Tiruttani is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the main tourist centre in Thiruvallur district about 84 km from Chennai. Thiruthani Murugan Temple is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga.
The temple is located on the hill and has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year. It represents the site where Lord Subramanya stayed after destroying the demon Surapadman and is also said to be the place where the Lord Subramanya married Valli – one of his two consorts.
In Thiruthani Murugan Temple the sanctum of Lord Murugan is made of 1 lakh Rudrakshas. The other important deities of this temple are Lord Shanmughar, Goddess Valli, and Goddess Deivayani. The mythology says that the Lord Murugan rested at Thiruthani hill to reduce His anger after destroying the demon King Surapadma in Thiruchendur and hence the place is known as ‘Thanigai malai’.
This hill is known as Shantipuri (Abode of Peace) as it is believed that the Lord blesses with mental peace and happiness as he himself rested and cooled at this place after killing the demon King Surapadma.
Legend has it that Indra the king of the Gods gave his daughter Deivayanai in marriage to Skanda, and along with her presented his elephant Airavatam as part of his dowry offering. Upon Airavatam’s departure Indra found his wealth waning. Subramanyar is said to have offered to return the white elephant, however Indra bound by protocol refused to accept a gift that he had made, and insisted that the elephant face his direction, hence the image of the elephant in this temple also faces the east.
Another legend has it that Indra presented a sandal stone as a part of his daughter’s dowry. The sandal paste made on this stone is applied to the image of Subramanya and the applied paste is said to acquire medicinal value. Legend also has it that Skanda bore the discus thrown by the demon Tarakasuran on his chest, and hence there is a hollow in the chest region of the image of Subramanya in this temple.
It is believed that Lord Rama, after putting an end to Ravana, worshipped Lord Siva at Rameswaram and then came to Tiruttani to find perfect peace of mind by worshipping Lord Subrahmanya here. In Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna got the blessings of the Lord Murugan here by offering prayers to him on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra (pilgrimage to take sacred immersion).
Lord Vishnu prayed to the Lord and got back his powerful Chakra (sacred wheel), Shanku (sacred conch), which were forcibly seized from Him by Tarakasura, brother of Soorapadma.
Lord Brahma propitiated the Lord here at the holy spring known as Brahmasonai after his imprisonment by our Lord for his failure to explain the Pranava (‘Om’ mantra) and got back his creative function of which he was deprived by our Lord due to his egotistic impudence in neglecting to worship Lord Subrahmanya on his way to Mount Kailasa to worship Lord Siva.
The king of snakes Vasuki is said to have got his bodily wounds healed after churning the Milky Ocean for the nectar by Devas and Asuras.
Apart from its puranic greatness, Saint Arunagirinathar has praised this hill as the chosen place for worship by devas and the favourite abode of saints performing prolonged tapas.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, who lived 200 years ago (one of the trinity of Carnatic music) had his inspiration in Tiruttani when the Lord (in the guise of an old man) met him on the steps and sweetened his tongue with the prasadam of this temple, which impelled him to compose and render his first krithi “Shri Nathadhi Guruguho Jayathi Jayathi”(song) on Lord Murugan of Thiruttani.
Besides the monthly Krittikais which attract a large number of devotees to this shrine, the two outstanding annual festivals are the Aadi Krittikai (July- August) and 31 December New Year Step Festival.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruthani_Murugan_Temple
http://murugan.org/temples/tiruttani.htm
http://www.templedetails.com/thiruthani-murugan-temple/
http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.in/search?q=Thiruthani+Murugan+Temple
http://www.apnisanskriti.com/tiruthani-murugan-temple-1106