PALANI (Thiruvavinankudi)
Arulmighu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thiru Kovil

The Other Temples in the Arupadai Veedu sung by Nakkeerar are:
1.Thiruparamkunram
2.Tiruchendur
3.Swamimalai
4.Tiruthani and
5.Palamudhircholai
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.
 

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 OF THE TEMPLE / CITY:
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.

TEMPLE PRECINCTS:
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.

SANCTUM SANCTORUM :
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.

Keeping this in mind, Cybervalley Systems has brought out a CD-ROM titled ARUPADAIVEEDU - A MULTIMEDIA ECSTASY that can play on all PCs and select VCD players. It is a multimedia title covering a group of six most sacred temples of Lord Muruga - popularly known as Arupadaiveedu - in south India.

With well researched contents, covering vital details like spiritual significance of the place, legends, puranas, history, festivals and spiritual events, this CD ROM presents a detailed coverage of the temple premises. It also exquisitely brings to life, many pujas and utsavams of Lord Karthikeya - like...

- Thiruparamkundram : Soora Samharam, Chariot Festival and Laksha archana (worship to Lord Muruga by hundred thousand names)
- Thiruchendur : Swing Festival (Oonjal Sevai - where Lord Muruga swings with his consort in a highly tranquill atmosphere)
- Palani : The Golden Chariot Festival (A very famous occation in which golden image of the Lord goes around the temple in Gold Plated Chariot)
- Swamimalai : The Soora Vahana Festival (Lord Muruga is seated above the Asura Soorapadhman and is taken around the temple)
- Thiruthani : Mirror Festival (Kannadi Sevai - where the Lord's Six faces are exposed through a mirror and worshipped)
- Pazhamudhircholai : Bathing Festival (Abhishekam - where the Lord's image is bathed in several holy waters, amidst the veda chanting - Sri Rudhram and Chamakam)

Peace and tranquility are the possible benefits of viewing the CD contents - be it in a group during small functions or alone- in solitude in the background of darkness. For kids- it will be as much fun as watching the cartoons - if only the parents take time to explain the CD contents to their kids with some interest.

To know more about the CD ROM - Click here
To view some of the screenshots from this CD ROM - Click here
To download a demo of this CD ROM - Click here
To purchase this CD ROM - Click here

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.

FESTIVALS :
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.

PLACES OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE AT PALANI:
Periyanayagi Amman Kovil
Idumban Kovil
Lakshminaryana Perumal Temple
Venugopalaswamy Temple
Mariamman Kovil
Pattathu Vinayagar Kovil

HOW TO REACH ?
Links to Tour & Travel Agencies
welcome tours
chennaionline
madura travel

WHERE TO STAY ?
Links to sites with details of Tiruparamkunram / Madurai Hotels and Lodges

1. The Temple has accommodations and one can write to :
The Superintendent - Dandayudhapani Nilaiyam
Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Tirukkovil
Palani - 624601 TamilNadu,India Tel.(91-4545) 42235
Or visit their website at :
http://palani.org/accommodation.htm

2. Tourist Bungalow Complex, West Veli Street
Madurai. Phone Madurai 22957

3. Tourist Information Centre, Railway Junction,
Madurai, Phone (Madurai) 24535

4. HOTEL GANPAT PALANI ,103 Poonga Road , Tel 42294
or visit :
http://www.namasthenri.com/hotels/palanicontent.htm

5. NEW TIRUPUR LODGE , 1 Adivaram Road,
Palani - Tel 42303
URL :http://travel.indiamart.com/mytravel/cgi/query.asp?cid=26IAmJs%3D&ft=ihot

LINKS TO OTHER MURUGAN TEMPLES IN ARUPADAI VEEDU:
Tiruparamkundram
Tiruchendur
Swamimalai
Tiruthani
Pazhamudhircholai