arunagirinathar was a 15th-century tamil poet born in tiruvannamalai. when he was young, he was a rioter and seducer of women. after ruining his health, he tried to kill himself. he did this by jumping from the northern tower of annamalaiyar temple. he was saved by the god murugan. he became a staunch devotee and composed tamil hymns glorifying murugan, the most notable being "thirupugazh". arunagirinathar went to many murugan temples. on his way back to tiruvannamalai, he visited palani. he sung songs about swaminathaswamy. tiruparamkundram is considered the first of the six abodes. this is the only temple where abishekam is performed for vel instead of lord murugan. palani is considered the most prominent abodes of lord muruga.