Palani - Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple
Karu Jeyakumar <sambaviSPAMFILTER@srividya.org>
Friday October 29 2004
Palani or Pazhani , a holy place near Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India, houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the third Aarupadai Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar, places Palani in the third place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu ) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil. A few Murugan devotees do consider that Marudamalai Murugan temple also deserves to be mentioned as one additional Padai Veedu.
- Palani or Pazhani , a holy place near Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India,
houses one of the most sacred temples of Lord Muruga and is the third Aarupadai
Veedu . Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of Lord Senthil Andavar,
places Palani in the third place amongst the six battle places ( Arupadaiveedu )
that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil. A few Murugan devotees do consider
that Marudamalai Murugan temple also deserves to be mentioned as one additional
Padai Veedu. Palani Andavar is also worshipped by other names such as
Dandayudhapani Swami, Kulandaivelan, Balasubrahmanyan, Shanmukhan, Devasenapati,
Swaminathan, Vallimanalan, Devayanaimanalan, Kurijiandavar, Arumugan, Gnana
Pandita, Saravanan, Sevar Kodiyon,etc.The temple is itself commonly known by
several other names such as Tiru Avinangudi, Vayyapuri, Sithan Vazhvu, Pothini
and Sivagiri.
- Legends - Puranas and Mythology Nakeerar, in his Tamil
writings compilation called Thirumurugatruppadai, more than 2000 years ago, and
saint Poet Arunagirinaathar, who has composed 95 verses on Murugan, have both
sung in great praise of Palani. Many of those, who have lesser knowledge on the
Palani Murugan temples, mistakenly think that the temple referred in the Tamil
works is located in the Palani mountain, while the fact is that the
Thiruvavinankudi temple is actually located at the foot of the hills. The
Thiruvavinankudi temple is commonly known as Kuzhandhai Velayudaswami temple
after the child form of Lord Murugan. Mythology locates the origin of Palani to
the fight of Lord Shiva's siblings. The story goes that Naradha, a great saint
in the land of the Devas, offered a divine fruit to Shiva and informed the three
eyed Neelakanteshwar, that it was the fruit of Wisdom. Lord Ganesha and Lord
Murugan, the two sons of Lord Shiva and Parvaathi, wanted the fruit fully for
himself, as the fruit was to be eaten wholly and not partly. In order to decide
the rightful recipient for the fruit, it was decided that the one who first
completes circumventing the Earth will win the fruit. Lord Murugan accepted the
challenge and in a flash mounted on his Mayil vahanam or the peacock as his
vehicle and buzzed off to go round the Earth. Elder brother of Murugan, not
taking the literal meaning of world, offered to come round his divine parents
Shiva and Parvathi, as the whole universe was considered to be embodied in them.
He went round them thrice and won the challenge and got the divine fruit or
fruit of Wisdom. On knowing the reason how his brother Lord Ganesh got the
fruit, Lord Murugan was in temper and disowning everything around, he went to
Palani. Moved by this, Lord Shiva and Sakthi went to Palani to convince their
younger son that he needs no fruits as he himself was a fruit of wisdom ( Palam
Ni ); since then the place were Lord Murugan stood is known as Palam Ni or
Palani.
- Location and Temple Precincts Palani can boast of a railway
station - just 2 Kms away from the foot of the Palani Malai. The Palani railway
station is mid way between Dindigul and Coimbatore. Palani can be reached in
about three to four hours drive from any of the nearest airports: Coimbatore,
Madurai and Tiruchy. Information is also available from the office of the
Devasthanam Information Centre at the Palani bus stand.
- Lord Dhantayuthapani Lord Murugan presides by the name of
"Kulandai Velayuthaswamy" at the Thiru Avinanguidi temple located at the foot of
the hills at Palani. Climbing a flight of steps leads to the Palani hill temple
which is approximately at a height of 450 feet over the ground level. Palani
Aandavar awaits majestically at the hill top temple to bless the thousands of
Murugan devotees who come to worship him. Two winch rope cars operated
electrically, come in as great relief to those ailing and aged, who may not be
able to climb the steep steps. Some devotees also go round the Palani hill
before the ascent and in the "Giri valam"- get to pray at any of the sixty eight
Vinayakar temples abutting the giri valam route. The Tamil months Chitrai and
Vaikasi witness the maximum number of devotes performing the Giri Valam. One
also gets to see the "Patha Vinayakar" temple and the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar
temple enroute the hill top. There are two broad Praharams in the hill top
temple. Idols of Vallabha Vinayakar, Subramanya Vinayakar, Nakkerar,
Arunagirinathar can be seen in the second Praharam that houses the Nayakkar
Mandapam. The Rajagopuram is composed of five tiers. Bypassing the Paravel
Mandapam and Navaranga Mandapam, one can approach the sanctum sanctorium of
Dhandayuthapani. There is a sannidhi for Bhogar who was a saint who dedicated
himself to Lord Muruga and contributed immensely. The Vimanan which roofs the
Garba Graham is made of Gold and offers a stunning and spectacular sight to the
devotees. Lord Dhandayuthapani, true to his name, holds a staff in one hand and
blesses his devotees with his other hand - beholding a compassionate look at his
Bakthas. The Moolavar idol, installed by Bhogar Muni, is made up of a rare
combination of nine minerals called the Navapashana and this substance is known
to have very greatly medical powers.
- History of the Temple Legend has it that Idumban, a
disciple of Sage Agasthayar, while carrying two hillocks by the name Sivagiri
and Sakthigiri, on his shoulders as Kavadi, wanted to rest for a while and
placed these hillocks on the ground. Lord Muruga, mischievously immobilized
these hillocks and Idumban could carry the Kavadi no further. Following this as
a tradition, the Muruga Bakthas carry Kavadis of milk, Sandalwood, Flowers etc.
Scriptures show that Cheaman Perumal, a ruler of Kerala, built the main temple
sometime in the 7th Century AD. Kings Jadavarman and Krishnadevaraya are known
to have generously donated for the temple construction. The Nayakars and
Nagarathar community rulers were greatly involved in the construction of certain
parts of the temple. The other portions of the temple was constructed in the
period of Chera Kings during their rule of South Kongu Nadu. In the scriptures
found in the sanctum sanctorium (Garbhagraham) dated 13th century it is known
that Pandiyan Kings, Chola Kings also contributed greatly for the festivals of
this temple and worshiped Lord Muruga.
- Temple timings & Festivals Daily pujas to the deities
are performed six times a day (six kalams). Forenoon : Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi
and Uchikala poojas are performed in the and the afternoon poojas commencing
from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the
night. Thai pusam or Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram are celebrated with
grandeur. Falling on the day of Poosam star, during the month of Thai - sometime
during the end of January, Thai Pusam, is a Murugan festival celebrated all over
the world. Devotees are known to reach the temple on foot even from cities as
far as Chennai( Madras) or Tirunelveli. This by itself is evidence of the devout
prayers and the Graceful Blessings of the Lord.
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