The legend of Palani

[Guest guest]

Dear spiritual brethren,

Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills—Sivagiri and

Sakthigiri—to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple

Idumban to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his

shoulders, in the form of a kavadi one on either side. When he was

fatigued, he placed the kavadi near Palani to take rest.

 

At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had been outwitted in a contest

for going round the world. Ganapati had won the prized fruit

(pomegranate or mango) by simply going round His parents. Long

after, this, Subrahmanya came sweating on His peacock to find that

the prize had already been given away. In anger, the frustrated

child left the divine parents and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at

the Adivaram (pronounced Adivâram. It means foot of the Sivagiri

Hill). Siva pacified Him by saying that He (Subrahmanya) Himself was

the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge; nee —you. Hence the

place was called 'Pazham Nee' or Palani. Later, He withdrew to the

hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude.

 

When Idumban resumed his journey, he could not lift the hill. Muruga

had made it impossible for Idumban to make it. In the fierce battle

that ensued, Idumban was killed but was later on restored to life.

Idumban prayed that:

 

whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi, signifying the two

hills and visited the temple on a vow, should be blessed and

he should be given the privilege of standing sentinel at the

entrance to the hill.

Hence we have the Idumban shrine halfway up the hill where every

pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering

the temple of Dandâyudhapani. Since then, pilgrims to Palani bring

their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi. The custom has

spread from Palani to all Muruga shrines worldwide.

Do visit palani You will cheris the experience.

Yours Yogically,

Dattu