Thiru Aavinangudi-Now named as-Palani

3102 B.C. Beginning of the Hindu calendar called Kali Yuga. Kali Yuga is the period when materialism holds an irresistible sway over mankind. Muruga is known as Kali Yuga Varadan, the Great Redeemer who dispels the darkness of Kali Yuga and confers eternal happiness on us who live in this yuga.

• 3000 B.C.

• The Tolkappiyam refers to Muruga as the Lord of the Hilly Regions.
• Muruga Triads in Mohenjo Daro
• Bhogar created Nava Bashana image of Lord Dandayudhapani.

• 1st century A.D.

• Poet Nakkirar codified the list of six most sacred shrines of Muruga and placed Tiru Avinankudi (Palani) as third of the six in his Tiru Murukārruppadai.
• Pattinappalai, Paripatal and other Sangam works speak of Muruga worship.

The devas (gods) and saints used to go to Mount Kailasa to worship Lord Shiva. At Mount Kailasa Shiva and Parvati were greatly pleased to see saints meditating, Nandi Deva praying for God's blessing, Lord Muruga playing at the feet of Lord Shiva, and Ganapati dancing with his trunk.

At that time Narada arrived there. Playing his veena and chanting a “Hara-Hara! Shambo Maha Deva!” Lord Shiva welcomed him gracefully. After worshipping the God and Goddess, Narada offered them a very special mango fruit.

Upon seeing this, Muruga and Vinayaga anxiously waited to receive the fruit. This fruit (Gnana pazham) had unparalleled taste. So the Lord decided to conduct a contest to choose the right person for the fruit. The winner should circle the world first.

Muruga and Vinayaga were astonished by this order for a while but soon got to work. Goddess Uma watched them with a smile.

The brave young Kandavel (Murugan) started his journey around the world at once."Within a second I will go around the world upon my blue peacock," he said. The blue peacock fluttered its wings like a golden chariot an flew around the world in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, Vinayaga realised his disadvantage and thought of a solution. He went around his father and mother and worshipped them.Then Lord Shiva asked his son Lord Ganapati, “Vinayaga! What did you do?” Saying to his father and mother, “Because of you only, this world arises and falls. Father and mother are the world,” he claimed the prize fruit. Shiva and Uma were pleased by this act of Vinayaga and presented the fruit to him.

Lord Muruga reached his father Lord Shiva within a second to claim the fruit. But it had already been won by his brother Ganapati! Muruga was very surprised and angry. At that time Shiva told Lord Muruga that Ganapati had completed the contest faster by circling his parents.Lord Muruga could not accept this reason. Hence he became hard-hearted and his lips became reddish.

Lord Muruga went and sat upon his peacock in anger.Goddess Parvati's heart was beating rapidly. She came to Muruga, said, “Darling! Kathirvela! Stop!” and took her son Muruga in her lap.At that time Vinayaga did not know what to do. But Muruga flew away on the peacock.This happened for the welfare of the people in the world. This is known as “Grace Play” and “Grace Anger”

From Mount Kailasa Lord Muruga traveled to the extreme South and landed at Tiru Avinankudi Hill and settled there. To cool the heat of Lord Muruga's anger, the God and Goddess followed him.They consoled him by saying you need not worry about this fruit. “You are the fruit (Pazham nee),” said Lord Shiva to Palani Muruga.From that day onwards, Lord Palani Muruga sheds His grace upon devotees.

Lord Muruga showed his grace just like a saint (Andi) in Tiru Avinankudi.His bright face in equal to the rising sun; His very sight pours grace upon the devotee. His forehead displays tilakam, sandal and tiruneeru (vibhuti).His broad chest having a cord with danda (staff) gives safety for others; His left hand on thigh shows abundant grace; His jeweled ankles shine with beauty; He shows grace to all wearing only a kaupina (loincloth) along with the blue peacock.

"Muruga! We love you."

Palani occupies an important place among the six abodes of Lord Muruga referred to as 'Arupadaiveedu' and glorified by Nakkeerar in Tirumurugatrupadai. The downhill temple at Thiru Aavinankudi and the more popular hill shrine at Palani are significant pilgrim centres thronged by tens of thousands of people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala everyday.

The main shrine up the hill is said to have been built by a ruler of Kerala called Cheraman Perumal in the seventh century. One can find a carving of the king mounted on horseback in the exterior of the northern wall of the sanctum sanctorum. The Navagraha Mandapam built by the Nayaks is a stone structure with four pillars surrounding the central shrine. The other portions of the temple are attributed to the Pandya and a number of local chieftains.

Palani with its hill shrine at an altitude of 1,500 ft. is on the Dindigul-Coimbatore line and is easily accessible connected by bus services from major towns of Tamil Nadu. There are comfortable devasthanam rest houses, choultries and deluxe cottages for the benefit of the pilgrims and tourists.

Lord Muruga of Palani in many and varied forms appeals to different grades of humanity. To those who love the tenderness of childhood, he is 'Kulandaivelan,' to those who love valour and adventure, he is 'Devasenapati,' to the spiritually thirsty, he is 'Swaminatha,' to the common householder, he is the consort of Valli and Deivayanai and to the seers and saints, he is 'Palaniandavar.' Thus the Lord manifests Himself in myriad forms, blessing all alike, from the baron to the beggar.

Deities worshipped in the shrines of Tamil Nadu are usually carved in stone. But the image of Lord Muruga at the hill temple is strikingly different It is an amalgam comprising Navapashanam nine kinds of medicinal minerals (some say it is poisons seven in number blended together in a unique proportion) made by the great mystic Siddha Bogar.

Sage Agasthya bade his disciple Idumban to carry two hills, Sivagiri and Saktigiri, to his hermitage. Idumba lifted the hills, slung them across his shoulders and started his journey. The form came to be called `Kavadi' by the common man. Overcome with fatigue, Idumba had to break his journey at Palani to replenish his energy and strength.

As Idumba resumed the journey, he found it impossible to lift the hills; so firmly were they entrenched. Understanding that it was Lord Muruga who made the hills immovable, Iduma challenged Him for a duel but was routed out and killed. But the gracious Lord resurrected Idumba and made him his sentinel at the entrance! Thus came up the shrine of Idumba, half the way up the hill. Since then the custom of bringing offerings to Lord Muruga in the form of a kavadi by his devotees came into vogue.

Anointment for the presiding deity made of 'Navapashanam' takes place during the 'Kala Pujas' only. Anointment for the deity made of copper is done for the benefit of the devotees to fulfil their vows and desires. This is know as 'Ubaya Abhishekam'. At Palani, the Lord's apparel is changed many a time in a day. The deity is attired and decorated much like a prince, hunter and ascetic. It is a visual delight more to be experienced than expressed.

Bohar was a universally revered mystic (Siddha) and physician believed to have lived before 3,000 B.C. He travelled widely along the near east and the far-east disseminating knowledge and wisdom among the common mass. His mortal remains are enshrined in a niche in the southwest corridor of the temple. The image of Navadurga and the Maragadha Sivalingam are also installed here. An underground passage is said to connect the Bhogar shrine and the sanctum sanctorum of Palani Andavar.

Five Poojas (or) Services Every day. At 5 a.m. the Lord offers Viswarupa Dharshan. The first puja is Vizhapuja or day's festival at 7.15 followed by kalasandhi at 8 a.m., Sirukala Sandhi at 9 a.m., Uchikalam (midday service), Sayaraksha (evening service) and Raakkalam (Night service). Each service consists of three rituals — Abhishekam (anointment), Prasada (offering of food) and 3) Alankaram (Decoration).

In front of the sanctum sanctorum, each individual has his own assessment of time. A few minutes can be long. An hour can be brief. Time in front of the deity wears many faces and rejoices in the variety of abhishekams which are a joy to watch. Indeed, they are a feast to the senses. This is the order in which various materials are used to anoint Lord Dandayudhapani.

In all the Siva temples, Panchopacharams are performed. These include sprinkling of holy water, spraying of scented ointment, offering of flower, burning of incense powder and finally showing ‘Harathi’. In this temple alone, these are preceded by elaborate abhishekams.