International Murukan Conference Series
Research Topics

Lord Murukan teaches Tamil to Agastyar Rishi
Note: This listing is not exhaustive. Participants may propose additional topics.

I. India

    A. North India:

  1. Indus Valley Civilization
  2. Early Sanskrit sources
  3. Epic Sanskrit sources: Mahabharata and Ramayana
  4. Classical Sanskrit sources: Kalidasa, et al.
  5. Puranic Sanskrit sources: Skanda Purana, etc.
  6. Karttikeya in early Indian coinage
  7. Karttikeya: early Indian temple icons and idols
  8. North and South: mutual influences upon literature & worship

    Karttikeya worship in North Indian states

  9. Bengal (and Bangla Desh)
  10. Bihar
  11. Orissa
  12. Gujarat
  13. Maharashtra
  14. Assam
  15. Madya Pradesh
  16. Uttar Pradesh
  17. Jammu & Kashmir

    B. South India:

    Kataragama Divya Rajaottama
    Kataragama Divya Rajottama
  18. Early literary sources: Paripatal, etc
  19. Murukan in Cankam Literature: Veriyattu Tribal Worship
  20. Archaeological evidences of early Murukan worship
  21. Fusion of Sanskrit and Tamil concepts of Skanda-Murukan
  22. Evolution of Murukan from Kurinci god
  23. Tamil Katavul
  24. Tirumurukarruppatai of Nakkirar
  25. Tirumurukarruppatai's place in the Saiva Canon
  26. Early bhakti literature
  27. Valli and Murukan: The Never-ending Love Story
  28. Arunakirinatar and the medieval revival of Murukan worship
  29. In the Footsteps of Arunakirinathar: Pilgrimage and Sacred Geography
  30. Tiruppukal as classical music and its role in the cult of Murukan
  31. The Iconography of Murukan in South Indian Tradition
  32. Murukan in classical South Indian dance
  33. The Kavacam Genre of Devotional Literature

    Tamil saints associated with Murukan worship

  34. Bhogar
  35. Arunakirinatar
  36. Tayumanavar
  37. Tirupporur Chidambara Swamigal
  38. Kumaragurubara Swamigal
  39. Annamalai Reddiyar
  40. Dandapani Swamigal (1839-1898)
  41. Kumaragurudasa Swamigal (Pamban Swami)
  42. Pal Kudi Bawa of Katirkamam
  43. Yoga Swamigal of Nallur, Sri Lanka
  44. Vallimalai Satchidananda Swamigal
  45. Kripananda Variar
  46. Skandasramam Santananda Swamigal
  47. Ratinagiri Bala Murugan
  48. Guruji Sri A.S. Raghavan
  49. Pitukuli Murugadas

    Aru Patai Veetukal

  50. Lord Murukan's Aru Patai Veetukal
  51. Tirupparamkundram
  52. Tiruccentur
  53. Palani
  54. Swami Malai
  55. Tiruttani
  56. Pazhamudircolai

    Other ancient centers of worship

  57. Chennimalai
  58. Ciruvapuri
  59. Ennkann
  60. Ilanji
  61. Kanakamalai
  62. Katirkamam
  63. Kumarakottam, Kanchipuram
  64. Mayilam
  65. Sikkal
  66. Tiruchengōrdu
  67. Tirumalai
  68. Tiruppōrūr
  69. Tiruvannamalai
  70. Vallakkotai
  71. Valliyūr
  72. Vayalūr
  73. Viralimalai

    Seats of contemporary Murukan worship

  74. Sri Skandasramam, Salem
  75. Vallimalai Tiruppukazh Asramam
  76. Marudamalai, Coimbatore
  77. Muttukumara Temple, Vadapalani
  78. Uttara Swami Nathan Temple, Malai Mandir, New Delhi
  79. Pamban Swami Samadhi, Tiruvanmiyur
  80. Sri Vaishnavi Shrine, Chennai

    Murukan festivals

  81. Tai Pucam
  82. Pankuni Uttiram
  83. Vaikaci Vicakam
  84. Skanda Sashti
  85. other local festivals

    Organisations promoting Murukan worship

  86. Thiruppugazh Anbargal
  87. Aru Padai Veedu Foundation (India and USA)
  88. Kataragama Devotees Trust (Sri Lanka)
  89. Saiva Siddhanta Church, (Hawaii, USA)
  90. International Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda (Chennai)
  91. Kānchi Kāmakoti Natyālayam, Chennai
  92. Tiruppukazh Sangamam, Chennai
  93. Subramania Samaj, Mumbai

    Subrahmanya worship in other states of South India

  94. Andhra Pradesh
  95. Karnataka
  96. Kerala

    Urban-rural divide:

  97. Modes of worship
  98. Temple structure
  99. Sangams & sabhas

II. Nations adjoining the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka

  1. History of Murukan worship in Sri Lanka
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Katirkamam: Hindu, Sinhala, Muslim and Vedda participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Temples and modes of worship of the Northern & Eastern Provinces
  6. Sites Sacred to Murukan in Sri Lanka
  7. Temples and festivals associated with Murukan

Mauritius

  1. History of Murukan worship in Mautirius
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  4. Temple architecture and worship
  5. Contemporary trends and innovations
  6. Festivals associated with Murukan

Reunion Island

  1. History of Murukan worship in Reunion Island
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Non-Indian participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Festivals associated with Murukan

South Africa

  1. History of Murukan worship in South Africa
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Black African, et al. participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Festivals associated with Murukan

Singapore

  1. History of Murukan worship in Singapore
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Malay and Chinese ethnic participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Centers of Murukan worship in Singapore
  6. Festivals associated with Murukan

Malaysia

  1. History of Murukan worship in Malaysia
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Malay and Chinese ethnic participation
  4. Taippucam Taippucam at Batu Cave
  5. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  6. Festivals associated with Murukan

Australia

  1. History of Murukan worship in Australia
  2. Temples and centers of worship
  3. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  4. Non-Tamil and non-Indian participation
  5. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  6. Festivals associated with Murukan

III. Murukan worship in other nations and regions

Europe

  1. History of Murukan worship in Europe
  2. Conditions facing diaspora Tamils in:
  3. Non-Tamil and non-Indian participation
  4. Temples and centers of Murukan worship

North America

  1. History of Murukan worship in Canada and the United States
  2. Conditions facing diaspora Tamils in North America
  3. Non-Tamil and non-Indian participation
  4. Temples and centers of worship

Fiji Islands

  1. History of Murukan worship in the Fiji Islands
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Non-Tamil and non-Indian participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Festivals associated with Murukan

New Zealand

  1. History of Murukan worship in New Zealand
  2. Local oral tradition and literature about Murukan and His worship
  3. Non-Tamil and non-Indian participation
  4. Modes of worship: pada yatra, puja, congregational worship, vedic & agamic patterns, alaku, kavati, animal sacrifice, individual practices
  5. Festivals associated with Murukan

IV. Skanda-Murukan in cyberspace

  1. Dissolving time & space: the role of Internet communications in the cult of Murukan in the 21st Century
  2. Internet sites devoted to Skanda-Murukan

Skanda-Murukan Conference home page
Index of published papers from the Murukan Conference Series
Synopses of 1st Murukan Conference papers
Murugan.org home page