Murugan Temple

I made an earlier posting on an ancient Murugan Temple located on Chengam Road. There are several other notable Murugan Temples and hillside Shrines dedicated to this God, here at Tiruvannamalai.

The oldest Tamil hymns refer to the Sri Murugan as God of of the Hilly regions, the God of the tribes of hunters—Velan (He who carries a vel or spear), and shrines dedicated to him are often found on rocky hills all around Tamil Nadu. 

Path to Shrine

One such shrine is on the top of a hillock off Perumbakkam Road. The shrine can be accessed in under five minutes by hiking up a small rocky pathway. For the little energy expended darshan from the top of the hillock is superb and a big favourite to those who know the area. 

At top of Pathway

The spear Lord Murugan holds in his hand, is an emblem of power and indicates that He is the ruler of the Universe. His vehicle is the peacock which he rides, thus signifying that He has conquered pride, egoism and vanity. There is a cobra under His feet, which signifies that He is absolutely fearless, immortal and wise. 

Arunachala Darshan from Shrine Hillock

As Lord Murugan is regarded as God of the mountains, so too Lord Vishnu is worshipped as God of the Forests, Lord Indra as God of agricultural land, Lord Varuna as God of costal regions and Lord Kali as God of desert regions. 

Outcrop known as Anjaneya's Rock

Some of Sri Murugan’s other names are: Lord Subramanya, Skanda, Kumaresa, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Guha and Velayudhan. Lord Subramanya is a ray born of the Divine Consciousness of Lord Siva. Valli and Deivayanai are His two wives who represent the power of action and the power of knowledge. 

Vel in front of Shrine

Lord Murugan is an aspect of the Divine easily accessible in this age of ignorance and lack of faith. He gives material and spiritual prosperity and success to His devotees, if they show even the smallest devotion to Him. 

One view of unspoilt countryside

The six most sacred abodes of Lord Murugan known as (Aarupadai Veedu), situated in Tamil Nadu, are: Tirupparamkunram, Tiruchendur, Thiruvaivanankudi, Swamimalai, Thiruthani, Pazhamudircholai with Marudamalai often considered to be a seventh abode.

The now closed rock quarry off Perumbakkam road

For a fascinating in-depth narrative about Skanda, the elegant war-god son of Shiva Go to this link here. 

Growing urbanisation of Tiruvannamalai

Murugan Shrine

Yesterday while walking near Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, I looked up at the small hillock spur of Arunachala that I regularly climbed when living in that area. Although it takes under 10 minutes to get to the top, it has one of the best views of Arunachala and the surrounding countryside. Very few people know about the Murugan Temple on top of the hillock and sitting up there is; quiet, private and inspirational.

I'm at the top of the spur and in front of me is the vel (spear) that is associated with Lord Murugan. In the distance is the water of Samudram Lake and lots of nice, open countryside.

The below photograph is of Lord Murugan, whose shrine is at the top of the hillock. Lord Murugan is Ganesha's (the Elephant God) brother and is particularly revered in Tamil Nadu.

Next to the shrine is a natural rock formation that many locals call 'Anjaneya' (Hanuman, the Monkey God) because it resembles the side profile of a monkey.

The hill spur is attached to the southwest foot of Arunachala. In the next photograph you can see part of the inner girivalam pathway.

This is the view of Arunachala from the Hillock.

Over the last couple of years there has been a rapid introduction of mobile phones into the area. Sadly with mobile phones goes telephone towers. Just pointing my camera towards the Ramana Nagar area, I can see 5 phone towers.

The next picture is of the developing residential area of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar. In the background on the left side is the big white auditorium of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram.

The below is of the quarry which is slowly eating away at the Hillock I am standing on. To read more about this you can check here and here.

With my back to Arunachala and looking forward in all directions, I can see lots of unspoilt countryside. In the front is the rapidly receding waters of the 600 acre Samudram Lake, which fills and empties depending on the yearly rains.

To the west and away from the township of Tiruvannamalai and its ever-developing urbanization, lots of open spaces.