• Dr. K. APPADURAI

The most famous temple dedicated to Lord Subramania is at Palani in the Dindigal district of Tamil Nadu. It is a popular place of pilgrimage in South India and one of the Arupadai Veedus (six most sacred places) of Lord Muruga. This place is also called Tiruvavinangudi1 in the epics, probably from the fact that a herd of cows collected there. At an elevation of about 450 metres on Sivagiri hills this ancient temple of Muruga is located and one can reach the temple by a flight of 659 steps. The idol is composed of Navapashana2 (nine different kinds of poisons) blended together in certain rare proportions, the resultant substance resembling wax. The mixing of the nine poisons was done by Sage Bogar. Some say that the constituent of the image is an amalgam of nine minerals. The body of the deity is not smooth and seems to have been either scraped out or corroded by age. The posture is a standing one with a stout stick in the right hand that is called Dandam3 and therefore the deity is called Dandayudhapani (having stick as weapon in his hand). At the neck, there are Rudraksha beads in the form of a garland. Here Lord Muruga is a Sadhu (ascetic) who has renounced all worldly connections.

SIX HOLY ABODES OF LORD MURUGA - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

"SIX HOLY ABODES OF LORD MURUGA - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.911-918, May 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907434.pdf

"SIX HOLY ABODES OF LORD MURUGA - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp911-918, May 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907434.pdf