Palani Murugan Temple

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Palani Murugan Temple

Name
Proper name: Palani Murugan Kovil
Location
Location: Palani
Architecture and culture
Primary deity: Dandayudhapani Swami (Murugan)
History
The Hill Temple of Palani is one of the most famous temples of Kartikeya in India. It is located
in the town of Palani, 100 km southeast of Coimbatore and a similar distance northwest of
Madurai, and in the foot-hills of the eponymous Palni Hills. At its foot is the Temple of Thiru-
avinan-kudi, one of the Arupadaiveedu.

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Mythology
 • 2 Legends of the Temple
• 3 The Idol
• 4 The Temple
• 5 Worship
• 6 Traditions
• 7 Festivals
• 8 Controversy
• 9 Poojas
• 10 See also
• 11 References
• 12 External links
• 13 References

[edit] Mythology
Sage Narada once visited the celestial court of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash to present to Him a
fruit, the gyana-pazham (literally, the fruit of knowledge), that held in it the elixir of wisdom.
Upon Lord Shiva expressing his intention of dividing the fruit between his two sons, Ganesha
and Karthikeya, the Sage counselled Him against cutting it. Thereat, He decided to award it to
whichever of his two sons first circled the world thrice. Accepting the challenge, the Lord
Karthikeya started his journey around the globe on his sacred bird, the peacock.
However, Lord Ganesha, who surmised that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and
Shakti, circumambulated them. Pleased with their son's discernment, Lord Shiva awarded the
fruit to Lord Ganesha. When the Lord Subrahmanya returned, he was furious to learn that his
efforts had been in vain. In deep dudgeon, he decided to leave Mount Kailash, and take up his
abode in a place where the land and people would be unequivocally his and for him. Thus, it was
that He came to what is today known as Palani, a name derived from the manner of His Parents
trying to mollify him and prevail upon him to return to Kailash - Gnana Pazham Nee appa
(Tamil for "You are the fruit of wisdom sire")and thus, implying that being the embodiment of
wisdom, he had no need for the fruit. Thus, being the abode of wisdom, the place took on its
master's name - Pazham Nee or Pazhani, anglicised as Palani.
[edit] Legends of the Temple
Going by legend, the idol of the Lord Muruga in Palani , was created and consecrated by the
Sage Bhogar, one of Hinduism's eighteen great ascetics (siddhas), out of an amalgam of nine
poisons or navapashanam. The legend also holds that, since it was a quick-setting paste, the
sculptor had to work very rapidly to chisel its features, but that he spent so much time in creating
the exquisitely beatific face, he did not have time to bestow but a rough grace upon the rest of the
body, thus explaining the contrast between the artistic perfection of the face and the slightly less
accomplished work upon the body.
A shrine to Bhogar exists in the southwestern corridor of the temple, which, by legend, is said to
be connected by a subterranean tunnel to a cave in the heart of the hill, where Bhogar continues
to meditate and maintain his vigil, with eight idols of the Lord.
Another legend holds that the idol, after centuries of worship, fell into neglect and was suffered
to be engulfed by the forest. One night, Cheraman Perumal, a King of the Cheras, who controlled
the area between the second and fifth centuries A.D., wandered from his hunting party and was
forced to take refuge at the foot of the hill. It so befell, that the Lord Subrahmanyan, appeared to
him in a dream, and ordered him to restore the idol to its former state. The king, thereat,
awakening, commenced a search for the idol, and finding it, constructed the temple that now
houses it, and re-instituted its worship. This is commemorated by a small stela at the foot of the
staircase that winds up the hill.
[edit] The Idol
As related above, the idol is said to be made of an amalgam of nine substances, and placed upon
a pedestal of stone, with an archway framing it. It represents the god Subrahmanya in the form
He assumed at Palani - that of a very young recluse, shorn of his locks and all his finery, dressed
in no more than a loincloth and armed only with a staff, the dhandam, as befits a monk. It is from
His youthful appearance and the staff He bears, that the appellation Bāla-dhandāyudha-pāni,
meaning the young wielder of the staff-weapon, is applied to Him.
One curious aspect of the idol is that it faces west rather than east, the traditional direction at
most Hindu temples. This is held to be on account of the temple having been re-consecrated by
the Cheras, whose dominions lay to the west, and the guardian of whose eastern frontier was
supposed to be the Lord Kartikeya of Palani. Another fact that will be remarked upon by any
observer, are the rather disproportionately large ears the Lord is endowed with. This is reflective
of the faith that the Lord listens carefully to each of his many devotees' prayers and requests.
Housed in the garbhagriham, the sanctum sanctorum, of the temple, the idol may be approached
and handled only by the temple's priests, who are members of the Gurukkal community of
Palani, and hold hereditary rights of sacerdotal worship at the temple. Other devotees are
permitted to come up to the sanctum, while the priests' assistants, normally of the Pandāram
community, are allowed up to the ante-chamber of the sanctum sanctorum.
[edit] The Temple
The Temple is situated upon the higher of the two hills of Palani, known as the Sivagiri.
Traditionally, access to it was by the main staircase cut into the hill-side or by the yanai-padhai
or elephant's path, used by the ceremonial elephants. Pilgrims bearing water for the ritual bathing
of the idol, and the priests, would use another way also carved into the hill-side but on the
opposite side. Over the past half-century, three funicular railway tracks have been laid up the hill
for the convenience of the pigrims, and supplemented by a rope-way within the past decade.
The sanctum of the temple is of early Chera architecture while the covered ambulatory that runs
around it bears unmistakable traces of Pandya influence, especially in the form of the two fishes,
the Pandyan royal insignia. The walls of the sanctum bear extensive inscriptions in the old Tamil
script. Surmounting the sanctum, is a gopuram of gold, with numerous sculptures of the
presiding deity, Kartikeya, and gods and goddesses attendant upon him.
In the first inner prahāram, or ambulatory, around the heart of the temple, are two minor shrines,
one each, to Shiva and Parvati, besides one to the Sage Bhogar who is by legend credited with
the creation and consecration of the chief idol. In the second outer prahāram, is a celebrated
shrine to Ganapati, besides the carriage-house of the Lord's Golden Chariot.
[edit] Worship
The most esteemed form of worship at the temple is the abhishekam - anointment of the idol
with oils, sandalwood paste, milk, unguents and the like and then bathing it with water in an act
of ritual purification. The most prominent abhishekams are conducted at the ceremonies to mark
the hours of the day. These are four in number - the Vizha Poojai, early in the morning, the
Ucchikālam, in the afternoon, the Sāyarakshai, in the evening and the Rakkālam, at night,
immediately prior to the temple being closed for the day. These hours are marked by the tolling
of the heavy bell on the hill, to rouse the attention of all devotees to the worship of the lord being
carried out at that hour. On a quiet day, the bell can be heard in all the countryside around Palani.
After the abhishekam, it is the practice to dress the idol of the Lord, in an act called alangaram,
in one of several guises - the most common being the Raja, or king, the Vaitheekan, or physician,
the Vedan, or hunter and the Aandi, or monk, which last is the most celebrated in Palani, because
it is the nearest to the natural form the Lord assumed at Palani as an anchorite, having withdrawn
from all the celestial riches of his father's court at Mount Kailash.
In addition to worship within the precincts of the temple, an idol of the Lord, called the
Uthsavamoorthy, is also carried in state around the temple, in a golden chariot, drawn by
devotees, most evenings in a year.
[edit] Traditions
One of the chief traditions of the temple, is the tonsuring of devotees, who vow to discard their
hair in imitation of the Lord of Palani. Another is the anointing of the head of the God's idol with
chandaṇam, or sandalwood paste, at night, prior to the temple being closed for the day. The
paste, upon being allowed to stay overnight, is said to acquire medicinal properties, and is much
sought after and distributed to devotees, as rakkāla chandaṇam.
Traditionally, the hill-temple of Palani is supposed to be closed in the afternoon and rather early
in the evening to permit the Lord to have adequate sleep, being but a child, and therefore, easily
tired by the throngs of devotees and their constant importunations.
A tradition that is not very well-known is that of the Paḷḷi-Arai or bedroom, wherein, each night,
the Lord is informed of the status of the temple's accounts for the day, by the custodians of the
temple, and then put to sleep to the singing of an ōdhuvār or bard.
[edit] Festivals
Besides regular services, days sacred to the god Subrahmanyan are celebrated with pomp and
splendour every year, and are attended by throngs of devotees from all over South India. Some of
these festivals are the Thai-Poosam, the Vaikhashi-Vishakham and the Soora-Samharam.
Thai-Poosam, which is considered, by far, the most important festival at Palani, is celebrated on
the full moon day of the Tamil Month of Thai (15 January-15 February). Pilgrims after first
having taken a strict vow of abstinence, come barefoot, by walk, from distant towns and villages.
Many pilgrims also bring a litter of wood, called a Kāvadi, borne on their shoulders, in
commemoration of the act of the demon Hidumba who is credited by legend with bringing the
two hills of Palani to their present location, slung upon his shoulders in a similar fashion. Others
bring pots of sanctified water, known as theertha-kāvadi, for the priests to conduct the
abhishekam on the holy day. Traditionally, the most honoured of the pilgrims, whose arrival is
awaited with anticipation by all and sundry, are the people of Karaikudi, who bring with them
the diamond-encrusted vél or javelin, of the Lord from His temple at Karaikudi.
[edit] Controversy
Over the years, some believe that the idol has been wearing away or dissolving, by virtue of its
repeated anointment and ritual bathing. However, long-time devotees and priests of the temple
maintain that they perceive no visible change.
Since Hinduism forbids the worship of an imperfect idol, suggestions have been made, at various
points of time, to replace it, cover it, or stop some of the rituals, which could have resulted in its
erosion.
A new 100 kg idol was consecrated on January 27, 2004, but coming under severe criticism from
orthodox believers, was displaced and worship of the existing idol restored, shortly thereafter.
[edit] Poojas

Palani Murugan Temple

Darshan (meaning open to the public) hours are from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. On festival days the
temple opens at 4.30 a.m.
1. Vilaa Pooja (6.30 a.m.)
2. Siru Kall Pooja (8.00 a.m.)
3. Kaala Santhi (9.00 a.m.)
4. Utchikkala Pooja (12.00 noon)
5. Raja Alankaram (5.30 p.m.)
6. Iraakkaala Puja (8.00 p.m.)
7. Golden Car Darshan (6.30 p.m.)

[edit] See also

• Murugan
[edit] References
This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (October 2008)

[edit] External links

 • Official website of Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Devasthanam, Palani
• Palani Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Temple History in Tamil
[hide]
v•d•e
Famous Murugan temples

Palani · Thiruchendur · Swamimalai · Thiruthani · Pazhamudircholai ·

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Sikkal · Vayalur · Viralimalai · Kunrakudy · Malai Mandir · Nallur · Batu Caves ·
Brickfields · Kathirkamam

[edit] References
• http://murugan.org/temples/palani.htm
• http://murugan.org/bhaktas/bhogar-life.htm
• http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/10/stories/2006031016140100.htm
• http://www.samaylive.com/news/no-invitation-to-kanchi-seers-for-palani-temple-
consecration/47708.html
• http://74.125.113.132/search?
q=cache:Vj_lkqc_ZRcJ:archives.chennaionline.com/hotelsandtours/placesofworship/06te
mple07.asp+palani+controversy&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palani_Murugan_Temple"
Categories: Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu | Murugan temples
Hidden categories: Articles lacking sources from October 2008 | All articles lacking sources |
Tamil Nadu articles missing geocoordinate data | All articles needing coordinates
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