Subramanya Swamy Temple, Tiruttani - Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple

One of the six sacred abodes of lord Murugan, Tiruttani is located on the border of Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh states. This is the place where Lord Murugan, in the name of Subramanya Swamy married ‘Valli’ (one of his two consorts). Legend has it that Indra, the king of the Gods, wished to give his daughter Deivanai in marriage to lord Murugan. As a dowry offering, he presented his own elephant ‘Airavatam’. As soon that holy elephant left Indra, he noticed that his wealth and fame started declining. Coming to know this, Lord Muruga offered that elephant back. But it was his prestige, that Indra refused to accept this. He suggested Muruga at least to keep the elephant facing in his direction. It is the reason the elephant in this temple faces east, the direction towards Indra.

Also, Indra presented a medicinal sandal stone to lord Muruga. It was a divine content that has the capability to solve incurable diseases and offers healthy life. Still now, the sandal paste provided in this temple is considered of medicinal value curing complicated diseases. Lord Rama, after the Ramayana war with Ravana in Sri Lanka, came to his hill for meditation to bring back peace of mind and soul. In the Mahabharata context, it was mentioned that Arjuna, one of the five pandavas, prayed to lord Muruga for his holy yatra to South India destinations. Tarakasura, the brother of Soorapadma, abducted the holy wheel and conch, usually in his hands. So, Vishnu prayed here to lord Muruga and seeked his help. From the inscriptions of the walls, it is understood that the temple was built by the Pallava kings in the 10th Century. Later, it was developed by the Chola kings. The temple has 365 steps representing a year. Though this hill temple can be reachable by vehicles, walking atop through steps will surely rejoice the body and soul.