vishnu is serving His Brother-in-law.
Sathyagiriswarar: Demon Mahishasura was
harassing the Devas in many ways. Mother Ambica took the form of
Navanayakis, fought with him and destroyed him on the nineth day. The
killing of the demon brought her the Brahmmahati dosha. She worshipped Lord
Shiva for release from the sin. Lord advised Her to worship Him from here
for result. Ambica followed Lord’s advice and worshipped installing a Linga
on the mount which itself was but a Linga. Shiva granted darshan to Durga
and relieved her of the dosha.
Today too, the presiding deity is Lord Shiva
only in the temple. He graces from a Kundru –Mount, and is praised as
Parankundranathar and the place Parankundram. He is also praised as Sathyagiriswarar.
As it is here that Lord Muruga married Deivanai, importance is more
attached to Lord Muruga and the temple became Muruga Temple in the days
that followed. On the full moon day – poornima in Aani month (June-July)
three fruits – mango, plantain and jack – are offered to the Lord with
special pujas.
Nandi with His consort: Nandi, the bull vehicle
of Lord Shiva graces with His consort Kalakandi in the Maha Mandap of the
temple. There are twin Vinayakas by His side. While there will be
prakaras-corridors in the temples with other deities, Tiruparankundram
temple is different without these formalities. As the Mount itself is in
the form of a Linga, only Girivalam is possible. In Pillayarpatti, though
the temple is the cave type, there are prakaras within the temple.
Correcting the mistake: When Lord Shiva was
teaching Pranava Mantra to Mother Parvathi, Muruga being there, also
listened and learnt the Mantra. As it was against the rules, Muruga wished
to correct Himself of the mistake, performed penance here seeking Lord’s
pardon. Lord Shiva graced His darshan to the Beloved Son on a Thaipoosam
day. He graces as Aadhi Sokkanatha from a shrine opposite to the
Subramaniar temple. According to tradition, those visiting Tiruparankundram
should worship here first before proceeding to the present main temple.
The Son in place of Father: During the
festivals, flag hoisting is performed for Lord Shiva only while Lord Muruga
is taken in procession. As Muruga is not different from Shiva, this
procedure is followed. Muruga also bears the name Somasubramaniar
representing both Shiva and Muruga.
While Durga is a sub-deity in other temple, She
has Her own Kodimaram (Flag Post) and a Main Tower-Rajagopuram in this
temple. After killing Mahishasura, Mother Durga worshipped Shiva installing
a Linga also here. Lord Shiva graced Her with His darshan and asked Her to
stay in Tiruparankundram itself. Hence, more importance is attached to
Mother Durga.
Nandi: The size of Nandi in Pragadeeswarar
temple in Thanjavur and Gomukteeswarar temple in Tiruvavaduthurai are big
in size corresponding to the size of Lord. As Shiva is in the form of a
mount, the Nandi here too is big. He is gracing with His consort Kalakandi.
There are twin Vinayakas by his side. As the mount itself is considered as
Vimana, there is no such a structure above the sanctum sanctorum. Girivalam
(going around the hill) is followed on Full Moon days – Poornima.
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