Vayalur Murugan

Slokam of the Month
Nandhikesha Mahaabhaaga Shivadhyaana ParaayaNa
Mahorasam Divya Mayoora Vaahanam
Rudrasya Soonum Suraloka Naatham
Brahmanya Devam Charanam Prapadye

I always take refuge in Lord Guha who is sixfaced; whose body is smeared with sandal paste; who has a broad chest; who has the divine peacock as his vehicle; who is the son of Lord Shiva and who is the Leader of the army of the Devas.

Temple of the Month

The Subramanyaswami Temple at Kumaravayalur near Kuzhumani village in Tiruchirapalli is one of the holiest temples of Lord Karthikeya. The temple dates back to the 9th century Chola period and is also known as Aadi Vayalur,Agneeswaram and Vanni Vayalur. The dietes presiding this temple are Poyyaa Ganapati, Adinathar & Adinayaki, Valli Deivayanai sametha Sri Subramanya Swami. The diamond spear (Vairavel) adorning the Lord is a thing of beauty. A tributary of Cauvery Udayakkondan river flows beside the temple. This temple is of prime significance since Arunagirinathar commenced the Tiruppugazh here. The first hymn Kaittala Nirai Kani is addressed to Poyyaa Ganapati.



Story of the Month
Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills Sivagiri and Shaktigiri to his abode in the South. He gave this work to Idumban, an Asura survivor of the war between Surapadman and Murugan. It so happened that at the same time Lord Murugan had renounced and gone to Palani. Idumban upon reaching Palani felt tired and placed the hills down. After a while Idumban tried to lift the hills again and he could not move them an inch. He spotted a boy in loin clothes on the top of the hill and asked him to vacate the hill. Lord Murugan in a fighting mood refused and a fierce battle ensued. Idumban was slain. When Idumban's wife pleaded with Lord Murugan he revived the Asuran. Idumban then realized who that the little boy was and prayed with all earnest. Lord Murugan granted him a boon that whosoever carried a Kavadi symbolizing the hills to His abode shall be blessed. Idumban became the sentinal of the Palani Hills. Hence we have the Idumban shrine halfway up the Palani Hill.

Interesting Tidbits

1. The five people - According to the Shastras, the one who has been
responsible for the body, the one who gives ‘upadesa’
of the Gayathri Mantra, the one who feeds, the one who
imparts education and the one who imparts Jnana —
these five people are like one’s father

2.The Mahaswami's on Ideals of Marriage - There are 3 objectives of a samskara of so elevated a character as marriage. The first is to unite a man with a helpmate after he has completed the study of Vedas. This helpmate is expected not only to run his household but assist him in the practice of the Vedic dharma. The second is to bring forth into this world children of noble outlook and character who are to be heirs to the great Vedic tradition, citizens of the future who will be the source of happiness in this world. The third is to create a means for women to be freed from worldly existence. A man who is not yet fully mature inwardly is assisted in his karma by his wife. By doing so, by being totally devoted to her husband, she achieves maturity to a degree greater than he does. The fourth objective is the subordination of sensual gratification to the other three.