Palani Murugan Temple - Legends
Legend of Gyana Palam
Sage Narada once visited the celestial court of Lord Shiva at Mount
Kailash to present to him a
fruit, the gyana-palam (literally, the fruit of knowledge), that held
in it the elixir of wisdom. Upon Lord Shiva expressing his intention of dividing
the fruit between his two sons, Ganesha and Murugan, the sage counseled against cutting
it. He decided to award it to whichever of his two sons first circled the world
thrice.
Accepting the challenge, Lord Karthikeya started his
journey around the globe on his mount peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised
that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and Shakti combined, circumambulated them. Pleased with their
son's discernment, Lord Shiva awarded the fruit to Lord Ganesha. When Kartikeya
returned, he was furious to learn that his efforts had been in vain. He left
Kailash and took up his abode in Palani hills in South India.
It is believed that Karthikeya felt the need to get
matured from boyhood and hence chose to remain as a hermit and discarded all
his robes and ornaments. He went into meditation to know about himself.
Siva and Parvathi come to Palani and pacify Murugan
telling him Muruga, you are yourself a divine fruit; then why do you need a
fruit? Fruit, in Tamil, is called Pazham. Hence this place came to be called as
Palani, as Muruga was addressed as Palam Nee. Some say that Palani got its name
from Pazhanam (meaning paddy fields)
Lord Muruga, in his aspect as Lord Dhandayuthapani,
stands for repudiation. Shunning all wordly possessions, the only apparel he
has chosen to retain is a breechcloth. But His bhaktas never tire of offering
him costly garments and enriching his wardrobe with luxurious royal clothes which
are used to adorn Him when his devotees yearn to see the Lord in the vesture of
a King. For indeed, his state is that of a Swami or self-governing Lord.
It is also claimed by many that the materials of abhishegam
like milk, sandal paste, etc., attain medicative properties on being decanted
over Lord Palaniandavar idol and they have healed many diseases, when taken by
the patients.
The avatar of Palani Andavar is said to have been made
of Navapashanam (a combination of Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam,
Gauri Pasanam, Vellai Pasanam, Mridharsingh, and Silasat), by a Siddhar called
Bhogar.
Legend of Kavadi Tradition
As per another legend, once all sages and gods assembled
in Kailash, the abode of Shiva. It resulted in the tilting of
earth towards one direction. Shiva asked sage Agasthya to move towards South to balance the tilt. Agastya
employed a demon by name Ettumba to carry two hills in his shoulders to be
placed in the South. The demon carried the hills down south and rested in a
place. When he tried to lift one of the hills, it didn't budge and he found a
young man standing at the top of the hill not allowing it to be moved. 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 Dhandayuthapani.
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.
It is a practice followed in the modern times where people
carry milk in both their shoulders as a devotion to please Karthikeya. The
demon carried the other hill to Swamimalai, which is another abode of Karthikeya.
The word and ritual of ‘Mottai’ (clean shaven head) in
Tamil Nadu has instant recall of two temples: Tirupati and Palani temples. Both
these places are especially associated with the ritual of shaving the head of
the devotee and offering the hair as an offering.
Legend of Bhogar
Bogar is a Siddhar, he is considered as one of the 18 Siddhars
born in the world. According to Epigraphical sources and his book Bogar Seven
thousand his period is around 3000 B.C. Bogar born at India and visited China
in search of truth of life, he gained knowledge in medicine, astrology, spirituality,
yoga etc. Bogar anticipating that in due course of period, human beings will
suffer from large number of disease.
As an expert in medicine he used 4448 rare herbs and
made 9 poisonous medicines, mixing these 9 poisons into one needs great knowledge
and skill, to make a Master Medicine (One medicine to cure all disease). Tirumular
also discuss one such Master Medicine in his book Thiru Mandiram. With the
consultation of Agasthiar (Father of Ayurvedic Medicine) and other Siddhars
Bogar mixed the 9 poisons (Nava Bashanam) and made the Master Medicine in the
form of Lord Murugan which is currently worshiped at Palani Murugan temple.
There is a place near Palani Hill called Thanasiappan
Temple which is the place where Bogar mixed the Nava Bashanam and made the
Murugan idol. Bogar and others then decided that by using the milk and
panchamirtham (a sweet recipe) poured on the idol, one can extract the medicine
from the idol. The milk and panchamirtham then becomes medicine to cure
disease.
After installing Lord Murugan Navapashanam idol at the
Palani Hill, Bhogar used to worship it with milk Abishegam (pouring milk on the
idol) and panchamirtha Abishegam (pouring panchamirtham on the idol). His
disciple Pulipani Siddhar then took over the job of Lord Murugan pooja after
Bogar went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi - the highest Samadhi stage; where the Mind
dissolves with Matter and Energy.
Bogar Samadhi is inside Palani Murugan temple at Palani
Hill. Actually Bogar himself constructed his Samadhi exactly under the Lord
Murugan Navapashanam idol and went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi there. The entrance
to his Samadhi is a cave like structure, now also worship for this great Siddhar
is conducted at this entrance where he is last seen by his disciples which are
at the Palani temple.