Kandha Sashti Kavasam

காக்க காக்க கனகவேல் காக்க
நோக்க நோக்க நொடியில்நோக்க
தாக்கத் தாக்கத் தடையறத் தாக்க

Kākka kākka kaṉakavēl kākka
nōkka nōkka noṭiyilnōkka
tākkat tākkat taṭaiyaṟat tākka

Subramanya Bhujanga Stotram

मयूराधिरूढं महावाक्यगूढं
मनोहारिदेहं महच्चित्तगेहम् ।
महीदेवदेवं महावेदभावं
महादेवबालं भजे लोकपालम् ॥ 3 

mayūrādhirūḍhaṃ mahāvākyagūḍhaṃ
manōhāridēhaṃ mahachchittagēham ।
mahīdēvadēvaṃ mahāvēdabhāvaṃ
mahādēvabālaṃ bhajē lōkapālam ॥ 3 ॥

Sthala Puranam

Tiruttani, the fifth among the six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, is also known as Thanigai Malai. After Lord Murugan defeated the demon king Surapadman at Tiruchendur, He sought refuge on this serene and tranquil hill to cool His anger and attain mental peace. The peaceful environment of Thanigai Malai stands in contrast to the fierce battlefield and symbolizes spiritual rest and harmony.

It is here, at Tiruttani, that Lord Murugan married Valli, fulfilling the divine promise made before their incarnations on earth. Alongside Valli, He also resides with His other consort, Devasena, representing the balance of devotion and cosmic order. The temple atop this sacred hill is a source of spiritual strength and inner calm.

Devotees come to Tiruttani seeking the Lord’s blessings for peace of mind, courage, and spiritual strength. It is said that praying here helps one overcome internal battles of anger, fear, and stress.

The Wedding of Valli and Devasena with Lord Murugan

Wedding of Valli

According to the Kanda Puranam, Valli and her sister Amritavalli or Devasena were incarnations of Sundaravalli and Amritavalli, daughters of Lord Vishnu. Born of His divine radiance or joyous tears during His Vamana avatar, they longed to marry Lord Murugan. When they expressed their desire, Lord Murugan told them He was at war with Surapadman and would marry them in their next birth as humans.

Sundaravalli was reborn as Valli, emerging from a creeper in the Kurunji region. She was adopted by the hunter chief Nambirajan and grew up as a huntress, guarding millet fields and caring for her people. From childhood, her heart was set on Lord Murugan. A sage once revealed her divine destiny to marry Lord Murugan and she vowed to accept no other.

Moved by her deep devotion, Lord Murugan approached her in disguise as a tribal hunter. Though she rejected his advances, He persisted. With help from Lord Ganesha, who appeared as a wild elephant, Valli fled in fear and ran to an old man nearby, who was in fact Lord Murugan in disguise. She pleaded with him to save her from the elephant.

The old man promised to protect her only if she agreed to marry him. In fear and trust, Valli accepted, and the old man revealed His divine form. 

Wedding of Devasena

Devasena, also known as Amritavalli, is described as the daughter of Lord Vishnu, and in some accounts, the adopted daughter of Indra, the king of devas. Raised with grace and nobility, she was destined to marry a great warrior.

When Lord Murugan defeated the demon Surapadman and became commander of the celestial armies, Indra gave his daughter Devasena in marriage to Him. Their wedding took place at Tirupparankunram, one of Murugan’s six sacred abodes.