Palani is one of India's most visited Murugan temples and is the first among His six abodes. These sacred places are mentioned in Tamil sacred literature. Lord Murugan is known by different names like Vadivela, Kanda, Karthikeya and Muruga. The six abodes are Tiruchendur, Tiruparamkundram, Thiruthani, Pazhamudircholai, Swamimalai and Palani. Here you will learn more about Palani which is among the most prominent Murugan temples.
More About Palani Murugan temple
The Palani temple is in the Palani town of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. The temple is called Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple or Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple and is an ancient temple at the foot of Palani hills. It is approximately 67 km from Kodaikanal, which is a popular hill station.
The temple is on Sivagiri, which is higher of the two Palani hills. Traditionally, access to the temple was via a staircase made by cutting into the hills. From the foothills to the uphill temple, there are two ways of transport. A rope car and a wench, which are both closed after 8 PM.
The sanctum santorum of the temple is Chera architecture, while the covered passage around it has a Pandya influence. The walls of the temple have inscriptions of Tamil scriptures. On top of the sanctum is a gold Gopuram with sculptures of Murugan and other gods and goddesses. In the inner Praharam, there are two shrines dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. There is also a shrine for sage Bhoga, the creator and consecrator of the main idol.
Religious Practices
Abhishekam is one of the most common ways of worship in the temple. The idol of Murugan is anointed with sandalwood paste, oils, milk, etc. and then bathed with water to purify it. Four Abishekams are done every day: Vizha Poojai (early morning) Ucchikalam (afternoon), Sayarakshai (evening), and Rakkalam (night). These are done by ringing a bell to get the attention of devotees. In addition to this, the Lord’s idol is carried around the temple in a golden chariot that devotees draw on most evenings.
One of the main practices of the temple is tonsuring of hair. Another is smearing the idol of the presiding deity’s head with sandalwood paste at night. The paste is kept on the idol overnight so that it gets the medicinal properties and then distributed as rakkāla chandaṇam to devotees.
The Palani hill temple is traditionally closed in the afternoon and early in the evening as the belief is that the deity being a child gets tired easily with the influx of devotees and does not get enough sleep. Another tradition that is not popularly known is that of the bedroom or the Palli-Arai where every night, the Lord is given temple’s account status by the temple custodians. Then He is lulled to sleep by singing a bard.
Devotees also carry an ornamental mount decorated with flowers, glossy paper, etc., called Kavadi wear yellow shade clothes and come on foot from long distances. The devotees are given a Prasadam called Panchamirdam, a mixture of raisins, jaggery, banana, dates and honey. It is said that Ganesha prepared this and distributed it to Muruga and Shiva, and that practice is followed even now.
Legends of Palani Temple
There are many legends of this temple. One of them is that Sage Narada visited Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva’s abode and gave him a fruit of knowledge (Gnana-Palam). Shiva decided to give it to the son, who could encircle the world thrice first. Ganesha and Murugan accepted this challenge and Murugan mounted his peacock and started his journey of the world. Ganesha, who considered his parents as his world, circled them thrice and got the fruit. Murugan, after returning, got furious that he could not think of it and chose to go away as a hermit by discarding his ornaments and robes and started staying in Palani.
There is a story attached to the Murugan idol in Palani. It is believed that the Sage Bogar, one of the eighteen Siddhas, created this using an amalgam of Navapashanam (nine poisons). The legend goes that he sculpted it and made it perfectly. But some people used chemicals, robbed the contents, and damaged the idols. After many centuries of worship, it was neglected as it was in the midst of thick forests. One night, the King of Chera could not return from hunting in time and had to stay at the Palani hills. Then, it is said that Subramanya appeared in his dreams and asked him to restore the idol. The king then searched for it and constructed the temple that is present now.
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