View source for Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple Tiruttani

{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name              = Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple
| native_name       = '''அருள்மிகு சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி திருக்கோயில்'''
| image             = Thiruthani Murugan Temple town view.jpg
| alt               = 
| caption           = 
| map_type          = India Tamil Nadu 
| map_caption        = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates        = {{coord|13|10|18.6|N|79|36|13.57|E|type:landmark_region:IN-TN|display=inline,title}}
| country            = [[India]]
| state              = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district           = 
| location           = [[Tiruthani]]
| elevation_m        = 
| deity      = [[Murugan]]
| festivals= 
| architecture       = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity  = 
| monument_quantity= 
| inscriptions       = 
| year_completed         = 
| creator            = 
| website            = 
}}

'''Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple''' is a [[Hindu]] temple, on the hill of  [[Thiruttani]], [[Tiruvallur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], dedicated to [[Lord Muruga]]. The hill has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year. It is fifth among the [[Six Abodes of Murugan|six abodes of Lord Muruga]] (Aarupadai veedugal) The other five are [[Palani Murugan Temple]], [[Swamimalai Murugan Temple]], [[Thiruchendur Murugan Temple]], [[Thiruparankundram]] and [[Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple]]. Thiruttani is {{convert|87|km|mi}} from [[Chennai]]. Earlier Thiruttani was called as Thiruveragam,After correct Demon Tharagan (Soorasamharam) he got subsided his angry so here Kandha sasti festival (Soorasamharam) is not conducted.

==History==
The origins of this temple, are buried in antiquity. This temple has been mentioned in the Sangam period work ''Tirumurugaatruppadai'' composed by [[Nakkeerar]]. It has been patronized by the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]] rulers and local chieftains and zamindars. The original animal mount of Murugan is believed to have been an elephant, compared to the peacock which is considered to be the most common mount. The white elephant, is considered a powerful, terror striking animal. The iconography is maintained only in two places, namely, this temple and Tiruttani Murugan Temple.{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}}
[[File:Thiruthani Murugan Temple.jpg|thumb]]

==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 [[Airavata]]m 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 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. Legend also has it that Skanda bore the discus thrown by the demon [[Tārakāsura|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]]. Skanda is also believed to have imparted knowledge of [[Tamil Language|Tamil]] to the sage [[Agastya|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 [[Dvapara Yuga]], [[Arjuna]] got the blessings by offering prayers to Him on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra (pilgrimage to take sacred immersion). Vishnu prayed to the Lord and got back [[Sudarshan Chakra|his powerful Chakra]] (sacred wheel), [[Shankha|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 Subrahmanya on his way to Mount Kailasa to worship Siva.
The final steps to the eastern entrance.

On worshipping at Thanikai, the king of snakes [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]] got his bodily wounds healed, which had been caused during the [[Samudra manthan|churning process in the Milky Ocean]] to secure the [[Amrita]] (nectar of immortality) by the devas and [[asura]]s 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 Muruga at Tanikai when he was blessed with the divine gift of the Tamil language.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Architecture==
The temple is located on a hill named Thanigai hill reached with 60 steps. The temple has a five-tiered [[gopuram]] and four precincts. There are several water bodies associated with the temple. The temple has two shrines, namely, Murugan in the form of Shaktidharar and the shrines of [[Valli]] and [[Deivayanai]] in two other shrines.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=48}}</ref>

==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 [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]], who lived 200 years ago (one of the trinity of Carnatic music) had his inspiration in Tiruttani when Murugan (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) Murugan of Tanikai. The temple [[Vimana (architectural feature)|vimana]]m was covered by gold.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Timings==
Usually the temple is open from 5:45{{nbsp}}a.m. to 21:00{{nbsp}}. On special days, the temple is open full day in between 12pm to 3 pm is closed on some festival time

==Festivals==
Besides the monthly Kiruthikais which attract a large number of devotees to this shrine, the two outstanding annual festivals are the Aadi Krittikai and 31 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 English new year strikes on 31 December midnight, hundreds of thousands of devotees are present on the sacred Tanikai hill to have the darshan. They come to Tiruttani to offer their heart-felt prayers 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 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.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=Tamil traditions on Subramanya - Murugan|last=Zvelebil|edition=1st|first=Kamil V.|year=1991|publisher=Institute of Asian Studies|location=Chennai, India|ref=Kamil}}
* {{cite web|title=Sri Subramaniaswami temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=765|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=2013-03-17}}
{{Refend}}

==External  links==
*[http://www.tirutanigaimurugan.tnhrce.in/ Official Temple page]
*[http://www.murugan.org/temples/tiruttani.htm/ Murugan Temples]

{{Murugan temples}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvallur district]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Kaumaram]]