Palani Murugan Temple - Institutions
Children Mercy Home
Karunai Illam for girls was started separately on
16.9.1998. 24 girls are there in this Illam. All the facilities which are given
to the Boys Karunai Illam are given to the Girls also by this temple. In this
financial year Students staying hall is provided with tiled flooring with
sufficient lighting and fans. Two sets of uniform dress are provided to all
students by the temple authority and Pulses given to the students and old age
persons in the evening. Now 8 Boys and 2 girls are educated in Matriculation
School run by Temple.
Karunai Illam for boys was started on 1.5.1952. At
present 95 boys including 11 deaf & dumb and 8 Old age Persons are there.
Books and other allied materials, Boarding, lodging, for both boys and old age
persons are provided by this temple. The benevolent temple provides education
for those children. Free dresses and medical facilities for all the inmates are
provided by the temple.
Archahar Payirchi Palli
As per the government order that people of all caste can
become archahars in temple, the HR & CE department started six centres for
Archahar Payirchi Palli. One Saiva Archagar Payirchi Palli among the six
centres was inaugurated on 11.5.2007 by the District Collector at Arulmigu
Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple's sub temple Arulmigu Periya Aavudaiyar temple in
the midst of natural scenery and backdrop. 39 students of all caste were
selected and all of them have completed their one year _ training successfully.
Nathaswaram College
Nadaswaram is the music of the masses. No temple
festival or wedding procession in South India is complete without a concert of
music emanating from this popular instrument. Made out of a type of wood called
'achcha', the instrument is 2 to 2-1/2 feet long and is conical in shape
enlarging downwards.
Nadaswaram began as the temple music and from the
temple it spread to social functions. Different notes are played, for different
occasions. When one particular note is played listeners can identify the function
or the event: commencement of a festival, anointing of the deity, dîpa
aradhana, Tiruppalli Yezhutchi, etc.
Nadaswaram is intended for a wide audience. Not only
invitees to or participants in a function, but also people staying in far-off
places can listen to and be charmed by it, because of its pitch, intensity and
tumbrel.
The Nadaswaram performers are experts, able to produce
all the graces that this land of music is famous for. The melodies are
interwoven with countless variations.
A classical Nadaswaram artiste is in great demand and
makes a very good living. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New
Delhi includes Nadaswaram players in its delegations to overseas countries.
Gramophone records or cassettes of leading Nadaswaram players can be purchased
and these will be good 'souvenirs' to take home as mementos.
In Nadaswaram concerts, the piper is accompanied by
other musicians on Thavil (Drum). The performances go on for hours together and
draw large audiences in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other
countries. The masses and the elite relish it in festivals and marriages till
the small hours of the morning, without getting bored. In fact they encourage
the musicians by their talam (rhythmic beats). One feature of this art is that
it is generally rendered standing and walking during festival and marriage
processions.
A few women too handle the Nadaswaram. Recently Muslims,
Europeans and American jazz musicians have also practiced it successfully. The
Nadaswaram College at Palani, established in 1957, is located on the Giri Veedi
in an unpretentious building. A four-year course is offered in gurukula method,
unfettered by the rules and regulations of universities. The intake is 65
students, 23 in Thavil and 42 in Nadaswaram. The age group ranges from 10 to 15
and only one batch of students is trained at a time.
Students are given free boarding, lodging, medical
facilities and a set of dress for Deepavali. Certificates are issued by the
Devasthanam on completion of the course. The alumni of this college include
Nadaswaram maestros like Keevalur Ganesan, Pandanainallur Lakshmikanthan,
Palani Krishnasamy alias Kittu and Tiruppambaram Swaminathan.
In the year 1957 Thavil & Nathaswara College was started.
The sanctioned strength of Nathaswaram is 40 & Tavil is 30. Now there are
28 students and 15 students are studying in Nathaswaram & Thavil colleges
respectively. Books and other allied materials, Boarding, lodging, for both
students are provided by this temple. Free dresses and medical facilities for
all the inmates are provided by the temple.
·
Arulmigu Palaniandavar Polytechnic
(Co-Education)
·
Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of
Arts & Culture
·
Arulmigu Palaniandavar College for
Women
·
Thavil
College
·
School
for hearing retarded people
·
Arulmigu
Palaniandavar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
·
Arulmigu
Dhandayuthapani swamy Primary School
·
Veda Sivakama Paadasalai
·
Veda Siva Agama School
Since 1959, the Devasthanam runs this institution to
give five years of intensive training in temple pooja service, performance of
Tamil Archana, conduct of Kumbhabhishekams and other festivals etc. The young
men who join this course are given training, food, dress, accommodation and
medical aid, free of charge.
School for Tevaram Music
The Thevara Isai Palli maintained by the Devasthanam
teaches traditional Tevaram hymns in the recognized panns and trains them to
become odhuvars.
Children's Crèche
The Devasthanam maintains in a building near the
Pattathu Vinayagar Temple in the heart of the town, a Children's Crèche for
pre-school children (age group 2 + to 5). They are given milk, lunch, biscuits
and medical aid, free of charge. Pre-school education and facilities for play
are provided. This institution is a boon to working poor parents who cannot
afford to keep servants at home to look after their children during
office/factory hours and has helped to raise the living standards of the
families and the pre-school cultural standards and environment of the babies.
School for Deaf
Realizing Lord Muruga's compassion for the handicapped
and in keeping with temple traditions in Tamilnadu, the Devasthanam established
this primary school in 1972. Sound instruments are made use of in teaching.
Crafts are also taught. Accommodation, food, medical aid and books are given
free of cost. After completing standard V, they go to schools for the deaf in
the cities for further studies.
Arulmigu Palani Andavar English Medium School for
Children
The Devasthanam founded this school in 1972 to impart
primary education of a high standard to the children of Palani and thus met the
demand for a English Medium School offering L. K. G., U.K.G. & Standards
Ito VIII. The school has an adequate library, a choice collection of play
materials, the most sophisticated teaching aids and a team of highly qualified
teachers and dedicated 'Ayahs. The school is presently housed in 'Muruganagam'
in Kutchery New Street, but is likely to be shifted to a six-acre campus, where
spacious buildings are planned. The school is being developed as a
matriculation school.
Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts & Culture
Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts & Culture,
Palani was founded by Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swami Thirukoil, Palani in
1963. The birth of this institution marked not only the fulfillment of a
long-felt need but also a great step forward in the upliftment of the
educational status of this part of Dindigul District.
Thanks to the remarkable zeal evinced by the trustees of
the Tirukkovil and the high moral support extended to them by the then Chief
Minister, Tiru M. Bakthavatchalam as well as by outstanding educationists like
Dr. A. Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar and Rao Sahib Captain Dr. D. Sivasubramania Mudaliar,
the College took shape much faster than expected and within a year it became a
full-fledged first grade college affiliated to Madras University.
The College was affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University
in 1969. The institution has now come into its own as a first grade college of
mighty proportions. The College offers degree courses in eleven subjects and
post-graduate courses in ten subjects besides M. Phil and Ph.D. in some
disciplines.
The College is housed in the imposing buildings that
stand on the Dindigul Road set against sylvan background and overlooked by the
sacred Palani Hills. Standing right at the feet of the great Palani Andavar,
this temple of learning has drawn over 1400 votaries opting for various courses
of study. Juxtaposed with the main buildings of the College, stand the no less
imposing hostel buildings.
Arulmigu Palani Andavar College of Indian Culture was
merged with the Arulmigu Palani Andavar College in 1981-82 and renamed as
Arulmigu Palani Andavar College of Arts & Culture. The College is run by
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swami Tirukkovil under the guidance of the H.R. &
C.E., (Admn.) Department, Chennai and is naturally committed to certain ideals
and principles which are in tune with the greatest traditions of Indian life and
Culture. It believes in and follows a pattern of curricular activities that is
inseparably bound up with the pattern of values and traditions symbolized by
the great temple of the sacred Palani Hills.
The College begins its day's work with prayer in the
shape of a melodious hymn in praise of Lord Muruga broadcast over a network of
microphone speakers throughout the College premises.
For more
information contact:
Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts & Culture
Palani - 624 602 India
Phone: (91) 04545-42247