Sri Muruga. This write up is meant to inspire devotees, especially non-Tamil speaking.
Sincerely,
Suresh
Sri Muruga in a simple and straight-forward manner to create interest in the mind of the reader. For more information, readers are advised to visit any of the numerous Murukan web sites available on the Web.)
Introduction
It is said that God, though formless, takes many forms to bless His devotees as they wish.
Sri Ramakrishna says
Satchidananda is like an infinite ocean. Intense cold freezes the water into ice, which floats on the ocean in blocks of various forms; Likewise, through the cooling influence of bhakti, one sees forms of God in the Ocean of the Absolute. These forms are meant for the bhaktas, the lovers of God. (page 191, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Vol. 1.)
Muruga and Tamil
Of the various forms of the Supreme Godhead, that of Sri Muruga, the Lord Subrahmanya of the puranas (epics), is the most popular in Tamil Nadu. Like the Ayyappa legend of Kerala or the Srinivasa legend of Tirupati, Tamil Nadu has its own legend: Muruga.; The Lord Subrahmanya, son of Shiva, who was born to kill Taraka Asura is worshipped as Muruga (the boy form of Subrahmanya), in all splendour and great romance found perhaps nowhere else. Hundreds or perhaps thousands, of temples all over the world offer worship to the Great God Muruga, but nowhere else he is worshipped with more fervour than in Tamil Nadu, whose natives consider Him as one among them.; The love and respect that they bestow on Him is so great that they even gave a daughter of theirs, Valli in marriage to Him! To them He is almost human.; His divine attributes do not frighten them. Muruga is called Tamil Kadavul, Tamil God. It is said that the word Murugan is synonymous with Tamil. Being a non-Tamil speaking person with only a limited knowledge of the language, I do not venture to elaborate on this.; I should mention that the knowledge of Tamil itself was imparted to the sage Agasthyar by none other than Muruga!
The six battle camps
Though most of Tamil Nadu's temples are devoted to Muruga, of special significance are the famous Aru Padai Veedu temples; These are said to be the temples erected at the six sites where Muruga had battle camps during His celestial fights with demons and evil powers. Though not traditionally counted among them, Marudhamalai temple is also considered equivalent.
The legends attached to these six temples are partly from Puranas, partly local legends; The saint Nakkeerar who lived more than 2000 years ago composed the celebrated Murugaa Truppadai. It seems that some Muruga legends find their authenticity in the verses of Truppadai. Another notable classic is the Tiruppugazh sung by the sage Arunagirinathar who lived in the 14th century.
Kaumaaram: Sri Sankara's Sampradayas
Though Muruga worship was popular in Tamil Nadu (Kerala was also a part of the Tamil kingdoms then), since thousands of years ago, it was Sri Sankara who introduced authentic code of worship (sampradayas) for Muruga.. Out of the 6 sampradayas the great saint propagated, one is Kaumaaram, (of Kumara, Subrahmanya).
Muruga is worshipped in Kerala as Subrahmanya and in some parts of Northern India as Karthikeya. The famous Muruga temples in Kerala are: Payyannur (Northern Kerala), Harippad (Alappuzha Dist.), Udayanapuram, Kidangoor, Kodumbu (Palakkad Dist.), Ulloor (near Thiruvananthapuram), Thampanoor (Thiruvananthapuram), Perunnai (near Changanassery, Kottayam Dist.) and Cheriyanadu near Chengannoor (Alappuzha Dist.)
I will attempt to relate briefly the Legend of Muruga here as is popularly known in Tamil Nadu. (Tamil words are given in italics. It should be noted that Tamil words are spelt in many ways and it is difficult to say which spelling is the correct one.)
Please click the links below on each topic:
Pazhani and the Fruit of Knowledge
The Divine wedding at Tirupparankundram
Tiruchendur: The Saga at the Sea
Son teaches Father at Swamimalai
Tiruttani: The Abode of Peace
Pazhamudircholai
Marudhamalai: The Green Hill
Experiences of devotees
Also please visit the following useful link sites:
Bhajagovindam
Swami Vishadananda
Vivekananda Centre, London
Murugan Bhakti Super Site
Aru Padai Veedu temples: Tiruchendur
Palani Temple
Kaumaaram Web site
