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Dindigul - Palani Murugan Temple
Palani Murugan Temple
It was hard to say which perfume was more powerful-the smell of the sandal, the fragrance of the flowers, the flavour of honey, ghee, cane juice, and panchamirtam, the odorous smoke from ‘Kungiliam’ or Akil. It was equally hard to say which sound was more sonorous: the chanting of the Tevaram, Tiruppugazh and other songs, the music of the nadaswara or the sound of the bell or the cry “Haro Hara” of the devotees. The holy ashes on the chest of one besmeared the back of the one standing in front, so close the devotees of the Lord were standing. Seeing them I became rapt in devotion. Then they changed the apparel worn by the Lord Dandapani and began to anoint Him.
Abishekam in oil, nelli, turmeric, milk, curd, ghee, honey, cane juice, panchamirtam, juice of tender cocoanuts, juice of other fruits, sandal paste, rosewater and holy water, Muruga was anointed in turn. After drying, He had the golden girdle bound round His waist, and the undergarment of the Vedas was put on. Laying aside the garment of the warrior, assumed for destroying the enemies of man-the three malas, He had the holy garment put round His waist. He had the upper cloth put on His shoulders, on the forehead and all over the body. He was smeared with the holy ashes.
The golden tilaka was put on His forehead. Necklaces and garlands Tongal, Indai, Kanni, Vasikai etc, were put on His neck. He was also decked with the Kandikai. He took the ‘Danda’ on one hand and sloped His ‘Vel’ on one shoulder the vel that vanquished the Asuras and saved the devas. He stood with one hand touching His waist He wore anklets on His Feet-the Feet that destroy our sorrowful birth and the evil course ordained for us by Brahma, the Feet that are never absent from the hearts of the devotees the pinnacle of the Vedas, every line of Tiruppugazh written by Arunagiri and the divine sight of Siva and Uma.
He beheld His image in the mirror. Many instruments set up a reverberating peal. He sampled diverse kinds of sweet foods, fruits, coconut and milk. He inhaled the fivefold fragrance. He had the sweat on His forehead wiped. He got the honour of deepa and dhoopa. Holy ashes were smeared, mirror was shown, and the umbrella was held aloft. He was fanned with the chamara and ‘alavattam’, etc.
He heard the chant of the four Vedas, Tiruppugazh, Kanda Puranam, as also the music of the sweet-voiced instruments. Seeing the dance, He felt gladdened. He saw the waving of lit camphor. To all that beheld the worship, He gave the Holy ashes and the desired boons.
Oh! Peacock, Tell the Lord thus “Still in the line of devotees, there is one poor labourer who belongs to the tribe of thy servants. Though out of ignorance he commits hundred faults, he will not even think of offending Thee. He puts not his faith in any other than You. He follows not anyone other than You. He offends not any of your devotees. He falters not in doing services bidden of them. He will not enter the assembly of people who deny the Supreme, the souls, and action, good and bad with their deserts. He will not join the vain ones who mock at the bodily service of the devotees for the Lord.
He will not listen to those who call themselves God. These are me persons who run after house, gold, precious stones, company of women, food, clothing and ornaments and gather them clamoring “These are mine”. He won’t sort with those who debate about ‘one’ and ‘two’ (Ekam and Dvaitam). He likes not those “who make the false appear the better reason”. He desires greatly the speechless grace of Thine after the deluding darkness of anavam and the fetters of karma are removed and me demon of Maya is driven away. He yearns only for Thee. Thou who art compassionate towards the weak, mind not every blemish of thy devotee, tell him “come here, thou art my bond slave”, give him grace and crown Thy golden feet as flowers on his head.
Remove the evil of past karma and make him truly wise. Remove the arrogance of ‘mine’ and ‘I’. Establish his head at Thy Feet in pure advaita state as he realises Thee completely, with all faculties inert, steeped in true unending bliss. Do not let him be deluded by gold, cattle, house, children and earthly life. Let him not be touched by the poverty that leads to evil. Let him not fall into the pit of low desire. Let him not make a living of the sweet Tamil verse. Let him not take his time with low books that speak not Thy praise. Let him be given quickly the boons of chanting and meditation of Thy feet. Come to him and vouchsafe to him the Bliss that has no end and render him Grace. Oh! Muruga of blissful form (ananda)! Oh, Sat! (truth), Oh, Chit! (consciousness) Oh, Om Sadasiva” Thus speaking, assure me the grace of the Lord.
Lord Muruga with the umbrella of thy plume aloft; with Valli Teyvayanai on either side, wearing the victorious garland, bearing the shining spear of jnana on his right hand, fragrant-mouthed with wisdom’s milk, the Supreme Gurunatha—the Lord of the Devas—the Bestower of Boons—the one determined to make his devotees live forever; He of the sapphire hue—the crimson Essence—purest Gold—effulgent Light—the Boat that takes the devotees across the ocean of birth and death—the Ladder that assures passage for devotees to reach mukti—the two-fold Treasure of the devotees—the insatiable Ambrosia—the sweet juice of the three-eyed Sugar Cane—the delicious honey found in the Tree of the Vedas—Sweet Fruit of true Wisdom—The Palani Andavar with the lustrous spear, flashing like lightning, full of grace. Oh Peacock, bring Him swiftly to me!
Sashti or sixth day of the full moon and the sixth day of the new moon are favorite days for Lord Muruga. Several devotees of Muruga observe partial or full fast on each Sashti day and throughout the Kanda Sashti period.
The Sashti falling in on the waxing moon period in the month of Aippasi (October-November) is the day on which Muruga is believed to have killed a super-demon called Sura Padman. This is commemorated in the six-day festival of Kanda Sashti as a symbol of perpetual destruction of evil by God. Each of these six days is, by custom, set apart to recite the glory of Muruga from one of the six scriptures in His praise—Tirumurukarruppadai, Kandar Kalivenba, Kandar Anubhuti, Kandar Alankârâm, Kanda Sashti Kavacam, and Kanda Puranam. Giant-sized images of four asuras are moved on uplifted chariots and these encountered and destroyed by the Lord.
For this festival and for this only, the utsava deity of Chinnakumârar comes down from the hill temple, kills the asuras at four direction corners while on a festive procession round the hill and triumphantly returns to His abode in the hill. This is on the sixth day, i.e. sashti day. All the other events of the festival take place in the hill temple. On the seventh day, Muruga marries Valli. This divine marriage is celebrated both in the hill temple and in the Periyanâyaki Temple.
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