View source for Arupadai Veedu

{{location map+|India Tamil Nadu|width=260|caption=The Six Temples' location in [[Tamil Nadu]]|places=
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Thiruparankundram Murugan temple|Thiruparankundram]]|lat=9.8798|long=78.0711}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Tiruchendur Murugan Temple|Tiruchendur]]|lat=8.495833|long=78.129167}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Palani Murugan temple|Palani]]|lat=10.438805|long=77.520261}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Swaminathaswamy Temple, Swamimalai|Swamimalai]]|lat=10.956844|long=79.325776}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Thiruthani Murugan Temple|Thirutani]]|lat=13.171833|long=79.603769}}
{{location map~|India Tamil Nadu|label=[[Pazhamudircholai]]|lat=10.094069|long=78.223445}}
}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name                = Six Abodes of Murugan
| image               = 
| alt                 = 
| caption             = 
| map_type            = <!-- India Tamil Nadu -->
| map_caption         = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates         = 
| native_name         = Six Holy Abodes of Lord Muruga
| country             = [[India]]
| state               = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district            = 
| location            = [[Thiruparankundram]], [[Tiruchendur]], [[Pazhani]], [[Swamimalai]], [[Thiruthani]], [[Pazhamudircholai]]
| elevation_m         = 
| deity               = [[Murugan]]
| festivals           = [[Kaumaram]], [[Thaipusam]]
| architecture        = [[Ancient Tamil Architecture]]
| temple_quantity     = 6
| monument_quantity   = 
| inscriptions        = 
| established         = 
| creator             = 
| website             = 
}}

The '''Six Abodes of Murugan''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: ''Āṟupadai veedu'') are six [[temple]]s in in the [[South India]]n [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The [[god]] is known by different names. These include [[Kartikeya]], Kanda, Vadivela and Murugan. The six most sacred [[house|abodes]] of Murugan were written about in Tamil [[sangam literature]]. They are mentioned in "Thirumurugatrupadai" by [[Nakkeerar]] and in "Thiruppugazh" by Arunagirinathar. The six abodes are [[:en:Subramaniya_Swamy_Temple,_Thiruparankundram|Thiruparankundram]], [[:en:Subramaniya_Swamy_Temple,_Tiruchendur|Tiruchendur]], [[:en:Dhandayuthapani_Swamy_Temple|Palani]], [[:en:Swaminatha_Swamy_Temple|Swamimalai]], [[:en:Subramaniya_Swamy_Temple,_Tiruttani|Thiruthani]] and [[:en:Murugan_Temple,_Pazhamudircholai|Pazhamudircholai]].

==Murugan==
The story of Lord Murugan is written about in [[Skanda Purana]]. Legend says that the [[demon]] Soorapadman [[torture]]d the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]]. They complained to Lord [[Vishnu]] and [[Brahma]].  [[Kamadeva]] was sent to wake Lord [[Shiva]], who later gave birth to [[Kartikeya]]. Karthikeya killed Soorapadman and saved the devas. Muruga is shown as the god of love and war. Kartikeya married [[Valli]] and [[Deivayanai]] .<ref>{{cite news|title=Arupadaiveedu|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111259230200.htm|date=12 November 2010|access-date=3 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120063752/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/12/stories/2010111259230200.htm|archive-date=20 November 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Tamil literature five types of lands are explained. They are Kurinji ([[mountain]]s), Mullai ([[forest]]), Marutham ([[farming|agricultural]]), Neithal ([[coast]]al) and Palai ([[desert]]). Each land types has a defferent god. Lord [[Muruga]] is a leader of the Kurinji region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/murugan.asp |title=Worship of Murugan |access-date=26 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126014218/http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/murugan.asp |archive-date=26 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Religious importance==
[[Arunagirinathar]] was a 15th-century Tamil poet born in [[Tiruvannamalai]]. When he was young, he was a [[riot]]er and seducer of women. After ruining his health, he tried to kill himself. He did this by jumping from the northern tower of [[Annamalaiyar Temple]]. He was saved by the god [[Murugan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=V.K. |first=Subramanian |title= 101 Mystics of India |year=2007 |publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7017-471-4|page=109}}</ref> He became a staunch devotee and composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being ''Thirupugazh''.<ref>{{Citation |last=Aiyar |first=P.V.Jagadisa |title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=tiruvannamalai&pg=PA190 |year=1982 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3 |pages=191–203 |access-date=4 December 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Kamil |last=Zvelebil |title=Tamil literature, Volume 2, Part 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ33i496MsIC&q=tiruvempavai&pg=PA105 |year=1975 |publisher=E.J. Brill, Leiden |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-04-04190-7 |page=217 |access-date=4 December 2016 }}</ref> Arunagirinathar went to many Murugan temples. On his way back to [[Tiruvannamalai]], he visited [[Palani]]. He sung songs about [[Swaminathaswamy]].<ref>[[#kamil|Zvelebil 1991]], p. 53</ref> Tiruparamkundram is considered the first of the six abodes. This is the only temple where abishekam is performed for [[Vel]] instead of Lord Murugan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arupadai Veedu - Famous Murugan Temples|url=https://www.dharisanam.com/pages/arupadai-veedu|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Dharisanam|language=en}}</ref> Palani is considered the most prominent abodes of Lord Muruga.<ref>{{cite book|title=Economic Reforms and Small Scale Industries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIHLq5XvZMEC&q=palani+murugan+temple&pg=PA35|page=25|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=2009|isbn=9788180694493}}</ref>

==Traditions==
One of the main traditions of the six temples, is the [[tonsure|tonsuring]] of devotees. They removed their hair to be like the Palani deity. Another tradition is the anointing of the head of the deity's [[idol]] with [[sandalwood]] paste. This is done at the end of the day before the temple closes. The paste is said to get [[medicine|medicinal]] properties. It is given to devotees, as ''rakkāla chandaṇam''.<ref name=JSTOR>{{cite journal|title=Pilgrimage Centers in the Tamil Cultus of Murukan|jstor=1461919|last=Clothey|first=Fred W.|year=1972|page=82|publisher=Oxford University Press|journal=Journal of the American Academy of Religion|volume=40|issue=1}}</ref> 

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]