Thoranamalai Murugan worshiped by Agathiyar
Thorana Hill is a part of the South Pothigai Hills in the Western Ghats, . This is the mountain that attracted Agathiyar, who wrote the grammar of Tamil, which is sweeter than honey. The hill was originally called ‘Varanamalai’ because of its appearance like a reclining elephant.Now Varanamalai is known as ‘Thoranamalai’.
In the cave at the top of Thoranamalai near Kadayam in Tenkasi district, Lord Muruga is worshiping in a standing kolam towards the east. When Lord Shiva and Parvati got married on Mount Kailaya, all the gods, rishis and sages thronged Mount Kailaya to witness the marriage. As a result, the northern part lowered and the southern part rose. Lord Shiva sent Agathiya to the southern region to bring balance to the world.
When Agathiyar came, the place that attracted him was Thoranamalai. Here Agathiyar engaged in medical research to help the people of the world live disease-free. Agathiyar, who thought that ‘one can become a complete physician only by learning and mastering all the movement of the world from the earth to the sky’, has prepared 1 lakh 24 thousand Granths for that purpose.
Agathiyar has many disciples. He assigned each of them to research in different fields like astronomy, chemistry, geology, mathematics and medicine. Based on that research, he designed the curriculum. The first subject in the syllabus was to study Tamil Language Literary Grammar. Followed by Mathematics, Types of Medical Studies, Astrology, Binary Division, Mountain Vagadam, Herbal Vagadam, Patana Vagadam, Herbal Metaphysics, Chemical Study- Its Empirical Practice, Patana Sudhimethod, Anupana Methods, Kalimbakkam, Dadapam, Senthuram, Matthalapalpam, Sangu Dadapam, Medicinal Curriculums were divided into therapeutic methods, plant communities in ternary, dental treatments, therapeutic methods.
Also, there are courses like Disinfection, Detoxification, Pediatric Medicine, Ranavakadam, Physiology, Study of Fibre, Muscle, Ivory, Blood, Study of Skull, Nose, Nose, Ear, Continent, Dermatology etc. as a special medicine. In addition to this, all the arts were taught, namely, the six principles of truth, action, and wisdom. After devising such a complete curriculum, Agathiyar started a school in Thorana Hill area. Many Siddhas came to study at the Thoranamalai Training Center. Branches of the school were formed in various parts of the world by those who studied there.
Among these, Ilanchi, Marudamalai, Avinankudi (Palani), Kollimalai, Siddharkukai, the Avan avalaai ninra malai are important. In this school,for 6 years, subjects were divided and degrees were awarded separately.
Both of them worshiped Lord Muruga, who is in Thoranamalai and blessing the devotees. Thoranamalai Murugan Temple was initially a temple known only to the surrounding area. After Adi Narayanan took charge as the administrator of Thoranamalai Temple in 1970, the fame of Thoranamalai spread to various districts. After the arrival of the devotees, special poojas are performed daily in this temple. The paths and steps to climb the hill are well laid out. Halls named after Agathiyar, Theraiyar and Arunagirinathar have been established for the devotees to sit on the mountain route.
Annadanam is offered in the temple every morning and afternoon. TaipooSa Thirunal is celebrated in this temple with great pomp. On that day, Murugapperu Maan – Valli, Deivanai Thirukalyanam will be held.
As Murugan is worshiped by Agathiyars, Theraiyars and Siddhas, it is believed that no evil will come close to us by worshiping Thoranamalai Muruganai. Near Murugan, Patirakaliamman blesses. There is a shrine near the Murugan shrine. Water will never dry up in this tank. At the base of Thoranamalai there are sanctuaries of Vallabha Vinayaka, Guru Bhagavan, Balamurugan, Navagragams, Saptha Kanniyas and Kannmariamman Sannidhis. Thai Pooja festival is going to be held in this temple on the 5th (Sunday).
World’s first surgery
Once King Kasivarman had an intractable headache. Many doctors treated him but he was not cured. It was at this stage that he came to know that Agathiyar was camping in the area with his disciples. Kashivarman immediately went and met Agathiyar. Taking the king’s pulse, he said, “King, your headache is strange, and the cause of that headache is a toad of the frog species.”
To the king’s further astonishment, fear also struck him. “What are you saying sage.. how did the toad get inside my head?” He asked with confusion.
“Once you went hunting and while you were resting in the forest, a small toad entered your head through your nostrils. It is now seen in a full-grown stage. That is why you have this headache. To get rid of this pain, you need to undergo a head surgery,” said Agathiyar.
When Agathiyar was ready for the operation, Rama Devar was his assistant. Agathiyar, who made the king unconscious with a herb, split the king’s head open and found the toad’s place. But how to take out the toad without any damage to the brain or the tiny nerves in the head? thought the refugee. Then Ramadeva brought a pan of water, placed it near the king’s head and stirred the water with a stick, making a noisy sound. Hearing the sound of water, the toad jumped out and fell into the water.
After this, Agathiyar patched the king’s split head with the herb ‘Chandana Karanee’. The king awoke from his fainting spell and thanked Agathiyar for realizing that his headache was cured. Appreciating that it was Ramadevan who deftly removed the toad with water during the surgery, Agathiyar also conferred the title of ‘Theraiyar’ on him. That became Ramadeva’s permanent name.
Theraiya’s ingenuity
For the Pandya king, his back had humbback. The king had come in search of Agathiyar to know if there was a way to straighten his humb back. Agathiyar brought some herbs and brewed them. The medicine was boiling on the stove. Agathiyar went out after telling Theraiyar to make sure that the stove does not go out.
Directly above the stove were bent bamboo poles . In no time the medicine that was drying in the oven was smoking and the bent bamboo reeds were straightened. Seeing this, he switched off the stove. After a while Agathiyar returned to the hut. Then he saw that the stove where the medicine was kept was turned off and asked, “Why did you turn off the stove?” He asked Therai.
Teraiyar showed the bamboo upright with the smoke of the medicine. Agathiyar realized that Theraiyar had done so because the medicine had matured. Then he rub the medicine on the king’s back, after that the king’s back become straightened.