Wednesday, April 22, 2009

amazing gods






  1. Krishna Janmashtami: Prayers, fasts, fervour grips Delhi 


    Zee News - 1 hour ago
    The birthday celebrations of the much-loved and popularly followed Hindu god began with kirtans (religious songs) at homes and temples. Devotees began ...

    IBNLive.com
  2. Tamil Nadu Express blaze: Thank god I am alive: Survivor 


    Times of India - 30 Jul 2012
    NELLORE: "Thank god I am alive," Rama Sudhakar said. But he looked rattled by the train inferno. A branch manager of United India ...
    Alive by God's grace, says train fire survivor‎ Newstrack India
    all 7 news articles » 

    The Hindu
  3. God of Small Things to be out in Tamil soon 


    The Hindu - 22 Jul 2012
    Ammu, Estha, Rahel, Velutha, Baby Kochamma, Father Mulligan, Comrade Pillai, Sophie Mol and Ayemenum's other characters in Arundhati ...
    Booker Prize winner God of Small Things in Tamil soon‎ Daily Bhaskar
    all 3 news articles » 

    The Hindu
  4. God of Small Things has a Tamil avtar 


    Times of India - 28 Jul 2012
    CHENNAI: Fifteen years after it was published in English, Arundhati Roy's Booker prize-winning novel 'God of Small Things' appears in a Tamil ...
  5. Why Do We Light Incense Sticks? 


    BoldSky - 3 days ago
    Why Do We Light Incense Sticks Before God? Updated: ... This is one of the Hinducustoms that has been carried forward through ages.

    BoldSky
  6. UP rains:Lord Indra issued legal notice ahead of Janmashtami 


    Oneindia - 1 day ago
    The notice mentioned that Lord Indra, who is the God of rains (according to HinduMythology), has three days time to send a reply to the notice.

    Oneindia
  7. Review: God Father 


    NDTV - 29 Jul 2012
    God Father, directed by debutant Sethu Sriram, is the remake of Ajit starrer Tamilmovie Varalaaru. God Father has got many highpoints - internationally acclaimed music maestro A.R. Rahman has composed music for a ...
    'God Father' treat for Upendra fans (Kannada Movie Review)‎ Newstrack India
    all 4 news articles » 

    NDTV
  8. God's own country is Goon's own country say new statistics by the ... 


    India Today - 1 day ago
    Is God's own Country, the country's crime capital? ... better governed, like TamilNadu (11.5%), Andhra Pradesh (7.2%) and Karnataka (6.7%).

    India Today
  9. Many faces of Krishna on display 


    The Hindu - 4 days ago
    When you think of Lord Krishna, his pranks and his immense love for his ...Coinciding with Krishna Janmashtami, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts ...

    The Hindu
  10. Mani's Kerala connection 


    Times of India - 1 day ago
    You are here: Home » Entertainment » Regional » Tamil ... The filmmaker has earlier shot in God's Own Country and produced excellent ...



    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Murugan

    Shri Shanmukha Subramania Swami
    by Raja Ravi Varma
    God of war and victory
    Tamil scriptமுருகன்
    TamilTransliterationMurugaṇ
    AffiliationDeva
    MantraOm Saravana Bhavaya Namah
    WeaponBowVel
    ConsortValli and Deivayanai
    MountPeacock
    Murugan, also called KartikeyanSkanda and Subrahmanyan, is a popular Hindudeity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South IndiaSingaporeSri LankaMalaysiaMauritius andReunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the Arupadaiveedu temples, located in Tamil Nadu. In Sri LankaHindus as well as Buddhists revere the sacred historical Nallur Kandaswamy temple in Jaffna and the sacred Buddhist and Hindu shrine or Katirkāmam Temple (also in Sinhala "Katharagama Devalaya") dedicated to him, situated deep south in the country.[1] Ethnic Chinese in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, ofMalaysia also pray to Lord Murugan during Thaipusam.
    Lord Murugan is more popular in South India especially among Tamil people famously referred as Thamizh Kadavul (God of Tamils) compared to other parts of India. He is the patron deity of the Tamil land (Tamil Nadu). In Karnataka he is popular as "Subrahmanya" and is often associated with snakes, famous shrine Kukke Subramanya is well known for Sarpa shanti rites.In Andhra Pradesh and Bengal too he is popular by the names "Subrahmanya" and "Kartikeya" respectively.[2] Like most Hindu deities, Murugan is known by many other names, including Senthil (meaning 'smart' or 'clever'), SaravaṇaKārtikeya (meaning 'son of Krittika'), Arumugam,Sanmuga (from Sanskrit Ṣaṇmukha), Shadanana (meaning 'one with six faces'),Kumāra (meaning 'child or son'), Dhandapany (meaning God with a Club), Guhan orGuruhuha (meaning 'cave-dweller'), Skanda (meaning 'that which is spilled or oozed, namely seed' in Sanskrit),[3] SubrahmaṇyaVēlaṇ and Swaminatha.[4]

    Contents

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    [edit]Historical development

    A coin, around 200 BCE, of theYaudheyas with depiction of Karttikeya
    Karttikeya shrine with anteloppe. Yaudheya, Punjab, 2nd century CE.
    Karttikeya with Vel and Seval (rooster), coin of the Yaudheyas 200 BCE.
    Murugan is also associated with Ahmuvan, an Indus Valley Deity.
    According to noted epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan, the ideographs signify a brave warrior capable of killing evil beings to save the devoted.[5]

    [edit]Sangam Tamil literature

    Tolkappiyam, possibly the most ancient of the extant Sangam works, dated between the 3rd century BCE and 5th century CE glorified Murugan, " the red god seated on the blue peacock, who is ever young and resplendent," as " the favoured god of the Tamils."[6]
    The Sangam poetry divided space and Tamil land into five allegorical areas (tinai) and according to the Tirumurugarruppatai ( c. 400-450 AD) attributed to the great Sangam poet Nakkiirar, Murugan was the presiding deity the Kurinci region (hilly area). (Tirumurugaruppatai is a deeply devotional poem included in the ten idylls (Pattupattu) of the age of the third Sangam).
    Tamil Sangam Literature mentions Murugu as a nature spirit worshipped associated with a non-Brahmanical priest known as a Velan, a name later used to refer to the deity himself. The worship of Murugu often occurred in the woods or in an open field, with no particular associated structure. The rituals practiced included theVeriyaattu, a form of ritual-trance-dancing, which is still a common part of Murugan worship inTamil Nadu and Malaysia. Murugu was believed to hold power over the chaotic and could be appeased by kavadi dance (dancing with peacock feather attached sticks carrying in shoulders of devotes) to bring order and prosperity.
    The other Sangam era works in Tamil that refer to Murugan in detail include the Paripaatal, theAkananuru and the Purananuru.One poem in the Paripaatal describes the veneration of Murugan thus:
    "We implore thee not for boons of enjoyment or wealth,
    But for thy grace beatific, love and virtuous deeds."
    According to the Tamil devotional work, Thiruppugazh, "Murugan never hesitates to come to the aid of a devotee when called upon in piety or distress". In another work Thirumurukkarrupatai, he is described as a god of eternal youth; His face shines a myriad rays light and removes the darkness from this world.[7]

    [edit]Sanskrit literature

    Murugan slaying the Tarakasur
    The references to Murugan in Sanskrit literature can be traced back to the first millennium BCE. There are references to Subrahmanya in Kautilya's Arthashastra, in the works of Patanjali, in Kalidasa's epic poem the Kumarasambhavam and in the Sanskrit drama Mricchakatika. TheKushanas, who governed from what is today Peshawar, and the Yaudheyas, a republican clan in the Punjab, struck coins bearing the image of Skanda. The deity was venerated also by theIkshvakus, an Andhra dynasty, and the Guptas.[8] The worship of Kumāra was one of the six principal sects of Hinduism at the time of Adi Shankara. The Shanmata system propagated by him included this sect. In many Shiva and Devi temples of Tamil Nadu, Subrahmaṇya is installed on the left of the main deity.
    Sati, the consort of Shiva immolated herself at the Daksha Yagna, sacrificed herself in yagna. Sati was reborn as Parvati the daughter of the mountain king Himavaan (the Himalayas). Shiva withdrew himself from the universe and engaged himself in yogic meditation in the Himalayas.[citation needed]
    In the meanwhile, Tarakasur (an asura) ravaged the earth and tormented its beings. It was realized by the gods that only the son born of Shiva could lead the gods to victory over Tarakasuran, Surapdaman and their companions. They plotted with Kamadeva, to shoot a flower arrow at Shiva, as he sat in meditation, so as to make him fall in love with Parvati. When Kama aimed his arrow, Shiva opened his third eye and burned Kama to ashes instantly.[citation needed]
    The sparks of the fiery seed of Shiva were unbearable; even the fire God Agni could not bear them; this fire was then transported by the river Ganges into the Saravana forest into a pond called the Saravana Poigai (located at mouths of river Ganges), where the sparks became six children. They were raised by the six Krittika or Kartika - the stars that make up the Pleiades, earning the name Karthikeya. Parvati combined these six babies into one with six faces, i.e. Shanmukha or Arumugan. Since he was born in the Saravana he was also called 'Saravanabhava'.[citation needed]
    Murugan became the supreme general of the demi-gods then escorted the devas and led the army of the devas to victory against the asuras. The six sites at which Karthikeya sojourned while leading his armies against Surapadman are Tiruttanikai, Swamimalai, Tiruvavinankudi (Palani), Pazhamudirsolai, Tirupparamkunram and Tiruchendur. All these sites have ancient temples glorified by the Tamil poems of Tirumurugaatruppadai of the Sangam period (c. the 3rd century AD).And these six sites collectively came to be known as "Arupadai Veedu" (Lang:Tamil), it means the six battle camps of the Lord.[citation needed]

    [edit]Hindu epics

    Template:Kumaran The first elaborate account of Karthikeya's origin occurs in the Mahabharata. In a complicated story, he is said to have been born from Agni and Svāha, after the latter impersonated the six of the seven wives of the Saptarishi (Seven Sages). The actual wives then become the Pleiades. Karthikeya is said to have been born to destroy the Asura Mahisha.[9] (In later mythology, Mahisha became the adversary of Durga.) Indra attacks Karthikeya as he sees the latter as a threat, until Shiva intervenes and makes Karthikeya the commander-in-chief of the army of the Devas. He is also married to Devasena, Indra's daughter. The origin of this marriage lies probably in the punning of 'Deva-sena-pati'. It can mean either lord of Devasena or Lord of the army (sena) of Devas.[citation needed]
    The Ramayana version is closer to the stories told in the Puranas discussed below.

    [edit]Vedas

    The Atharva Veda describes Kumaran as 'Agnibhuh' or son of Agni, the fire god. The Satapatha Brahmana refers to him as the son ofRudra and the ninth form of Agni. The Taittiriya Aranyaka contains the Gayatri mantra for Shanmukha. The Chandogya Upanishad refers to Skanda as the "way that leads to wisdom". The Baudhayana Dharmasutra mentions Skanda as 'Mahasena' and 'Subrahmanya.' The Aranya Parva canto of the Mahabharata relates the legend of Kartikeya Skanda in considerable detail. The Skanda Purana is devoted to the narrative of Kartikeya.[8] The Upanisahds also constantly make a reference to a Supreme Being called Guha, the indweller.

    [edit]Puranas

    Though slightly varying versions occur in the Puranas, they broadly follow the same pattern. By this period, the identification ofShiva/Rudra with Agni, that can be traced back to the Vedas and Brahmanas, had clearly made Kartikeya the son of Shiva.[citation needed]
    The Skanda Purana narrates that Shiva first wed Dakshayani (also named Sati), the granddaughter of Brahma, and the daughter of Daksha. Daksha never liked Shiva, who, symbolizing destruction and detachment, begs for food, dances in a graveyard smeared with ashes, and has no possessions, not even good clothes for himself. Daksha publicly insults Shiva in a Yagna ceremony, and Dakshayani immolates herself. The Yagna is destroyed although protected by all the other Gods and the rishisTaraka believed that, because Shiva is an ascetic and his earlier marriage was conducted with great difficulty, his remarriage was out of the question, hence his boon of being killed by Shiva's son alone would give him invincibility.[citation needed]
    The Devas manage to get Shiva married to Parvati (who was Dakshayani, reborn), by making Manmatha (also known as Kama), the God of love awaken him from his penance, but Manmatha incurred the Lord's wrath indicated by the opening his third eye - "Netri Kann", and being destroyed and resurrected. Shiva hands over his effulgence of the third eye used to destroy Manmatha to Agni, as he alone is capable of handling it until it becomes the desired offspring. But even Agni, tortured its heat, hands it over to Ganga who in turn deposits it in a lake in a forest of reeds (sharavanam).Then Goddess Parvati,took the form of this water body as she alone is capable of taming the Tejas of Shiva,her consort. . The child is finally born in this forest (vana) with six faces-eesanam, sathpurusham, vamadevam, agoram, sathyojatham and adhomugam. He is first spotted and cared for by six women representing the Pleiades - Kritika in Sanskrit. He thus gets named Karthikeya. As a young lad, he destroys Taraka. He is also called Kumara (Tamil for "youth").[citation needed]
    Another Story [10] After their marriage, Lord Shiva and Parvati lived happily at Mt. Gandhamadana. Once, while they were enjoying an intimate moment, a small quantity of Shiva's vital fluid fell on the ground. Tremendous amount of heat began emanating from it and it threatened to engulf the entire world in flames. Acting on the advice of Brahma and Vishnu, Agni went there in the guise of a mendicant and devoured the vital fluid.
    Parvati felt insulted. She cursed Agni saying, "From this day thou shall be omnivorous and eat unclean things. The vital fluid that you have devoured shall cause an unbearable inflammation on your body." (Note: See this story for an alternate curse for why Agni became omnivorous.)
    Instantly, Agni got unbearable inflammation on his body. He beseeched Lord Shiva for a way to end his agony. Lord Shiva said, "You will be relieved of this affliction when you transfer my vital fluid to the womb of a woman."
    Agni retired to a desolate place, waiting for a suitable woman to arrive. He beheld the six Kritikas, all shivering with cold who arrived there. He then transferred Shiva's vital fluid to their wombs. They became pregnant. When their husbands came to know of this, they cursed the six women, to be turned into stars in a constellation in the sky. Before the transformation, the Kritikas aborted their fetuses on the Himalaya mountains. The holy river Ganga carried the fetuses to a secluded place, called the Sara Vana, which was covered with reeds. After some time, Lord Kartikeya (also called Skanda) manifested from those reeds. Since he was born to six mothers, he had six heads. Since he was born in the Sara Vana, he is also known as Saravana.
    [Note: The Six Kritikas are the stars of the constellation pleiades. In other texts, Agni carries the six sparks that fell from the third eye of Shiva, not his vital fluid. The sparks are deposited in a pond in the Sara Vana, where a six babies are born on a lotus each. The Krittikas who came there, nursed the babies. When Parvati and Shiva came there, Parvati took all the babies in her arms and made them into one, albeit with six heads.]
    The Devas rejoiced at the birth of this child. Lord Shiva and Parvati went to the place where the child was born. Parvati prayed to Shiva that only she should be the mother of Skanda and no one else. Shiva granted her this boon.
    As per a prior prophesy, the child Kartikeya was anointed as the command-in-chief of the Devas. It had been foretold that only he could kill a demon named Taraka who had been plaguing the Devas. However, that incident is part of another story.

    [edit]Divine legends

    Given that legends related to Murugan are recounted separately in several Hindu epics, some differences between the various versions are observed. Some Sanskrit epics and puranas indicate that he was the elder son of Shiva. This is suggested by the legend connected to his birth; the wedding of Shiva and Parvati being necessary for the birth of a child who would vanquish the asura named Taraka. Also, Kartikeya is seen helping Shiva fight the newborn Ganesha, Shiva's other son, in the Shiva Purana. In the Ganapati Khandam of theBrahma Vaivarta Purana, he is seen as the elder son of Shiva and Ganesha as the younger. In South India, it is believed that he is the younger of the two. A Puranic story has Ganesha obtain a divine mango of knowledge from Narada winning a contest with Murugan. While Murugan speeds around the world thrice to win the contest for the mango, Ganesha circumambulates Shiva and Parvati thrice as an equivalent and is given the mango. After winning it, he offers to give the mango to his upset brother. After this event, Ganesha was considered the elder brother owing as a tribute to his wisdom.
    In many traditions, Murugan is seen as a bachelor. Many of the major events in Murugan's life take place during his youth, and legends surrounding his birth are popular. This has encouraged the worship of Murugan as a child-God, very similar to the worship of the child Krishna in north India. Other traditions have him married to two wives, Valli and Deivayanai.

    [edit]Symbolism

    A Stone vel at the entrance to theSangam period Murugan shrine at Saluvanakuppam near Mahabalipuram
    Kartikeya symbols are based on the weapons - Vel, the Divine Spear or Lance that He carries and His mount the peacock. He is sometimes depicted with many weapons including: a sword, a javelin, a mace, a discus and a bow although more usually he is depicted wielding a sakti or spear. This symbolizes His purification of human ills. His javelin is used to symbolize His far reaching protection, His discus symbolizes His knowledge of the truth, His mace represents His strength and His bow shows His ability to defeat all ills. His peacock mount symbolizes his destruction of the ego.
    His six heads represent the six siddhis bestowed upon yogis over the course of their spiritual development. This corresponds to his role as the bestower of siddhis.

    [edit]Worship through ages

    [edit]Tamil Nadu

    Vel kavadi during Thaipusam in Malaysia
    In Tamil Nadu, Murugan has continued to be popular with all classes of society right since the Sangam age. This has led to more elaborate accounts of his mythology in the Tamil language, culminating in the Tamil version of Skanda Purana, called Kandha Purānam, written by Kacchiappa Sivachariyar (1350-1420 AD.) of Kumara Kottam in the city ofKanchipuram. (He was a scholar in Tamil and Sanskrit literature, and a votary of the Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy.)
    He is married to two deities, Valli, a daughter of a tribal chief and Deivayanai (also called Devasena), the daughter of Indra. During His bachelorhood, Lord Murugan is also regarded as Kumaraswami (or Bachelor God), Kumara meaning a bachelor and Swami meaning God. Muruga rides a peacock and wields a bow in battle. The lance called Vel in Tamil is a weapon closely associated with him. The Vel was given to him by his mother, Parvati, and embodies her energy and power. His army's standard depicts a rooster. In the war,Surapadman was split into two, and each half was granted a boon by Murugan. The halves, thus turned into the peacock (his mount) and the rooster his flag, which also "refers to the sun"[11].
    Kavadi during Thaipusam in Germany
    As Muruga is worshipped predominantly inTamil Nadu, many of his names are of Tamil origin. These include Senthil, the red or formidable one; Arumuga, the six-faced one;Guha and Maal-Marugan, the son-in-law of Vishnu.
    Murugan is venerated throughout the Tamil year. There is a six day period of fast and prayer in the Tamil month of Aippasi known as the Skanda Shasti. He is worshipped atThaipusam, celebrated by Tamil communities worldwide near the full moon of the Tamil month Thai. This commemorates the day he was given a Vel or lance by his mother in order to vanquish the asuras. Thirukarthigai or the full moon of the Tamil month of Karthigai signifies his birth. Each Tuesday of the Tamil month of Adi is also dedicated to the worship of Murugan. Tuesday in the Hindu tradition connotes Mangala, the god of planet Mars and war.

    [edit]Other parts of India

    Historically, Kartikeya enjoyed immense popularity in the Indian subcontinent. One of the major Puranas, the Skanda Purana is dedicated to him. In the Bhagavad-Gita (Ch.10, Verse 24), Krishna, while explaining his omnipresence, names the most perfect being, mortal or divine, in each of several categories. While doing so, he says: "Among generals, I am Skanda, the lord of war."
    Lord Kartikeswar idol in Orissa
    Kartikeya's presence in the religious and cultural sphere can be seen at least from the Guptaage. Two of the Gupta kings, Kumaragupta and Skandagupta, were named after him. He is seen in the Gupta sculptures and in the temples of Ellora and Elephanta. As the commander of the divine armies, he became the patron of the ruling classes. His youth, beauty and bravery was much celebrated in Sanskrit works like the KathasaritsagaraKalidasa made the birth of Kumara the subject of a lyrical epic, the Kumaarasambhavam.
    In ancient India, Kartikeya was also regarded as the patron deity of thieves, as may be inferred from the Mrichchakatikam, a Sanskrit play by Shudraka, and in the Vetala-panchvimshati, a medieval collection of tales. This association is linked to the fact that Kartikeya had dug through the Krauncha mountain to kill Taraka and his brothers (in theMrichchakatikam, Sarivilaka prays to him before tunnelling into the hero's house).
    However, Kartikeya's popularity in North India receded from the Middle Ages onwards, and his worship is today virtually unknown except in parts of Haryana. There is a very famous temple dedicated to Him in the town ofPehowa in Haryana and this temple is very well known in the adjoining areas, especially because women are not allowed anywhere close to it. Women stay away from this temple in Pehowa town of Haryana because this shrine celebrates the Brahmachari form of Kartikeya. Reminders of former devotions to him include a temple at Achaleshwar, near Batala in Punjab, and another temple of Skanda atop the Parvati hill in PuneMaharashtra. Another vestige of his former popularity can be seen in Bengal, where he is worshipped during the Durga Puja festivities alongside Durga.
    Lord Subramanya is the major deity among the Thiyyas of northern Kerala. Lord Subramanya is worshipped with utmost devotion in districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in the state of Karnataka. Rituals like nagaradhane are unique to this region.
    Khandoba, is the Kuldevta for majority of Marathi people in Maharashtra. It has been speculated that Skanda and Khandoba are one and the same. However, he is mainly worshipped as a manifestation of ShivaUttaranchal.In uttaranchal also one of the famous temple of Murgan.It is located in Kanachouri Chamoli district.Temple is known there as Kartik swami Temple.It was built by Shri Hira singh Negi.In June Month 11 days yagya of Kartik Swami temple is famous in Chamoli and Rudraprayag District.The Idol of Kartik Swami go to original temple from Swari Village.Rest of the time the Kartik Swami Idol stay at the home of Pooran Singh Negi,Narayan Singh Negi,Vikrant and Neeraj Negi Home.These all belongs to family of Shri Hira Singh Negi.

    [edit]West Bengal

    Kartik during Durga Puja, 2011 in Kolkata.
    Kartikeya also known as Kartik or Kartika is also worshipped in West Bengal, and Kolkata(the capital of the state) on the last day of the Hindu month of 'Kartik'. However, the popularity of Kartik Puja (worshipping Kartik) is decreasing now, and Lord Kartik is primarily worshipped among those who intend to have a son. In Bengal, traditionally, many people drop images of Lord Kartik inside the boundaries of different households, who all are either newly married, or else, intend to get a son to carry on with their ancestry. Lord Kartik is also associated to the Babu Culture prevailed in historic Kolkata, and hence, many traditional old Bengali paintings still show Kartik dressed in traditional Bengali style. Also, in some parts of West Bengal, Kartik is traditionally worshipped by the ancestors of the past royal families too, as in the district of Malda. Kartik Puja is also popular among the prostitutes. This can probably be linked to the fact that, the prostitutes mostly got clients from the upper class babu-s in old Kolkata, who all, in turn, had been associated to the image of Kartik (as discussed above). In Bansberia (Hooghly district) Kartik Puja festival is celebrated like Durga puja of Kolkata, Jagadhatri puja in Chandannagar for consecutive four days. The festival starts on 17 November every year and on 16 November in case of Leap year.[12] Some of the must see Puja committees are Bansberia Kundugoli Nataraj, Khamarapara Milan Samity RadhaKrishna, Kishor Bahini, Mitali Sangha, Yuva Sangha, Bansberia Pratap Sangha and many more.
    In Durga Puja in BengalKarthikeya is considered to be a son of Parvati or Durga and Shiva along with his brother Ganesha and sistersLakshmi and Saraswati.[13]

    [edit]Sri Lanka

    Entrance to the Katirkāmam temple
    Murugan is adored by both Tamil Hindus and Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Numerous temples exist throughout the island. He is a favorite deity of the common folk everywhere and it is said he never hesitates to come to the aid of a devotee when called upon.
    In the deeply Sinhalese south of Sri Lanka, Murugan is worshipped at the temple inKatirkāmam, where he is known as Kathiravel or Katragama Deviyo (Lord of Katragama) . This temple is next to an old Buddhist place of worship. Local legend holds that Lord Murugan alighted in Kataragama and was smitten by Valli, one of the local aboriginal lasses. After a courtship, they were married. This event is taken to signify that Lord Murugan is accessible to all who worship and love him, regardless of their birth or heritage. The Nallur Kandaswamy temple, the Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple and the Sella Channithy Temple near Valvettiturai are the three foremost Murugan temples in Jaffna. The Chitravelayutha temple in Verukal on the border between Trincomalee and Batticaloa is also noteworthy as is the Mandur Kandaswamy temple in Batticaloa. The late medieval-era temple of the tooth in Kandy, dedicated to the tooth relic of the Buddha, has a Kataragama deiyo shrine adjacent to it dedicated to the veneration of Skanda in the Sinhalese tradition.
    Based on archeological evidence found, it is believed that the Kiri Vehera was either renovated to build during the 1st century BCE. There are number of others inscriptions and ruins.[14]
    By the 16th century the Kathiravel shrine at Katirkāmam had become synonymous with Skanda-Kumara who was a guardian deity of Sinhala Buddhism.[15] The town was popular as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus from India and Sri Lanka by the 15 the century. The popularity of the deity at the Kataragama temple was also recorded by the Pali chronicles of Thailand such as Jinkalmali in the 16th century. There are number of legends both Buddhist and Hindu that attribute supernatural events to the very locality.[15] Scholars such as Paul Younger and Heinz Bechert speculate that rituals practiced by the native priests of Kataragama temple betray Vedda ideals of propitiation. Hence they believe the area was of Vedda veneration that was taken over by the Buddhist and Hindus in the medieval period.[16]

    [edit]Temples

    Murugan Icons carried in procession during Thaipusam at Batu Caves
    Shanmuga Temple Bangalore
    The main temples of Murugan are located in Southern India. They include the Aru Padaiveedu (six houses - rather, military camps in his campaign against asuras) -ThiruchendurSwamimalaiPazhamudircholaiThirupparangunramPalani (Pazhani),Thiruthani - and other important shrines like MayilamSikkalMarudamalaiKundrathur,Vadapalani, Kandakottam, Thiruporur, VallakottaiVayalurThirumalaikoil, Pachaimalai and Pavalamalai near GobichettipalayamMalai Mandir, a prominent and popular temple complex in Delhi, is one of the few dedicated to Murugan in all of North India apart from the Pehowa temple in Haryana.
    There are many temples dedicated to Lord Subramanya in Kerala. Amongst them, the most important ones are Payyannur Subramanya Swamy temple in Payyanur and the Subramanya temple in Haripad.[according to whom?]Payyanur Shri Subramanya Swami temple is considered as mini-Palani. The astrology and Ganitha, Prashna Shastra Jyothish developed here, all because of Subramanya swami, who is also called "Jyotishathin-Kaadaleee" meaning the Lord of Astrology.
    There is a famous temple in the area of Skandagiri in Secunderabad (twin city toHyderabad), in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Skandagiri Murugan Temple.
    In Karnataka there is the temple called Kukke Subramanya Temple. There Lord Murugan is worshipped as the Lord of the serpents. Aaslesha Bali, Sarpa Samskara with nagapathista samarpa are major prayers here.
    There is a famous temple called Malai Mandir situated on a hill in South Delhi. Malai means Hill in Tamil. Mandir means Temple in Hindi.
    The key temples in Sri Lanka include the sylvan shrine in Kataragama / (Kadirgamam), or Kathirkamam in the deep south, the temple in Tirukovil in the east, the shrine in Embekke in the Kandyan region and the famed Nallur Kandaswamy temple in Jaffna.
    There are several temples dedicated to Lord Murugan in Malaysia, the most famous being the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur. There is a 42.7 m-high statue of Lord Murugan at the entrance to the Batu Caves, which is the largest Lord Murugan statue in the world.
    Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Tank Road, Singapore is a major Hindu temple where each year the Thaipusam festival takes place with devotees of Lord Muruga carrying Kavadis seeking penance and blessings of the Lord.
    In United kingdom, Highgate Hill Murugan temple is one of the oldest and most famous. In London, Sri Murugan Temple in Manor park is a well known temple. In Midlands, Leicester Shri Siva Murugan Temple [4]  is gaining popularity recently. Skanda Vale  in West Wales was founded by Guruji, a Tamil devotee of Subramaniam, and its primary deity is Lord Murugan.
    In AustraliaSydney Murugan temple in Parramatta (Mays Hill), Perth Bala Muruguan temple in Mandogalup and Kundrathu Kumaran temple in RockbankMelbourne are major Hindu temples for all Australian Hindus and Murugan devotees.
    In New Zealand, there is a Thirumurugan Temple in Auckland and a Kurinji Kumaran Temple in Wellington, both dedicated to Lord Murugan.
    In the USA, Shiva Murugan Temple in Concord, Northern California [5]  and Murugan Temple of North America in Maryland, Washington DC region [6]  are popular.
    In Toronto, Canada, Canada Kanthasamy Temple is known amongst many Hindus in Canada.
    In Dollard-des-Ormeaux, a suburb of the city of Montreal in Canada, there is also a monumental temple of Murugan.
    The Sri Sivasubramaniar Temple, located in the Sihl Valley in Adliswil, is the most famous and largest Hindu temple in Switzerland.[17]

    [edit]See also

    [edit]References

    1. ^ "Rare Sri Lankan idol recovered" . BBC News. 11 June 2008.
    2. ^ Cage of Freedom By Andrew C. Willford
    3. ^ Clothey p.49 Skanda is derived from the verb skanḍr meaning "to attack, leap, rise, fall, be spilled, ooze"
    4. ^ Many Faces of Murakan: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God By Fred W. Clothey p.1 [1] 
    5. ^ "Muruga in Indus Script"  - a note by the renowned epigraphist, Iravatham Mahadevan
    6. ^ Kanchan Sinha, Kartikeya in Indian art and literature, 1979,Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan.
    7. ^ The Smile of Murugan on Tamil Literature of South India By Kamil Zvelebil
    8. a b Ratna Navaratnam ; Karttikeya, the divine child:the Hindu testament of wisdom published in 1973 by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
    9. ^ MahabharataAranyaka Parva, Section 230 of the vulgate translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883-1896)
    10. ^ http://www.apamnapat.com/articles/030Shiva-BirthOfKartikeya.html 
    11. ^ [2] The Hexagram, Symbol of God Murukan - N.S. Valluvan - Chennai, India
    12. ^ [3] 
    13. ^ Kinsley, David (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions . University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-06339-2. p. 95.
    14. ^ Jayaratne, D.K. (May 5, 2009). "Rescue Archeology of Ruhuna, Veheralgala project." . Peradeniya University. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
    15. a b Pathmanathan, S (September 1999). "The guardian deities of Sri Lanka:Skanda-Murgan and Kataragama" . The journal of the institute of Asian studies (The institute of Asian studies).
    16. ^ Bechert, Heinz (1970). "Skandakumara and Kataragama: An Aspect of the Relation of Hinduism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka" .Proceedings of the Third International Tamil Conference Seminar (Paris: International Association of Tamil Research).
    17. ^ Religionen in der Schweiz: Hinduismus 

    [edit]Further reading

    [edit]External links


    Welcome to The Montreal Thiru Murugan Temple’s

    Also popularly known as Montreal ARULMIHU THIRUMURUGAN KOYIL (“மொன்றியல் அருள்மிகு திருமுருகன் கோயில்” - Tamil ).
    Temple du Murugan est administre par La Mission Saiva du Quebec
    (French). Administered by SAIVA MISSION OF QUEBEC
    established in 1983 and registered as Non-Profit religious organization.
    This Temple is the first Saivaite Temple in the Province of Quebec in
    Canada. While it is open to all those devotees who believe in
    SAIVAISM to fulfill their religious rituals and functions, all other faiths are cordially invited to this Temple.



    அடியார் ஆக்கம்
    முருகப்பெருமான் அடியார்களே வணக்கம்! வருடாந்த மகோற்சவத்தை முன்னிட்டு எமது இணையத்தில் அடியார் ஆக்கம் எனும் பகுதியை பிரசுரிக்க‌வுள்ளதால் அடியார்களாகிய நீங்கள் முருகப்பெருமான்,திருக்கோவில் பற்றிய புகைப்படங்களை அல்லது உங்களால் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட(Editing)புகைப்படங்களை அல்லது முருகப்பெருமான் மீதான பாடல்கள், கவிதைகள், ஆக்கங்கள் ஆகியவற்றினை எமக்கு info@inuvilkanthan.com எனும் மின்னஞ்சல் முகவரிக்கு உங்கள் விபரங்களுடன் அனுப்பி வைக்கவும். நன்றி.


    1) Kanda Shasti Kavasam
    Thuthipporku Valvinaipom Thunbampom
    Nenjil Pathipporku Selvam Palithuk Kathithongum
    Nishtaiyum Kaikoodum
    Nimalar Arul Kanthar Sashti Kavacham Thanai
    Amarar Idar Theera Amaram Purintha
    Kumaranadi Nenjeh Kuri
    Sashtiyai Nokka Saravana Bavanaar
    Sishtarukku Uthavum Sengkathir Velon
    Paatham Irandil Panmani Sathangai
    Geetham Paada Kinkini Yaada
    Maiya Nadam Seiyum Mayil Vahananaar
    Kaiyil Velaal Yenaik Kaakka Vendru Vanthu
    Varavara Velah Yuthanaar Varuha
    Varuha Varuha Mayilon Varuha
    Inthiran Mudhalaa Yendisai Potra
    Manthira Vadivel Varuha Varuha
    Vaasavan Maruhaa Varuha Varuha
    Nesak Kuramahal Ninaivon Varuha
    Aarumuham Padaitha Aiyaa Varuha
    Neeridum Velavan Nitham Varuha
    Sirahiri Velavan Seekkiram Varuha
    Saravana Bavanaar Saduthiyil Varuha
    Rahana Bavasa Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra
    Rihana Bavasa Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri
    Vinabava Sarahana Veeraa Namo Nama
    Nibava Sarahana Nira Nira Nirena
    Vasara Hanabava Varuha Varuha
    Asurar Kudi Kedutha Aiyaa Varuha
    Yennai Yaalum Ilaiyon Kaiyil
    Pannirendu Aayutham Paasaan Gusamum
    Parantha Vizhihal Pannirandu Ilanga
    Virainthu Yenaik Kaakka Velon Varuha
    Aiyum Kiliyum Adaivudan Sauvum
    Uyyoli Sauvum Uyiraiyum Kiliyum
    Kiliyum Sauvum Kilaroli Yaiyum
    Nilai Petrenmun Nithamum Olirum
    Shanmuhan Neeyum Thaniyoli Yovvum
    Kundaliyaam Siva Guhan Thinam Varuha
    Aaru Muhamum Animudi Aarum
    Neeridu Netriyum Neenda Puruvamum
    Panniru Kannum Pavalach Chevvaayum
    Nanneri Netriyil Navamanich Chuttiyum
    Eeraaru Seviyil Ilahu Kundalamum
    Aariru Thinpuyathu Azhahiya Maarbil
    Palboo Shanamum Pathakkamum Tharithu
    Nanmanipoonda Navarathna Maalaiyum
    Muppuri Noolum Muthani Maarbum
    Sepppazhahudaiya Thiruvayir Unthiyum
    Thuvanda Marungil Sudaroli Pattum
    Navarathnam Pathitha Nartchee Raavum
    Iruthodai Azhahum Inai Muzhanthaalum
    Thiruvadi Yathanil Silamboli Muzhanga
    Seha Gana Seha Gana Seha Gana Segana
    Moga Moga Moga Moga Moga Moga Mogana
    Naha Naha Naha Naha Naha Naha Nahena
    Digu Kuna Digu Digu Digu Kuna Diguna
    Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra
    Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri
    Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du Du
    Dagu Dagu Digu Digu Dangu Dingugu
    Vinthu Vinthu Mayilon Vinthu
    Munthu Munthu Muruhavel Munthu
    Yenthanai Yaalum Yehraha Selva
    Mainthan Vehndum Varamahizhnth Thuthavum
    Laalaa Laalaa Laalaa Vehshamum
    Leelaa Leelaa Leelaa Vinothanendru
    Unthiru Vadiyai Uruthi Yendrennum
    Yen Thalai Vaithun Yinaiyadi Kaaka
    Yennuyirk Uyiraam Iraivan Kaaka
    Panniru Vizhiyaal Baalanaik Kaaka
    Adiyen Vathanam Azhahuvel Kaaka
    Podipunai Netriyaip Punithavel Kaaka
    Kathirvel Irandu Kanninaik Kaaka
    Vithisevi Irandum Velavar Kaaka
    Naasihal Irandum Nalvel Kaaka
    Pesiya Vaaythanai Peruvel Kaaka
    Muppathirupal Munaivel Kaaka
    Seppiya Naavai Sevvel Kaaka
    Kannam Irandum Kathirvel Kaaka
    Yennilang Kazhuthai Iniyavel Kaaka
    Maarbai Irathna Vadivel Kaaka
    Serila Mulaimaar Thiruvel Kaaka
    Vadivel Iruthol Valamberak Kaaka
    Pidarihal Irandum Peruvel Kaaka
    Azhahudan Muthuhai Arulvel Kaaka
    Pazhu Pathinaarum Paruvel Kaaka
    Vetrivel Vayitrai Vilangave Kaaka
    Sitridai Azhahura Sevvel Kaaka
    Naanaam Kayitrai Nalvel Kaaka
    Aan Penn Kurihalai Ayilvel Kaaka
    Pittam Irandum Peruvel Kaaka
    Vattak Kuthathai Valvel Kaaka
    Panai Thodai Irandum Paruvel Kaaka
    Kanaikaal Muzhanthaal Kathirvel Kaaka
    Aiviral Adiyinai Arulvel Kaaka
    Kaihal Irandum Karunaivel Kaaka
    Munkai Irandum Muranvel Kaaka
    Pinkai Irandum Pinnaval Irukka
    Naavil Sarasvathi Natrunai Yaaha
    Naabik Kamalam Nalvel Kakka
    Muppaal Naadiyai Munaivel Kaaka
    Yeppozhuthum Yenai Yethirvel Kaaka
    Adiyen Vasanam Asaivula Neram
    Kaduhave Vanthu Kanahavel Kaaka
    Varum Pahal Thannil Vachravel Kaaka
    Arai Irul Thannil Anaiyavel Kaaka
    Yemathil Saamathil Yethirvel Kaaka
    Thaamatham Neeki Chathurvel Kaaka
    Kaaka Kaaka Kanahavel Kaaka
    Noaka Noaka Nodiyil Noaka
    Thaakka Thaakka Thadaiyara Thaakka
    Paarka Paarka Paavam Podipada
    Billi Soonyam Perumpahai Ahala
    Valla Bootham Valaashtihap Peihal
    Allal Paduthum Adangaa Muniyum
    Pillaihal Thinnum Puzhakadai Muniyum
    Kollivaayp Peihalum Kuralaip Peihalum
    Penkalai Thodarum Bramaraa Chatharum
    Adiyanaik Kandaal Alari Kalangida
    Irisi Kaatteri Ithunba Senaiyum
    Yellilum Iruttilum Yethirpadum Mannarum
    Kana Pusai Kollum Kaaliyodu Anaivarum
    Vittaan Gaararum Migu Pala Peihalum
    Thandiyak Kaararum Sandaalar Halum
    Yen Peyar Sollavum Idi Vizhunthodida
    Aanai Adiyinil Arum Paavaihalum
    Poonai Mayirum Pillaihal Enpum
    Nahamum Mayirum Neenmudi Mandaiyum
    Paavaihal Udane Pala Kalasathudan
    Manaiyil Puthaitha Vanjanai Thanaiyum
    Ottiya Paavaiyum Ottiya Serukkum
    Kaasum Panamum Kaavudan Sorum
    Othu Manjanamum Oruvazhi Pokum
    Adiyanaik Kandaal Alainthu Kulainthida
    Maatran Vanjahar Vanthu Vanangida
    Kaala Thoothaal Yenai Kandaal Kalangida
    Anji Nadungida Arandu Purandida
    Vaay Vittalari Mathi Kettoda
    Padiyinil Mutta Paasak Kayitraal
    Kattudan Angam Katharida Kattu
    Katti Uruttu Kaal Kai Muriya
    Kattu Kattu Katharida Kattu
    Muttu Muttu Muzhihal Pithungida
    Sekku Sekku Sethil Sethilaaha
    Sokku Sokku Soorpahai Sokku
    Kuthu Kuthu Koorvadi Velaal
    Patru Patru Pahalavan Thanaleri
    Thanaleri Thanaleri Thanalathuvaaha
    Viduvidu Velai Verundathu Oda
    Puliyum Nariyum Punnari Naayum
    Yeliyum Karadiyum Inithodarnthu Oda
    Thelum Paambum Seyyaan Pooraan
    Kadivida Vishangal Kadithuyar Angam
    Yeriya Vishangal Yelithudan Iranga
    Polippum Sulukkum Oruthalai Noyum
    Vaatham Sayithiyam Valippu Pitham
    Soolai Sayam Kunmam Sokku Sirangu
    Kudaichal Silanthi Kudalvip Purithi
    Pakka Pilavai Padarthodai Vaazhai
    Kaduvan Paduvan Kaithaal Silanthi
    Parkuthu Aranai Paru Arai Yaakkum
    Yellap Piniyum Yendranaik Kandaal
    Nillaa Thoda Nee Yenak Arulvaay
    Eerezhula Hamum Yenak Uravaaha
    Aanum Pennum Anaivarum Yenakkaa
    Mannaal Arasarum Mahizhnthura Vaahavum
    Unnai Thuthikka Un Thirunaamam
    Saravana Bavane Sailoli Bavanee
    Thirupura Bavane Thigazholi Bavane
    Paripura Bavane Pavamozhi Bavane
    Arithiru Maruhaa Amaraa Pathiyai
    Kaathu Thevarkal Kadum Sirai Viduthaay
    Kanthaa Guhane Kathir Velavane
    Kaarthihai Mainthaa Kadambaa Kadambanai
    Idumbanai Yazhitha Iniyavel Muruhaa
    Thanihaa Salane Sangaran Puthalvaa
    Kathirkaa Mathurai Kathirvel Muruhaa
    Pazhani Pathivaazh Baala Kumaaraa
    Aavinan Kudivaazh Azhahiya Vela
    Senthil Maamalai Yurum Sengalva Raayaa
    Samaraa Purivaazh Shanmuha Tharase
    Kaarar Kuzhalaal Kalaimahal Nandraay
    Yennaa Irukka Yaan Unai Paada
    Yenai Thodarnthu Irukkum Yenthai Muruhanai
    Padinen Aadinen Paravasa Maaha
    Aadinen Naadinen Aavinan Poothiyey
    Nesamudan Yaan Netriyil Aniya
    Paasa Vinaihal Patrathu Neengi
    Unpatham Perave Unnarulaaha
    Anbudan Rakshi Annamum Sonnamum
    Metha Methaaha Velaayu Thanaar
    Sithi Petradiyen Sirappudan Vazhga
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Mayilon Vaazhga
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Vadivel Vaazhga
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Malai Guru Vaazhga
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Malai Kura Mahaludan
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Vaarana Thuvasam
    Vaazhga Vaazhga Yen Varumaihal Neenga
    Yethanai Kuraihal Yethanai Pizhaihal
    Yethanai Adiyen Yethanai Seiyinum
    Petravan Neeguru Poruppathu Unkadan
    Petraval Kuramahal Petravalaame
    Pillai Yendranbaay Piriya Malithu
    Mainthan Yenmeethu Unmanam Mahizhntharuli
    Thanjam Yendradiyaar Thazhaithida Arulsey
    Kanthar Sashti Kavasam Virumbiya
    Baalan Theva Raayan Paharn Thathai
    Kaalaiyil Maalaiyil Karuthudan Naalum
    Aasaa Rathudan Angam Thulakki
    Nesamudan Oru Ninaivathu Vaahi
    Kanthar Sashti Kavasam Ithanai
    Sindhai Kalangaathu Thiyaani Pavarhal
    Orunaal Muppathaa Ruru Kondu
    Othiyeh Jebithu Uhanthu Neeraniya
    Ashta Thikkullor Adangalum Vasamaay
    Thisai Mannar Yenmar Seyalathu (Sernthangu) Arulvar
    Maatrala Rellaam Vanthu Vananguvar
    Navakol Mahizhnthu Nanmai Alithidum
    Navamatha Nenavum Nallezhil Peruvar
    Enthanaalum Eerettaay Vaazhvar
    Kantharkai Velaam Kavasa Thadiyai
    Vazhiyaay Kaana Meiyaay Vilangum
    Vizhiyaal Kaana Verundidum Peigal
    Pollathavarai Podi Podi Yaakkum
    Nallor Ninaivil Nadanam Puriyum
    Sarva Sathuru Sankaa Rathadi
    Arintha Yenathullaam Ashta Letchmihalil
    Veera Letchmikku Virun Thunavaaha
    Soora Bathmaavaith Thunithagai Yathanaal
    Iruba Thezhvarkku Uvan Thamuthalitha
    Gurubaran Pazhani Kundrinil Irukkum
    Chinna Kuzhanthai Sevadi Potri
    Yenai Thadu Thaatkola Yendrana Thullum
    Meviya Vadivurum Velava Potri
    Thevargal Senaa Pathiye Potri
    Kuramahal Manamahizh Kove Potri
    Thiramihu Thivya Thehaa Potri
    Idumbaa Yuthane Idumbaa Potri
    Kadambaa Potri Kanthaa Potri
    Vetchi Punaiyum Veleh Potri
    Uyargiri Kanaha Sabaikor Arase
    Mayilnada Miduvoy Malaradi Saranam
    Saranam Saranam Saravanabava Om
    Saranam Saranam Shanmuhaa Saranam
    Saranam Saranam Shanmuhaa Saranam

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