பழனி முருகன் கோயில்
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple, Palani
One of the six sacred abodes (Arupadaiveedu) of Murugan, set atop a hill, revered for the Panchamirtham prasadam and the legend of Murugan renouncing worldly attachment to become an ascetic here.
The Palani Murugan Temple, dedicated to Murugan in his form as Dhandayuthapani (the ascetic bearing a staff), sits atop a 1.5-kilometer hill and is one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six principal abodes of Murugan sacred to Tamil Shaivism. According to legend, sage Narada offered the divine fruit of wisdom to Shiva's sons Ganesha and Murugan; when Ganesha won it through cleverness, Murugan renounced his princely garments and retreated to this hill as an ascetic — hence his name here, meaning 'one who holds the staff.' The temple's presiding deity idol is composed of an alloy called 'Navapashanam,' believed to have medicinal properties, prepared by the sage Bogar. The temple's Panchamirtham — a sweet prasadam of five fruits — has even received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Highlights
- One of the six Arupadaiveedu (sacred abodes) of Murugan
- Idol made of the legendary Navapashanam alloy attributed to sage Bogar
- GI-tagged Panchamirtham prasadam
- Reached via 1.5 km hill climb, rope-way, or winch lift
Dindigul
Murugan (as Dhandayuthapani)
Ancient; current form largely from the Chola and Nayak periods
Dravidian hilltop temple, accessible by rock-cut steps, rope-way and winch