On a hill at Tiruttani in Tamil Nadu, near the Andhra border, stands the Murugan temple counted among the Arupadai Veedu — the six abodes of the Lord sung in the Thirumurugatruppadai. Tradition holds that it was here that Murugan came to rest after his great battle against Surapadman, his fierce energy cooled and calmed — and so Tiruttani is revered as the abode of the Lord's peace and grace. Here too, by tradition, he wedded Valli, the maiden of the hills.
Reached by a climb of three hundred and sixty-five steps, one for each day of the year, the hilltop shrine of Subramanya draws great crowds, especially at the New Year and during Skanda Sashti. Sung in Tamil devotional poetry and beloved of the poet-saint Arunagirinathar, Tiruttani is worshipped as the place where the warrior-Lord becomes the giver of serene blessing.
