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Monday, November 22, 2010

"Pazham Nee": The illustrated story of how Palani gots its name.

Devas' complaint

Devas ask for Siva's help

Devas ask for Siva's help

Devas ask for Siva's help

Devas ask for Siva's help
Tamil text 1


Mythological scenes depicted at Palani Devasthanam

Valli Teyvani Samedha Murugan
Valli Teyvani Samedha Murugan

Swâmi Nâtha
Swâmi Nâtha

Valli Amma
Valli Amma

Avvaiyar's vision of Murugan
Avvaiyar's vision of Murugan

Somâskanda: Siva with Uma and Skanda
Somâskanda: Siva with Uma and Skanda


Jñânapalam contest on Kailâsa
The Jñânapalam contest on Kailâsa

Dakshinamûrti
Dakshinamûrti

Palani Arumuga Swami
Palani Arumuga Swami

Churning of the Milky Ocean for the amirtam
Churning of the Milky Ocean for the amirtam

Palani Dandâyudhapani Swami
Palani Dandâyudhapani Swami

Valli Teyvani Samedha Murugan
Valli Teyvani Samedha Murugan

Valli Tirumanam
Valli Tirumanam
Veddar Murugan wooing Valli Amma
Veddar Murugan wooing Valli Amma

Tirupparankundram
Tirupparankundram

Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar
Tiruchendur Senthil Ândavar

Tiru Avinankudi
Tiru Avinankudi

Swâmi Malai Swâmi Nâtha
Swâmi Malai Swâmi Nâtha

Tiruttanikai
Tiruttanikai

Tirupparankundram
Tirupparankundram

Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar
Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar

Tiru Avinankudi
Tiru Avinankudi

Swami Malai Swami Natha
Swâmi Malai Swâmi Nâtha

Pazhamuthircolai
Pazhamuthircôlai

Arumugam
Arumugam

Tiruttani
Tiruttani

Dandâyudhapani Swâmi
Dandâyudhapani Swâmi






Valli Amma
Valli Amma

Famous Murugan Temple Moolavars

Cholai Moolavar Salaimalai Murugan

Cholai Moolavar Salaimalai Murugan [34 kb]


Tirupparankundram Moolavar

Tirupparankundram Moolavar [43 kb]

Pazhani Dandāyudhapāni Swāmi

Palani Dandayudhapani Swami [28 kb]

Pazhani Dandāyudhapāni Swāmi Rāja Ālankāram

Palani Dandayudhapani Swami Raja Alankaram [33 kb]

Pazhani Dandāyudhapāni Swāmi Tanga Kavacam

Palani Dandayudhapani Swami Tanga Kavacam [34 kb]

Swāmimalai Swāminātha Swāmi

Swamimalai Swaminatha Swami [41 kb]

Tiruchendur Bāla Subrahmanya Swāmi

Tiruchendur Bala Subrahmanya Swami [33 kb]

Tiruchendur Shanmugar

Tiruchendur Shanmugar [42 kb]


Tiruttani Subrahmanya Swami

Tiruttani Subrahmanya Swami [33 kb]

The Kandha Puranam 18(Final)

Lord Indra offered his daughter Teyvayanai (Devasena or Amirta Valli) in marriage to Lord Murugan and the wedding was celebrated at Tiruparankundram with great pomp and celebration.

Later Lord Murugan wooed and wedded the hunter's daughter Valli Amma (Sundara Valli) and all three went to live happily at Tiruttani where they remain to this day.

The Kandha Puranam 17

Thus began the war between the devas and the asuras. It lasted for many days as the asuras used their black magic and played many tricks.

One son of Surapadman, Banugopan, would stand suspended in the air and fight. His magic weapon sent nine of Murugan's soldiers and five demons into the Nanneer Sea and made them unconscious. But Lord Murugan's Vel destroyed Banugopan's weapon. Veerabahu and others recovered and got up to fight again.

On the fourth day of battle Murugan killed Agnimukhan and on the fifth day he killed Banugopan and Tarumagopan. Surapadman wept in sorrow, seeing his followers being killed.

The Kandha Puranam 16

Veerabahu returned to Tiruchendur and reported all that happened to Lord Murugan.

Surapadman learned of his son's death and became despondent. He consulted his ministers and decided to rebuild his city and fight with Lord Murugan.

Lord Murugan too decided to fight with the asuras and eliminate them. He went to Sri Lanka with his army and camped at Emakudam.

Narada reported this to Surapadman, who became very angry and vowed to kill Murugan as soon as possible.

The Kandha Puranam 15

Then Veerabahu went to Attani Mandapam where Surapadman resided. Surapadman was sitting upon a throne decorated with diamonds and pearls. Veerabahu introduced himself as Lord Murugan's messenger, but Surapadman ignored him and did not invite him to sit down.

By the power of Lord Murugan there came a throne with a halo decorated with precious gems. Veerabahu sat on it and spoke about the greatness of Lord Murugan and asked Surapadman to release Tirumal's followers.

Upon hearing Veerabahu, Surapadman clapped his hands and laughed. He asked one of his men to throw Veerabahu in prison since to kill a messenger was a sin.

By the power of Lord Murugan, Veerabahu demolished the entire Attani Mandapam and all the forests surrounding the capital. He killed Satamukhan, Vakshiravagu the son of Surapadman and several thousand other monster asuras who opposed him.

The Kandha Puranam 14

This was all narrated by Brihaspati (god Jupiter) to Lord Murugan who heard everything. Murugan sent Veerabahu as messenger to Surapadman to advise him to release the followers of Tirumal. Veerabahu obeyed at once and started for Veera Mahendrapuri, the capital of the asuras. Assuming a huge form, he slayed the guards and entered the city.

Murugan then appeared in a dream of Sayantan and said to him, "Yours sufferings will soon end. The asuras will be destroyed. Have no fear!"

Veerabahu met Sayanthan and others and comforted them. He told them, "You attended Takka's Velvi and ate Avirbhagam and so you were imprisoned. To redeem you Lord Subrahmanya is coming with His Vel. He will destroy Surapadman."

The Kandha Puranam 14

This was all narrated by Brihaspati (god Jupiter) to Lord Murugan who heard everything. Murugan sent Veerabahu as messenger to Surapadman to advise him to release the followers of Tirumal. Veerabahu obeyed at once and started for Veera Mahendrapuri, the capital of the asuras. Assuming a huge form, he slayed the guards and entered the city.

Murugan then appeared in a dream of Sayantan and said to him, "Yours sufferings will soon end. The asuras will be destroyed. Have no fear!"

Veerabahu met Sayanthan and others and comforted them. He told them, "You attended Takka's Velvi and ate Avirbhagam and so you were imprisoned. To redeem you Lord Subrahmanya is coming with His Vel. He will destroy Surapadman."

The Kandha Puranam 13

It seems that Maya, a woman of the asura clan, attracted the hermit sage Kasyapa and begot Surapadman, Singhamukhan, Tarakan and Asamukhi. From their sweat hundreds of thousands of asuras were born. Surapadman and his younger brothers studied under Sukeerar. He did hard penance toward Lord Siva for many years.

Lord Siva appeared before him and granted him the power to live for a hundred and eight yugas, to rule a thousand and eight kingdoms and to be undefeatable even by the forces of Lord Visnu. Surapadman's life force could not be destroyed by anyone except by the power created when Indra's chariot, the Lion throne and the four kinds of forces were joined together.

The soldiers of Surapadman invaded heaven and burned it. They enslaved the followers of Tirumal (Visnu) and made them to do household cleaning chores. Asamukhi went to kidnap Indra's wife Indrani who was hiding in Seerkali in order to present her to Surapadman. Surapadman commanded his son Banugopan to burn heaven. He imprisoned the son of Indra, Sayantan and other followers of Tirumal and treated them harshly.

The Kandha Puranam 12

Lord Murugan was on his way south to Tiruchendur. The six sons of sage Parasura who was performing tapas (penance) upon Tiruparankundram, namely Tatar, Anandar, Nandi, Satirmugar, Chakravani and Mali, felt the arrival of Lord Murugan in their mind's eye. They found Murugan and prostrated before Him.

Afer reaching Tiruchendur, Murugan sat upon the throne in the temple built by Devadakshan while his army cheered. Then Murugan asked Brihaspati (Jupiter) to narrate the whole story of Surapadman to him. Murugan knew the whole story of course, but he asked Brihaspati to narrate it anyways.

The Kandha Puranam 11

Asurēndran, son of Tārakan, went to Surapadman and informed him of Tārakan's death and wept. Surapadman upon hearing that Murugan, a mere child, had killed his mighty brother Tārakan, became furious. His minister Aramahan tried to console Surapadman and sent spies to find out the strength of Lord Murugan's army.

Lord Murugan had camped on the bank of the river Manni with his army. He asked Devadakshan to build a temple there. He installed the image of Lord Siva and offered prayer at that spot.

Lord Siva was very pleased with Lord Murugan's worship. Being seating on His vehicle Nandi he appeared with Goddess Uma before Murugan. Upon being worshipped by Lord Murugan, Lord Siva provided him with the Pasupata weapon to kill the asura monsters.

The Kandha Puranam 10

Tārakan saw that his soldiers were being killed in great numbers and became very angry. He used magic to send Veerabahu and his men into the Krauncha mountain and bury them there.

Narada carried this message to Lord Murugan. Murugan came and fought with Tarakan. He hurled his Vel, which pierced Tarakan's chest and turned the Krauncha mountain into powder.

As soon as the mountain was destroyed, Veerabahu and his men woke up alive. They all sang the praise of Lord Murugan.