Arupadaividu
 
| ||||||
Location of the Arupadaividu Temple in Tamil Nadu |
Arupadaividu (also Arupadai Veedu, Tamil : அறுபடைவீடு Aṟupaṭaivīṭu [ ˈarɯpaɖɛi̯ˌʋi̯ːɖɯ ] "six encampments ") is a name for a group of six Hindu temples in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu , which are dedicated to the god Murugan (Skanda). This group includes the Murugan temples of Palani , Tiruchendur , Tiruttani , Tirupparankundram and Swamimalai . The identity of the sixth temple is disputed, but the Pazhamudircholai temple at Alagarkoil is often mentioned .
The concept of the six temples of Murugan
The god Skanda, one of the two sons of Shiva and Parvati according to Hindu mythology , plays practically no role in the religious practice of northern India, but is one of the most popular deities among the Tamils under the name Murugan. The Murugan cult is linked to the idea that six temples, the so-called Arupadaividu , are particularly closely connected to Murugan. The concept of the six Arupadaividu temples goes back to the Tirumurugatruppadai ("Guide to Murugan"), a text by the poet Nakkirar from the 6th century. Arupadaividu temples owe their current popularity primarily to the revival of the Murugan cult in Tamil Nadu since the late 19th century and the improved travel options from the 20th century.
The Arupadaividu temples are an example of a cluster of temples that are grouped together. Other well-known temple clusters in Tamil Nadu are the Pancha Bhuta temples , in which Shiva is embodied in one of the five elements according to Hindu ideas, and the nine Navagraha temples , which are dedicated to the heavenly bodies.
Each temple of the six Arupadaividu temples is associated with a certain aspect of Murugan's mythology: Tirupparankundram is considered the place where Murugan married his consort Teyvayanai, in Tiruchendur he is said to have set out to defeat the demon Surapadman, he moved to Palani back offended after he was defeated by his brother Ganesha in a competition. Swamimalai is the place where Murugan is said to have taught his father Shiva the meaning of the syllable Om and he is said to have retired to Tiruttani after he married his second wife Valli.
Sacred topography
In the temples of Palani , Tiruchendur , Tiruttani , Tirupparankundram and Swamimalai , membership of the Arupadaividu temples is generally recognized. The identity of the sixth temple is disputed: The Pazhamudircholai temple is often mentioned at Alagarkoil . but other Murugan temples also lay claim to the status. It is often said that any Murugan temple in Tamil Nadu is the sixth Arupadaividu temple.
The Arupadaividu temples are spread over the whole of Tamil Nadu: Tiruttani is in the north near the border with the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh , Swamimalai in the Kaveri Delta near Kumbakonam in central Tamil Nadu, Palani at the foot of the Palani Mountains in the west, Tirupparankundram and Pazhamudircholai near Madurai in the southern inland and Tiruchendur on the coast of the Indian Ocean in the extreme south. Due to their location, the Arupadaividu temples mark Tamil Nadu as the domain of Murugan and at the same time anchor Murugan in Tamil Nadu. The concept of the Arupadaividu temples underpins the current notion of Murugan as the "god of the Tamils".
The god Murugan is often associated with the mountains. Murugan temples are often found on mountains and hilltops. Five out of six Arupadaividu temples stand on hills. The spectrum ranges from wooded mountain slopes in Pazhamudircholai to steep rocks such as in Tirupparankundram to a small artificial hill in Swamimalai. Only the temple of Tiruchendur is not on a hill, but directly on the sea coast.
Pilgrimage practice
The Arupadaividu temples are popular pilgrimage destinations that are visited either individually or as part of pilgrimage trips. Its popularity is evidenced by the fact that the Murugan Temple of Palani is the most visited pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu. On a normal day, 10,000–12,000 believers visit the temple, and on special occasions the number multiplies. Various tour operators offer organized tours that visit all six Arupadaividu temples. For example, a four-day Arupadaividu bus tour can be booked with the tourism authority of the state of Tamil Nadu.
List of Arupadaividu temples
| sanctuary | place | District | Coordinates | image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirupparankundram | Tirupparankundram | Madurai District | 9 ° 53 'N, 78 ° 4' E |
.jpg)
|
| Tiruchiralaivay | Tiruchendur | Thoothukudi District | 8 ° 30 'N, 78 ° 8' E |
|
| Tiruvavinankudi | Palani | Dindigul district | 10 ° 26 'N, 77 ° 31' E |
|
| Tiruverakam | Swamimalai | Thanjavur District | 10 ° 57 'N, 79 ° 20' E |
|
| Kundrutoradal | Tiruttani | Tiruvallur district | 13 ° 10 'N, 79 ° 36' E |
|
| Palamudircholai | at Alagarkoil | Madurai District | 10 ° 6 'N, 78 ° 13' E |
|
supporting documents
- ↑ Compare e.g. B. the listing on the website murugan.org .
- ↑ Clothey 1979, p. 117.
- ↑ Clothey 1979, p. 116.
- ^ Website of the city council of Palani. ( Memento from June 28, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Tamil Nadu Tourism website. ( Memento from June 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
literature
- Fred W. Clothey: The Many Faces of Murukaṉ. The History and Meaning of a South Indian God. The Hague: Mouton, 1978.