Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple

Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Location
Location	Palani
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

Palani Murugan Temple is one of the most famous Murugan temples in India. It is located in the township of Palani, 100 km southeast of Coimbatore and a similar distance northwest of Madurai, and near the famous hill station, Kodaikanal.

It is one of the major Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. The other Arupadiveedus are Thiruchendur Murugan Temple (100 km south-west of Madurai), Swamimalai Murugan Temple (150 km east of Madurai), Thiruthani Murugan Temple (50 km from Chennai), Pazhamudircholai (10 km north of Madurai) and Tirupparamkunram Murugan Temple (10 km south of Madurai).

Legend

As per the Hindu mythology, Sage Narada once visited the divine court of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was with his consort, Goddess Shakti, and their two children, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya. Sage Narada gave Lord Shiva a fruit and told him that it was a special one, the fruit of wisdom (Jnana-Pazham).

Lord Shiva wanted his children to have the fruit of wisdom. However, when he offered it to them to be shared between the two sons, Sage Narada requested not to cut the fruit in two, lest the power be diminished. As a result, they had to decide to conduct a simple competition to decide who should get the fruit. Shiva and Shakti decided that the son who first circled the Earth would get the fruit. Immediately accepting the challenge, Lord Murugan started his journey around the globe on his divine vehicle, the peacock or mayil.

Lord Ganesha, who believed that his parents were his world, simply circumbulated Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti and claimed the mango fruit. Lord Subrahmanya returned to Mount Kailash, only to find that Lord Ganesha had already won the contest. Lord Murugan felt he had been deceived and decided to leave Mount Kailasam. He reached to top of what is today called Pazhani malai (the Hill of Pazhani) and set up his abode there.

Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva rushed to the hill and tried to pacify their son, calling him, Gnana Pazham Nee appa (in Tamil, "you are the fruit - Pazham; of wisdom - Gnana"). Hence this place came to be called Pazhani, or Palani.

Legend also has it that a divine siddhar named Boghar, created the idol of Dhandayuthapaani using navapashanam, an amalgam made from 9 poisonous elements which on getting mixed develops highly curative powers for many ailments of the human body, according to Sidhha Medicine practice. A small portion with a deity, dedicated to Boghar is also placed inside the temple. the adjoining walls depicts the history of the creation and other facts related to the temple.

More information from M.Dhandapani, Auditor, Dindigul, Tamilnadu, India. Even though number of festivals are celebrated in the temple throughout the year, two major festivels of Palani is "Thaipposam" and "Pankuniuthiram". Thaipoosam is the festivel celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil Month "Thai" and Pankuniuthiram is the festivel celebrated on "Uthiram" star day. In both the festival times thousands of people from all over Tamil nadu come to the Temple by walk. Even from the places which are more than 300 km, distance from Palani, people come by walk with out wearing foot wears. Before starting walking yathra to Palani, the devotees must follow some practices such as fasting, avoiding wearing of foot wears, dressing with yellow or red coloured cloths, avoiding smoking, drinking of liquors and etc. On the days nearing to such festival days, we can see a very big crowds of people moving to Palani like river on Dindigul to Palani road, Sempatti to Palani road. Because of such heavy rush, the Tamil nadu Government has paved 6 feet berth road from Dindigul to Palani for the convenience of People. Many people issue on free of cost the Food, Tea, coffee,Breads, Drinking water, fruits and etc to the Devotees who are in Walking Yatra. The very famous such walking yatra group is Karaikudi group. In Karaikudi group hundreds of devotees are coming with one type of decorated wooden article called "Kavadi" on their solders. One Gold Vel (Vel is the weapon used by Lord Muruga to kill enemies)is also brought by this group.

Idol

The legend says that the original statue of Lord Muruga in Palani was created by Sage Bhogar who was one of the eighteen siddhars (Sage Agasthiar, Sage Thirumular are among others) of Hindu religion. The idol was made out of herbs (Tamil: Mulighai) that had medicinal properties. Sage Bhogar established the deity in the temple by performing poojas for a long period. The Bhogar Shrine is in the southwestern corridor of the hill temple. Siddhar Bhogar created the icon (the amalgam of nine minerals) and did daily services. He lived long ago, perhaps 3000 BC. A medical prodigy as he was, he could prepare the amalgam on nine medicinal minerals in proper proportion. The idol due to its medicinal properties was considered very valuable. The Hindu believers performed abhisekams (Act of bathing the idol) with holy water, oils, sandalwood paste, milk etc., These abhisekams would then be collected by the temple adminstration and distributed to the temple. These prasads (the blessed offerings ) is said to have miraculus effect on people with diseases.

Controversy

It is been alleged that the real murugan deity that was created by Sage Bhogar has been removed by the authorities and replaced by a look alike in summer of 2003. Many devotees who had been visiting the temple regularly for decades have noticed the difference in the idol suddenly and have brought it to the public and media attention. This created a furore in the midst of Hindu devotees. After six years there had not been a clear evidence that the original deity has not been removed. As reported in the press report, The problem came to the forefront when the state government did not invite Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swami's for the controversial renovation work of the temple and the "navabhashana" idol of the presiding deity, said to be 5000 years old, amidst protests by the devotees.

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.)

See also

• Murugan

External links

• Official website of Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Devasthanam, Palani

References

http://murugan.org/temples/palani.htm
http://murugan.org/bhaktas/bhogar-life.htm http://www.samaylive.com/news/no-invitation-to-kanchi-seers-for-palani-temple-consecration/47708.html