Palani Sri Dandayuthapani (Gemini) Mithuna Rasi Temple, Dindigul

Address

Palani Sri Dandayuthapani (Gemini) Mithuna Rasi Temple, Palani, Dindigul District- – 624 601, Phone: +91-4545 – 242 293, 242 236, 242 493.

Diety

Tiru Aavinankudi Kuzhandai Velayuthar

Introduction

Sri Dandayuthapani (Gemini) Mithuna Rasi Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan located in Palani, Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Tiru Aavinankudi Kuzhandai Velayuthar. The presiding deity Lord Muruga’s idol is made of nine precious herbals known as Navapashana and installed by a Holy Siddha named Bogar. The procession deity is Muthukumaraswami. This is the third of the six Army Camps (Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga. The temple is more than 1500 years old temple. This Temple is considered (Gemini) Mithuna Parihara Sthalam.

Puranic Significance

The history of the temple begins from Mount Kailash with a mango fruit brought by Maharshi Narada. Child Muruga left His parents and came to this place as He could not get the mango for not fulfilling the condition to get the fruit. Lord Shiva followed Him. Lord Muruga halted at this place. Mother Parvathi did her best for a compromise. But the Son was unrelenting and expressed His desire to stay here it. A temple came into being for Kuzhandai Velayuthar as He was a child (kuzhandhai) then. The Great woman Tamil poet Avvaiyar, known not only for her poetic excellence but also for wisdom, called Muruga Pazham Nee and the place came to be known as Pazhani. Pazham in Tamil means fruit and also ripe knowledge. Another Legend goes like this: Idumban was carrying two hills, Shivagiri and Shakti Giri to Pothigai as commanded by Sage Agasthya. Shivagiri has Lord Shiva attributes and Shaktigiri has that of Mother Parvathi. Idumban placed these mounts down here as he could not bear the weight. Lord Muruga stood on Shaktigiri and refused to come down despite Idumban’s repeated demands. When Idumban decided to fight against the Lord, He showered His grace on him and kept with Him. As Muruga was holding a Danda-staff, the Lord came to be known as Dandayuthapani. Siddha Bogar who was here, made an idol of Navapashana (nine herbals) and installed in the temple. He became the presiding deity of the hill temple and became popular among the devotees. Dandam also means a cane a tool for punishment. Lord Muruga graces here as a teacher explaining the uncertainties of life. As a teacher, He holds the Danda to correct erring pupils. In His ascetic form, Lord Muruga also teaches people to shed the natural evils of greed, etc. in their mind and be free from passions leading to misery. Siddha Bogar, living here then was treating people with herbals. He was assisted by his disciple Pulipani. All devotees are indebted to Bogar for gifting us Lord Himself. His monument is within the temple. The parrot on the Danda of Lord Muruga has a fascinating religious story. There was a wicket poet Sambandandan jealous of the saint poet Arunagiriar and thought of a revenge plan to eliminate him. He used his influence on King Prapuda Deva Raya requesting him to ask the saint poet to get the Parijatha flower from heaven to prove his supremacy. Arunagiriar flew into the sky in a parrot form leaving his human form in the Tiruvannamalai tower. This is an exercise called Koodu Vittu Koodu Paithal – leaving the original body form in a safe place and enter into the body of another – for noble purposes. After completing the mission, the performer leaves the adopted body and re-enter into his own. When Arunagiriar left with his parrot body in search of the Parijatha flower, wicked Sambandandan found the human body of the saint and cremated it so that Arunagiriar cannot re-enter into his original body and appear in his human form and be his competitor. When Arunagiriar was shocked to see his body burnt, Lord Muruga blessed him by having his parrot form in His staff.

Special Features

Sign No: 3 Type: Air Lord: Mercury English Name: Gemini Sanskrit Name: Mithuna Meaning of Sanskrit Name: The Twins These people will be spiritual and very analytical in mind. Art and literature fascinates these individuals. They will be versatile, eloquent and inventive and will have business acumen. They will be busy in two different fields of activity. The person of this sign will have intellectual attainments. He will have gains through his relatives. Will have public acclaim. Mars, Saturn, Rahu or Ketu afflict the horoscope there will be more difficulty in all spheres of life.

Festivals

Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October–November, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Thaipoosam in January–February and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.