Aru Padai Veedugal: Murugan's Six 'Battle Camps'
Om Muruga !
What is Aru Padai Veedugal:
Lord Muruga's 6 Abodes also called as Battle Camps are called Aru Padai veedu as declared by Tamil Poet Nakirar in his Thirumurgaatrupadai.
- Tirupparamkundram
- Tiruchendur
- Tiruvavinankudi (Palani)
- Tiruverakam (Swami Malai)
- Kundruthoradal (Tiruttani and several other hills) and
- Palamuthircholai.
One can get the blessings of Lord Muruga by visiting all the above 6 places.
On August 8th myself and my wife, we were on a visit to our Family diety Saptha Kanniga Temple near Tiruvannamalai at Padoor. Our wellwisher Mr. Manikandan advised us to visit Lord Muruga temple which is situated 5 KMs from Padoor. I was not in a proper attire to go to a temple, he offered me one of his safron dhoti and advised us to visit Lord Muruga as it was a Karthiga day.
Since it was an auspicious day, there was heavy rush of devotees to get a darshan of Lord Muruga. There is no special queues, one had to follow the queue and note there is no security to advise the people to follow the queue. The people who visited are mostly from the near by villages and they were disciplined.
Though I had been to several temples of Lord Muruga in the past, we never thought this year, visit to this temple, is going to be followed my so many in next few months.
Muruga Ashram
After Vinayaka Chaturthi on Sept 18th, my younger son fall ill and we were very much worried. He had some health issues and this was the time he was coming better with respect to his attitude and health. But sudden illness makes us so disturbed.
Myself & my wife Gayathri, we went to a near by ashram by name Muruga Ashram. She had a thought of tying a Kanganatharam for lifting Milkpot on the occassion of Maha sashti between 12th Nov and 17th Nov for the benefit and betterment of my child's health. While going to ashram i was not sure if I will also tie one, but it just happens that i also followed the queue to tie the kanganathara. All gents are mandated to be part of Unja urthi on Sunday's organized by the Ashram atleast one between October 3rd and November 1st.
Unjavarthi
I attended the unjavarthi for the first time as it is mandated by ashram, failing which i may not get the chance of lifting the Milk pot for Maha sashti. My first experience being part of Unjavarthi bajanai was amazing. I really enjoyed every moment, when the bagavathar sings a song. Though my initial thought was to be part of it only once, then realized that i should be part of all the weekends until Nov 1st. Infact, one of the weekend, we had a chance to invite the Bhagavadar to our home and do Paada pooja. It was a great event.
Aru Padai Veedu
As I try to learn more about Maha Kanda Sashti , we come across many thoughts like reading Subramanya Mangalashtagam, Pagai Kadithal, Thirupugazh and as always Kanda Sashti Kavasam. We read or listen to these almost daily. Upon hearing and listening to the devotional songs of Muruga, we naturally had a wish of visiting Aru Padai Veedu.
Though my son was not well, we just planned for Aru Padai Veedu like below and left the rest to Lord Muruga.
1. Visit Tiruttani (Travel by Bus/Train)
2. Visit Tiruchendur/Madurai by Train
3. Visit Palani / Swamimalai by Car
Tiruttani
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| Tiruttani |
Oct 10th Tiruttani visit was during the Mahalaya Paksham. It was a bright day and as usual we went to Muruga Ashram to receive the blessings from Lord Muruga to commence the Aru Padai tour.
This is the fifth army camp – Padai Veedu of Lord Muruga. Saint Arunagiriar graces in a sitting form. After destroying demon Sura in Tiruchendur, Lord Muruga came to this place. His fury cooled and He became smiling and peaceful-Shanta Swarupi. It is here that the King of Devas Indira gifted his white elephant as a wedding gift to Deivanai. Lord Muruga holds a weapon on His right hand called Vajravel that would produce a thunderlike sound. His left hand is on the hip representing the Gnana Shakti (power of wisdom).
1st Challenge
We had our first challenge for commencing the trip came while we hear to Ashram Guru that the planning of Arupadai tour was inproper we were disappointed. He didn't advised to stop the tour, but remarked that its not a proper plan. We stood before Lord Muruga for a while, and got convinced to go with the current plan, and we will make a proper Aru Padai tour next time. We were happy and we immediately started by CAR instead of public transport planned earlier. We reached Tiruttani in 2 hours drive to receive the wisdom from Lord Muruga.
As soon as we are back to chennai, we were advised by our friend to visit Kanda Kottam in Parrys Corner. We immediately visited the temple and to our surprise, it was a great darshan of the small deity but very powerful Lord Muruga. We also visited Sri Ekambareswar temple situated near by and returned home.
Swami Malai
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| Swamimalai |
2nd Challenge
After Navarathri, my younger son was relieved of his jaundice and started to school on Thursday. Unfortunately first son also fall sick for jaundice. On Friday we were so disturbed about our plans for Swami Malai and son's health. On friday Gayathri gave up and my mother said its not fair to travel while son is not well. We dropped the plan of visiting Swami malai that weekend.
On Saturday, it was a test of emotions by Lord Muruga. Woke up early as usual and was dismantaling the Navarathri golu. My Mother came around 6.15 AM and said that let her advise be not bothering us to goto Swamimalai. She advised us to proceed with Swamimalai darshan. We were very happy and started preparation to start to Swami Malai by Car.
Swamimalai is the 4th Padiaveedu (army camp) of Lord Muruga. This is where He taught His Father Himself-Lord Shiva. Six feet tall Lord Muruga graces with His tuft, sacred thread on the chest and a staff in the right hand and the left on the lap.
7 AM on Saturday i started for Swami malai and was bit concerned if I will be reaching the place by 11.30 AM as the temple closes by 12. PM. If it is by the order of Lord Muruga, who can stop us from getting his blessing. I would say its not I made it to Swami malai by 11.40 am, it was Lord Muruga who took us to Swamimalai within short time of 4.5 hrs, which would be normally 5-6 hours drive, To our pleasant surprise, we were informed that temple closes on that day only at 1.30 due to Kalyana utsav for Lord Muruga.
We had the great darshan of Lord Muruga in Vibuthi kavasam. When Gayathri sings a devotion song, it was so pleasing that Lord Muruga himself listens it. We were asked to wait for sometime by the priest after regular archanas. Priest offered us the Vibuthi that was on the Muruga idol and also gave us the sacred sandal that was in the chest of Lord Muruga. We were so blessed to receive such prasad and darshan by Lord Muruga. We travelled to Vaitheeswaran temple and had a darshan & returned to chennai same day via ECR and reached home at 9.30 PM.
3rd Challenge
After a week of medication for first son, his results weren't that great on Thursday's result. We were again bit concerned on moving a head with a plan to go Trichendur. We decided to leave it to Muruga and proceed as per plan.
Trichendur
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| Trichendur |
Lord Muruga won and accepted Soorapadman on Sashti (sixth day) of the waxing moon (bright) night (valar pirai) of the month Aippasi. This day is celebrated as ‘Kanda Sashti’. This incident happened at Tiruchendur and hence, the ‘Kanda Sashti’ festival is calebrated in this place with all grandeur.
Lord Muruga performed a ‘thanksgiving’ Siva Pooja after he won Soorapadman. He, in this same form appears with a lotus flower on his right hand. Like a Siva devotee, He wears a matted hair on His head. On His left rear-side wall, there is a Lingam. The ‘Deepa Aaraadhanai’ (worship with light) is first given to the Lingam and then only to Murugan.
In the sanctum of Shanmugar also there is a Lingam behind the deity. Both these Lingams are in darkness and could be seen only in the Deepa Aaraadhanai light. Besides, adjacent to the sanctum of Muruga on the right side is the sanctum of ‘Pancha Lingam’.
We reached Trichedur by Train at 8. AM and traveled to Ashok Bhavan a hotel adjacent to temple. We got freshn up and started at 9 am to visit the temple. We had the sprinkle of sea water and washed our legs and proceeded to Trichendur. Since we are accompanied by a elderly local, father of my friend. He had good rapport with the temple authorities and we got a special darshan to sit for a while before Abode and see the pooja. We saw the Sandal kavasa Muruga and felt we are really blessed to have that kind of darshan. . We also had the darshan of Pancha lingam and saw a Peacock in one of the trees. Gayathri's first visit and my 2nd visit to Trichendur has been so wonderful and it can't spelt in words but the real feeling is amazing. He also suggested that we could have discussed with him on the tour plan so that he could have organized better. He was suggesting us to visit Palani and start to Chennai from Madurai instead of Palani. Since we already planned with ticket we couldn't do much at this point.
We had a light breakfast and boarded the bus to Madurai at 10.30 AM and reached Madurai at 2.45 PM.
Madurai
We had the lodging booked at College House and they facilitate in arranging a cab facility to visit Tiruparamkundram and Pazhamudhir cholai.
Tirupparamkundram
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| Tiruparamkundram |
Of the six Army Camp Temples (Aru Padai Veedu), this is the only temple where abishek is performed for Vel weapon of Lord Muruga.
We first opted to visit Tirupparamkundram, as it will be rush on a weekend, if we go late. We went at 4 PM and also had a chance to see the Milk abhishekam of Vel. We completed our worship in this temple at 4.30 and were all set for next place.
Palamuthircholai
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| Pazhamudhir Cholai |
This is the only one among Muruga’s Aaru Padai Veedu temples, where He graces the devotees with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. Also, this is the historical place where Lord played with the ripe Tamil poetess Avvaiyar asking her what fruit she wished, cooked or uncooked – Sutta Pazham or Sudadha Pazham. Naaval tree yields fruit in Oct-Nov (Offseason) only.
We reached Pazhamuthir cholai at 5.45 PM enroute feeding lot of monkeys. When you go, buy the nuts in Madurai itself and otherwise it is very costly near the temple. We have to drive up to a hill to reach the Murugan temple and in the bottom of the hill Sri Sundaraja perumal (Azhagar) temple is situated. Dosa prasadam in this temple is very famous. Adjacent to the temple, Karupanna swamy temple is also there.
We started at 6.15 pm and enroute also visited Sri Badrinath Temple before reaching Madurai at 7.PM. Traffic inside Madurai is very bad and it takes away all your planning. Expect always heavy traffic near Madurai Railway station.
Meenakshi Amman Temple
We had brief break and again moved on to visit Meenakshi Temple. We took a special darshan ticket as there was heavy crowd. We spent good amount of time before the sanctum and visited Sundareswarar Sannidhi. To our surprise, someone asked us to hold on for sometime to view Moksha Deepam Aarthi and we had a great darshan of Lord shiva witnessing Moksha deepam aarthi.
Everything went as planned till now.
Cab driver Mr. Ashok guided as in Madurai. He suggested us that we go by car to Palani instead of Bus. Since Sunday happens to be a sashti day, we were little apprehensive and looking towards going to Palani and back early after his suggestion. Infact thats a wonderful idea and for me i took it as though its repeated instruction by Muruga. Immediately made the plan change. We requested him to come and pick us between 3-3.30 AM in the morning. Its actually 250 KM to/fro to Palani. We paid him Rs.7.50 / km without A/C. It was heavy rainfall in the early morning and finally with gods grace we reached at 5.45 AM at Palani.
Palani
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| Palani |
The presiding deity Lord Muruga’s idol is made of nine precious herbals known as Navapashana and installed by a Holy Siddha named Bogar. This is the third of the six Army Camps (Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga. There are 690 steps for the hill temple. There is also an elephant track without steps. The hill as a whole has all medicinal properties in itself.
Regular archana will happen only after 7.am. We had a chance to see Visvaroopa Dharshan of Lord Muruga with limited cloth dressed murugan with a Vel. Here also, with kindness of Muruga, we had a chance to sit for a while before the sanctum and worship. Since there is no archana performed in the early hours, we had to settle with Abhisheka Theertha prasadam. We had a little of that holy water before we climb down.
Temple Vimana is gold plated and its a wonderful sight to see. We did perform archana in the Lord Ganesha deity. As we all know the story, you can see Ganesha holding the Mango fruit to pacify Muruga.
We returned back to Madurai by 9.AM and boarded a KPN bus to reach chennai at 6.30 PM.
With all the blessings of Lord Muruga we had a great darshan and a wonderful trip.
I owe the entire event is driven by Lord Muruga himself. Challenging us and also showing the route with no obstacles completed the entire trip with safe. Finally after Palani Dhandayudapani darshan, we received the blessing from Temple Elephant in the down. Wish my elder son is also relieved of his ailments in next few days and back to school with energy.
Wish everyone visit the 6 Abodes of Lord Muruga and get his blessings.
Next time i should plan properly and also take my sons to all these places. Hope i get that chance sooner.
Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara.
Om Muruga.
