Sri Murugan Temple, Palani
Rasi : Mithunam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Phone : +91-4545 - 242 293, 242 236, 242 493
Location : 293 kms from Rameswaram 59 kms from Dindugal
Nearest town : Oddanchathiram
Important days : Thai Poosam, Thiruvathirai, Car festival
Lord Muruga is the presiding deity of the Tamil language. Three parts of Sangam literature glorify of Lord Muruga as the Lord of the Tamil language.
The Panchamirtham, a preparation for Lord Muruga’s abishek made of five ingredients is globally famous. The temple has a golden peacock, the vehicle of Lord Muruga and also a golden car-rath. There is also a winch facility is also made available for the convenience of the devotees.
Interesting practice is that many industrialists and businessmen have Lord Muruga as their partner and pay a share of their profits to him.
Once a mango fruit brought by Maharshi Narada to Kailasa. In the competition with Ganesha to win the Mango, Child Murugaw was considered lost and left His parents and came to this place. Despite pleadings he was unrelenting and desired to stay here itself. A temple came into being for Kuzhandai (Child) Velayuthar as He was a child then.
Great woman Tamil poet Avvaiyar, known for her poetic excellence and wisdom, also tried to persuade Murugan but without success. She sang Pazham Nee and the place came to be known as Pazhani. Pazham in Tamil means fruit and also ripened knowledge.
Idumban was carrying two hills, Shivagiri and Shakti Giri to Pothigai as commanded by Sage Agasthya. Shivagiri had Lord Shiva attributes and Shaktigiri had that of Mother Parvathi. Halfway as he could not bear the weight, Idumban placed these mounts down here.. Lord Muruga stood on Shaktigiri and refused to come down despite Idumban’s pleadings. This led to fight and Murugan showered His grace on him and kept with Him. As Muruga is seen holding a Danda-staff, the Lord came to be known as Dandayuthapani.
When Idumban challenged Muruga when He refused to come down from the Shaktigiri hill, Lord Vinayaka came his rescue. Vinayaka had a doubt that since he won the Mango race which hurt Muruga and may still be angry with him. So he took the form of a serpent and fought with Idumban. This Vinayaka is called Pada Vinayaka and is on the hill path near Idumban shrine with His leg on a serpent.
Before proceeding on the hill, the devotee should worship Vinayaka here while the footprints of Lord Muruga also are behind Vinayaka.
Idumba, with two hills on his shoulders, has his shrine on the hill route and Abishek is performed at 3.00 a.m. followed by Puja at 5.00 p.m.
Dandam is considered a cane or a tool for punishment. Lord Muruga explaining the uncertainties of life, stands as a teacher and holds the Danda to correct erring pupils. His ascetic form is said to teach people to shed the natural evils of greed, lust etc.
Siddha Bogar who was here, made an idol of Navapashana (nine herbals) and installed in the temple.
There is a parrot on the Danda of Lord Muruga. There is parrot also in the hands of Mother Meenakshi. Once there was a wicket poet Sambandandan jealous of saint poet Arunagirinathar and wanted to get rid of him. He impressed upon King Prapuda Deva Raya to order the saint poet to get the Parijatha flower from heaven to prove his supremacy. Arunagirinathar flew into the sky in a parrot form leaving his human form in the Tiruvannamalai tower. When he left his body Sambandandan found the body of the saint and cremated it so that he cannot re-enter into his original body to be his competitor. When Arunagirinathar was dismayed, Lord Muruga blessed him by having his parrot form in His staff.
Brahmma Theertha is on the north of Palani. On its bank, the three Lords appear and grace the devotees facing west.
While Aipasi Annabishekam is performed to Lord Shiva only in temples, it is performed to Lord Muruga in Palani on the Jeshta star day in the month of Aani at the midday pujas in the hill temple and on the Moola star day in the same month at the Tiru Aavinankudi Kuzhanthai Velayuthar temple during the evening pujas. The Annabishekam is performed to Lord Shiva on the Uthrada star day in the Periyavudayar temple.
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