The Aarupadai Veedu are six sacred temples situated in Tamil Nadu, South India, dedicated to Lord Murugan (also known as Kartikeya, Skanda, or Subrahmanya). Each temple represents a different stage of his life and a specific legendary event in Hindu mythology.
The Six Sacred Sites
| Temple | Deity | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thiruthani | Sri Subramanya Swamy | Tiruvallur | Where the Lord stayed after marrying Valli. |
| Swamimalai | Sri Swaminatha Swamy | Kumbakonam | Where the Lord taught the ‘Pranava Mantra’ to Lord Shiva. |
| Palani | Sri Dhandayudhapani Swamy | Dindigul | Where the Lord renounced the world as a hermit. |
| Pazhamudircholai | Sri Solaimalai Murugan | Madurai | Known for the legend of the ‘unripe’ fruit. |
| Thirupparamkunram | Sri Subramanya Swamy (Wedding form) | Madurai | Where the Lord married Deivayanai. |
| Thiruchendur | Sri Senthil Andavar | Thoothukudi | The Lord’s victory over the demon Surapadman. |