Friday, February 5, 2016

Palani Murugan Temple – Shanmuga Nadhi

Palani Murugan Temple – Shanmuga Nadhi
Shanmuga Nathi running through Palani is one of the theertham associated with the Palani Murugan Temple. The bathing ghats on this river are at a distance of three kilometres from Palani town and can be reached from Adivaram by town buses 3, 4, 9 and 14. During the eclipses and on the days of the waning moon (new moon or Amavasya), thousands flock here to have their sins absolved in the purifying waters.

Kavadi bearers have a bath here before marching to the temple. This is also a place for oblations to the dead; the devout perform post-mortem rites to deceased ancestors. There are many shrines on the banks of the river near the bathing Ghat and elsewhere. Of all these temples, that of Peru-Udayar (called Periya Avudaiyar Kovil) is by far the most important and deserves special mention.

Located near the railway line on the banks of the Shanmuga Nadi in sylvan setting, it is about four kilometres from the bus-stand reached by two stages, by buses going on the Old Dharapuram road for three kilometres and by walking one kilometer from the arch on that road. It is convenient to go by a taxi or auto rickshaw and alight at the doors of the temple. In the evening and in the pre-dawn period, sounds of birds are heard and if you have a tape-recorder, you cannot afford to miss recording these.