DharmSetu
Six Abodes of Murugan

Arupadai Veedu — The 6 Abodes of Murugan

आरुपडै वीडु — मुरुगन के छह धाम

The six battle camps of Lord Murugan across Tamil Nadu, praised by the poet Nakkeerar in the Thirumurugatrupadai — the foremost pilgrimage of Tamil Shaivism.

Shrines

6

on the route

Arupadai Veedu — literally 'the six battle camps' — are the six principal temples of Murugan (Kartikeya, Skanda, Subramanya) in Tamil Nadu. The sequence is set by the Thirumurugatrupadai, a Sangam-era poem by Nakkeerar that guides a devotee from shrine to shrine. Each abode marks a moment in Murugan's story: the place he married Deivanai, the shore where he worshipped Shiva after defeating Surapadman, the hill where he stood as a renunciate, the site where he taught the meaning of Om to his own father, the temple where he married Valli, and the forest grove of his beloved. Together they cover the length of the Tamil country, from Madurai in the south to Tiruvallur in the north.

The route

6 shrines, in order

  1. 1

    Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Madurai·Tamil Nadu

    The rock-cut hill temple where Murugan married Deivanai, daughter of Indra.

  2. 2

    Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Tiruchendur·Tamil Nadu

    The only one of the six on the seashore — where Murugan worshipped Shiva after defeating Surapadman.

  3. 3

    Palani Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Palani·Tamil Nadu

    Dhandayuthapani Swamy on the hill — Murugan as a renunciate, holding only a staff.

  4. 4

    Swamimalai Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Swamimalai, Kumbakonam·Tamil Nadu

    Where Murugan expounded the meaning of the Pranava (Om) to Shiva, and so became his father's teacher.

  5. 5

    Thiruthani Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Tiruttani·Tamil Nadu

    The hill of 365 steps, where Murugan married Valli and his anger subsided after the war.

  6. 6

    Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple

    Murugan·Alagar Kovil, Madurai·Tamil Nadu

    The forest grove of Valli, set in the Alagar hills north of Madurai.

यात्रा सम्पूर्णा

The journey is complete.