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Location
: Near Vallimalai Hills, Tamil Nadu
Deity Worshipped: Lord Subramanya
Significance: One Of The Six Padai Veedu
Shrines Of Skanda
Festivals Celebrated: December 31st Step
Festival And The Aadi Krittikai Festival in July-August
Tiruttani
constitutes one of the 6 padai veedu shrines of Skanda (Lord Subramanya),
and it represents the site where Subramanya stayed after destroying the
demon Surapadman. Tiruttani is said to be the place where the Lord
Subramanya married Valli - one of his two consorts. This sacred place is
on the Chennai-Mumbai route, 13 kilometres from Arkonam and 84
kilometres from Chennai.
About The
Temple
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.
The hill temple
(the hill is called Tanikai hill) here is reached by a motorable road,
and is also accessed through a flight of 365 steps. It has 4 Prakarams
and a series of towers. There is a shrine to Aabat Sahaaya Vinayakar who
is said to have come to the aid of Skanda in winning Valli's hand in
marriage.
The processional
image of Skanda is housed in a Rudraksha Vimanam with his consorts. The
"Shadkona Padakkam" or the hexagonal medallion adorning the
image of Skanda is decorated with green stones and is of great beauty.
Also of significance here is a golden Vilva garland.
SPECIALITIES
OF TIRUTTANI
Saravana
Poikai
The sacred tanks
of the shrines of the Lord are all known as "Saravanapoikai"
(sacred pond of the reedy marsh where Lord Kartikeya 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.
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 (Lord Subramanya) 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 Surya puja every year for three days
in March when the rising sun is said to worship Lord Subramanya 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 hole in the
wall, which reveals the marvelous intellect of the architects of ancient
days.
History Of The
Temple
The origins of
this temple are buried in antiquity. Tiruttani has been mentioned in the
Sangam period work Tirumurugaatruppadai composed by Nakkeerar. The
Vijayanagar rulers and local chieftains and zamindars have patronized
it.
Legends
Connected With The Temple
Legend has it
that Subramanya married Valli who hailed from the Vallimalai hills
nearby. The same legend is associated with Velimalai in Kanyakumari
district.
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.
Subramanya 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 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.
Legend also has
it that Skanda imparted knowledge of Tamil to the sage Agasthyar and he
is regarded as Veeramurthy, Gnanamurthy and Acharyamurthy in this
shrine.
Puranic
Importance of Tiruttani
Of Lord Murugan's
six padai veedus, Tiruttani ranks prominent as the crown jewel of the
Lord. As its very name indicates, when we propitiate the 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 and is therefore known as
"Shantipuri" (Abode of Peace). As the prayers and desires of
the devotees who worship Lord Subramanya on this hill with faith and
intense devotion are fulfilled in no time, this hill is also called
"Chanikasalam".
When the 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, the 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 Shiva at
Rameshwaram, at whose request Rama came to Tiruttani and found perfect
peace of mind by worshipping Lord Subrahmanya here.
In Dwapara Yuga,
Arjuna got the blessings of the 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 at this place 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 (by the sides of the steps
to the shrine) known as "Brahmasonai" after his imprisonment
by the Lord for his failure to explain the Pranava ('Om' mantra) and got
back his creative function of which he was deprived by the Lord due to
his egotistic impudence in neglecting to worship Lord Subrahmanya on his
way to Mount Kailasa to worship Lord Shiva.
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 the 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.
Literary
Importance of Tiruttani
Apart from the
puranic greatness of Tiruttani, Saint Arunagirinathar, the illustrious
devotee of Lord Muruga who lived 600 years ago, praised this hill as the
chosen place for worship by devas and the favorite abode of saints
performing prolonged tapas (austerities). He also compared this hill to
Shivaloka (Bhuloka) and as the very soul of the world. Saint Ramalinga
Swamigal (Arutprakasa Vallalar), who lived 150 years ago, was invited to
come here by the Lord, Who appeared before the saint in the mirror of
his puja room at Chennai after which the sour-stirring arutpa songs
flowed from his lips in chaste Tamil like a torrential stream.
Sri Muttuswami
Deekshitar, who lived 200 years ago (one of the trinity of Karnatic
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 sing his first song on
the Lord.
Many a miraculous
event takes place at this shrine from time to time by the grace of the
Lord.
Festivals
Celebrated
Four worship
services are offered each day here. 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. Other festivals celebrated are the
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. The gold and silver peacock Vahanams (also spelt
as Vahanas) are of great beauty here.
Aadi Krittikai
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.
The streets are thronged to the full. About one lakh and 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!" (Hallelujah) as they march and dance in
long rows touches the very core of our hearts and makes us spellbound.
One should see it to believe it.
December 31st
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.
They come to Tiruttani to offer their heart-felt prayers to the Lord on
that day and night to be blessed with peace and plenty during the New
Year.
Nearby
Attractions
Around Tiruttani
are famous religious places such as Kanchipuram (Banares of the South)
on the South, Sholingar and Vallimalai on the West, the popular and
renowned pilgrimage center, Tirupati (otherwise called Balaji) and
Kalahasti (with its Vayu Lingam) on the North and Tiruvalangadu (of
puranic fame) with Lord Nataraja on the East.
HOW TO GET
THERE
Air: The nearest
airport is at Chennai (84-km).
Rail: Tiruttani
is situated on the Chennai-Renugunta railway line. There are many trains
from Chennai going via Tiruttani.
Road: Several
buses ply between Tiruttani and Chennai (86-km) and between Tiruttani
and Tirupati (66-km).
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available at the small hotels, lodges and choultries at Tiruttani.
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