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 Tirupparankundram is one of the oldest shrines of Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Muruga. Celebrated as the first
padaivIdu of the Lord, Tirupparankundram finds a mention in Thiru-murugaatrup-padai of Nakkeerar, part of one of the Tamil Sangam anthologies ‘paththup paatu’. The 317 line-long verse starts with the description of the temple at
Tirupparankundram. This very mention about this temple in Sangam classic doubtless establishes the age of the temples, which is more than 2000 years old now.
Tirupparankundram is a cave temple, situated at a distance of around 7 km. southeast of
Madurai.
The Divine Marriage
 Lord Subramanya - as He is known in the Sanskritic form - and Lord Muruga, the celebrated and exclusive God of Tamil and Tamil literature who is supposed to be a lover and patron of the language,
‘thamizhaal vaidhaarayum vaazha vaikkum perumal’ He who readily saves even those who admonishes him in Tamil, is a War God and is the ruler of the planet Mars. He was born from the third eye of the Lord Shiva, who is known as
aym-muga Sivan or Shiva of five faces while Lord Muruga is endearingly called as
aru-muga Sivan or Shiva of Six faces. The purpose of his birth was the destruction of
avunar or the devilish and demonic forces on earth who were ruling over the celestials.
Surapadman was the most dreaded and chief of demons that were obliterated from the face of the earth by Subramanya. It was in the Hill of Hemakuda (Kadhirkaamam) that He made manoeuvred his forces and fought with the demonic forces for seven long days and on the seventh day he killed Surapadman at
Tiruchendur.
On his way back, he was received by the six sons of sage Parasara, who were metamorphosed into fishes by a curse and who were waiting for the arrival of the Lord for their salvation. They were cured of the curse on the divine sight of the Lord and they requested Him to stay in the place, in the lovely shrine constructed by the architect of the celestials,
Viswakarma.
Years before the killing of Surapadman, two damsels by name Amritavalli and Sundaravalli, who are the daughters of Lord Vishnu, had sought the hand of the Lord when He stayed in Kandha Verpu. Lord Muruga had assured them that they would be His consorts and accordingly Amritavalli was born as Devayani or Devasena, and was brought up the Indra, the Lord of all celestials.
Now, Indra desired to give his daughter Devayani in marriage to Lord Subramanya, in gratitude for His having helped him in killing Surapadman and restoring his kingdom back to him and the marriage was celebrated in Tirupparankundram.
‘serunar thEyththa sel urazh thadakkai maruvil karpin vaaNudhal kaNavan,’ says Thiru-murugaatrup-padai, of this divine marriage. ‘He of strong-arms, who having vanquished enemies, and the husband of Devayani, of faultless chastity.’
Later, as per the assurance given earlier, the Lord married Sundaravalli, who was born to a hunter chieftain, Nambi, and was brought up with the name Valli.
Tirupparankundram is known as the Himalayas of the South in the Tamil classics. Devotees consider this shrine as the ideal place for their wedding, as the Lord Himself was wedded here. Pankuni Uttiram (late March) is considered to be the most ideal time for marriages by the devotees.
The confluence of great religions
 The unique thing about Tirupparankundram is that apart from the temple dedicated to Lord Muruga, there is a Muslim shrine dedicated to ‘Sekunder’ on the hill. The Muslim pilgrims, who visit the shrine of al-Sikander, fondly say that Sikandar was a friend of Muruga, when he was the King here.
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. But here is a temple which is one among those temples of the country which believe in the peaceful co-existence of religions.
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