Palani

Once Idumban, a disciple of Sage Agasthayar, when he was carrying two hillocks by the name Sivagiri and Sakthigiri,from northrn side to southern direction on his shoulders as Kavadi, (kavadi means a long stick hangings both of the sides,as shown the picture)who wanted to take rest for a while and placed them on the ground.He took a small nap and went to a small river near by and he finished his all evening duties and came to take the two hillocks he could not lift the kavadi .Idumban was worried and pray to god later he heard an ariel voice to leave as placed. He was very happy and he left as he placed.

Following this became a tradition, even now all devotees of Lord Muruga carry Kavadis of milk, Sandalwood the implied of Idumban

Legend Once Sage Naradha, went to kailash to have siva parvathi dharshan and after their dharshan he offered a divinely mango fruit to lord Siva and said that fruit full of wisdom he got it in Indra's court(saba)hence he brought there to offer him.
Lord understood about sage's visit to kailash and told him that, this fruit should be with his consort parvathi instead of himself so gave it to her. Presuming the aim of Naradha's visit to their abord and the fruit.. Parvathi said Instead of with me this fruit will be best to with their children.

When Lord Siva cut half the fruit Naradha interupted and said" This fruit of wisdom should not be cut to pieces....."
Accepted to Naradha's statement.. Lord Siva told his children (Lord Muruga and Ganapathy) "who ever first completes circumventing the earth are alone entailed to get the fruit....."Agreeing to the challenge Lord Muruga mounted his peacock and went around the earth.

Watching all.. Lard Ganapathy said the literal meaning circumvent of earth is going round of parents..." he went around his parent thrice and won the challenged divine fruit of wisdom..".

Lord Muruga landed the divine court and came to know that Lord Ganapathy won the fruit...he got very angry and went to the top of hill as a hermit.
nobody could convince him at last Awvayar the tamil poet went to the hill convinced him" you are yourself is a wisdom you are a fruit (palam ne)you no need to have a fruit she said some how Muruga convinced at that time Lord Siva and parvathi appeared in front of Muruga and said "you furiously came and stood on the hill top hence fourth wherever your abode in this world those will be a hill more you have come and stand with anger because of a bruit this place will be called Palani... " and they disappeared.

The Temple is situated upon the higher of the two hills popularly known Sivagiri. The temple at Palani is an ancient one. It is on an elevation of 1500 feet above sea level. The deity is called in up hill..Lord Dandayudhapani Swami, and the deity is in a standing position with a baton in his hand.

Lord Muruga presides by the name of "Kulandai Velayuthaswamy" at the Thiru Avinanguidi temple located at the foot hill.

Thiruvavinankudi temple is commonly known as Kuzhandhai Velayudaswami temple after the child form of Lord Murugan.

Climbing a flight of steps leads to Palani hill temple which is approximately at a height of 450 feet over the ground level. Two electric,winch rope cars operated those ailing and aged people.
Around this hill has a circumambulate passage. It is called ""Giri veedhi" The devotees who go for perambulation around the hill (giri pradhakshanam)should pray any of the sixty eight Vinayaka's temple en routing of the hill. (rare kind of herbs on the hill..so it is believed if one go around the hill certainly will have mighty healing property. ) ....The right time for the perambulation of the hill april -may (the tamil month chithirai and vaigasi) .There are Pathalavinayagar and Meenakshi sundarewarer sanctums are located the en route of the hill top temple. Also there are two splendid corridors to approach to the sanctum sanatorium housed in the main deity. This temple is early Chera architecture, however the covered arcade that runs around it bears Pandya influence, especially in the form of the two fishes, the Pandyan royal insignia.

The first placed idols of Vallaba Vinayagar,, subramanya Vinayagar, Nakeerar, Arnagrinathar. The second corridoors are called Nayakkar mandapam and Navagraha mandapam. The main temple tower has five stages.
There is a sanctum for Bhogar who was a sage and he dedicated himself to Lord Muruga and contributed immensely to the temple. The (Vimanam) The roofs of the sanctum sancorium the main deity "Lord Dhandayudhapani" housed is made of Gold. The main deity idol installed by Sage Bohar is made of a rare combination of nine herbals called Navapashana. It is said this substance is having healing medical powers.

Scriptures show that Cheaman Perumal, a ruler of Kerala, built the main temple in the 7th Century AD. Kings Jadavarman and Krishnadevaraya are generously endowed wealth for the temple construction. The Nayakars and Nagarathar community rulers were also involved some parts of the construction to the temple. The other portions of the temple was built in the period of Chera Kings . There are Many stone inscriptions here giving details of the kshetram(holy place) Pandiyan Kings, Chola Kings also contributed lots of wealth for the festivals of this temple.

The stone inscription is in four lines with an admixture of few 'Vatteluttu'letters.. The first two lines are engraved below the right side of the deity, and the next two lines below the left.
Two letters in the first line are lost due to flaking of the rock surface. Howver the rest of the inscription is well-preserved and legible.
All scripts are written in tamil language in the early Pallava period... assigned on palaeographical grounds in 7th century AD. The "iconographical" features belong to the same.

Tamil Sangam litreature mentioned about this place was called Podhini later the name became as Palani.

There are five Theerthams (holy water) sources, in and around the temple. They are : Saravana Poigai, Lakshmitheertham, Saniyasi  Kinaru( well)Kasi Sunai and Sathiya Koopam  (Koopam means well)                      Home