Palani Murugan Temple (Dhandayuthapani Swamy)

The ascetic on the hill

Palani, the third abode, is the one most closely tied to a story every Tamil child knows. Sage Narada brought Shiva a single fruit of wisdom and promised it to whichever son circled the world first. Murugan set off on his peacock; Ganesha simply walked around his parents and won. Hurt, Murugan renounced everything and came to this hill as Dhandayuthapani, a young ascetic with only a staff. Sangam poetry knows the place as Thiruaavinankudi.

Bogar's image

Temple tradition holds that the image in the sanctum was made by the Siddhar Bogar from navapashanam, a blend of nine herbal and mineral substances, and the abhishekam offerings poured over it are treasured as prasadam. Tradition credits early Chera kings with the first shrine; Pandya and Nayak rulers and many devotees enlarged it over the centuries. The temple is run by the HR&CE Department.

Climbing up

Pilgrims climb 693 steps or take the gentler elephant path, and many carry kavadi or have their heads tonsured as a vow. For those who can't climb, a winch railway and a rope car run to the top. Palani panchamirtham, a thick sweet of banana, jaggery, ghee, honey and cardamom, holds a Geographical Indication tag. The biggest crowds come for Thaipusam, when pilgrims walk to Palani from across Tamil Nadu.