Muruga Worship in Tamil Country Exposed by Ettuthogai Literatures

Abstract

One of Tamil Nadu's most well-liked deities is Muruga.  In Tamil country, the worship of Muruga is quite old.  The discovery of the prehistoric urn-fields at Adichchanallur attests to the undeniable age of the Muruga religion among the Tamils.  It has mouthpieces made of gold leaf, iron spears, and bronze cocks that resemble those used by contemporary Muruga worshipers. The Sangam classical works must be consulted in order to trace the evolution of Muruga worship. The eight anthologies are the most important source of information on the Muruga religion, which peaked during the Sangam era. The date of Sangam anthologies is much debated and there has been a great deal of controversy over the existence of the Sangam as an academy of poet and also over the fixation of the age of the Sangam. A conservative estimate would prove beyond doubt that the first two centuries of the Christian era was the age of extant Tamil classics. Numerous references about Lord Muruga in the anthologies portray His cult and afford a glimpse of His original form. Muruga is known by several names in the anthologies, they are Murugu, Sey, Murugan, Velan, Neduvel and Sevvel. The purpose of this paper is to identify the cult of Lord Muruga. The worship of Lord Muruga, His close association, frenzied worship and temples of Lord Muruga.