Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple

Introduction

The hill temple of Dhandayuthapani Murugan lies in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu. The temple lies in the village of Perunkarunai. This hill temple lies near Acharapakkam on the Chennai-Thindivanam route. The temple goes by the name of Nadu Palani, as suggested by the Kanchi Periyavar. The temple is amidst ten giant Banyan trees on a beautiful hill. Murugan, also called Kartikeyan, is the God of War.

An arch stands two kilometers ahead of the Acharapakkam village. A Paadal Petra Shiva Sthala is present at Acharapakkam, ten kilometers away from this hill temple.

History of Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple

The temple was built nearly 40 years ago by Sri Muthuswamy Pillai. Murugan appeared in the dream of Sri Muthuswamy Pillai and instructed him to build a temple. He started building the temple with a Vel (spear) but went on to make it an Abhimana temple as it became a big temple. After Sri Muthuswamy Pillai, the temple has been governed by Mysore Sri Ganapathy Sachidhananda Swamigal.

After the Jeeva Samadhi of Sri Muthuswamy Pillai, Maragatha Thandayuthapani Dhatthathreya Trust manages the temple.

The Architecture of Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple

Vinayakar sits at the foothill on the right, and Sri Rajarajeswari on the left, with a Mahameru Gopuram. The hill shrine of Dhandayuthapani Murugan has one landing Mandapam in the middle and 120 steps. While climbing the steps, one comes across a temple for Sri Anjaneya on one side and an Idumban shrine on the opposite side. As one climbs upwards, then comes the Siddhi Vinayagar shrine on one side. There is a shrine for Goddess Raja Rajeshwari with a Mahameru Gopuram and Navagrahams on the other side.

Under the Arasu and Vembu trees, there is a Naga Prathishtai. An artificial fountain is present in the name of Saravanapoigai. The samadhi of Sri Muthuswamy Pillai is also present.

The temple on top has a small shrine. At the entrance is Vinayagar and Murugan on his Mayil Vahanam (peacock vehicle). A Mandapam occupies the front. The main deity facing the East is very similar to the one in Sri Dhandayuthapani Temple in Palani.

The old deity was damaged, and a new idol was created in Maragatha stone and stands three feet in height. The God installed in 2008, glitters during Aarti(puja). Under the Rudraksha Pandal, there are two Urchavar deities – Kalyana Urchavar deity with Valli and Deivanai. The other Urchavar idol is Arumugar on the peacock with Valli and Deivanai. The icons of Vinayagar and Naga Dattatreyar (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva) are seen on the Nagar bed (bed of Nagas) with Anaga (Lakshmi) Amman.

Consecration of 45-Foot Tall Statue of Sri Subramanya Swamy

The temple authorities have installed a 45-foot statue of Sri Subramanya Swamy at the Dhandayuthapani Murugan temple, in Nadu Palani, with the anointing done on March 7, 2018. The idol is possibly the tallest Sri Subramanya Swamy idol in India. The statue stands on the western slope of the temple at the rear. The temple authorities installed sacred Sri Subramanya Swamy Padas in stone in a small shrine below the 45-foot tall Sri Subramanya Swamy statue.

It was inaugurated by Sri Ganapathy Sri Sachchindananda Swamiji of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru, and the junior pontiff Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji amidst a sizeable presence of devotees. The Swamiji performed Yanthra Pratishta in the sacred Meena Lagnam amid chants of Mantras. He then offered Purnahuti of Lakshya Subramanyah Homam, which was organized by devotees of Ganeshanjaneya Temple from Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad. Both pontiffs proceeded to the Prathishta Yaga Sthala and performed Purnahuti of Prathishta rituals. Carrying the Pradhana Kalasha containing holy water, they walked up the hill to the Pada shrine and sprinkled holy water on the Padukas.

From a platform constructed high up, Swamiji poured holy water from the Kalasha onto the crown of the 45-foot high statue of Sri Subramanya Swamy. They bathed the gigantic statue with milk and then water. Later, they proceeded with the flower Abishekam. Thousands of devotees participated in the Kumbhabhishekam, consecration ritual, and chants of God’s name rent the air. This statue belongs to a series of tall idols installed worldwide.

Significance of Sri Dhandayuthapani Murugan

The God of War, Kartikeya, is also called Subramanya. He went by the name of Murugan and was called Dhandayuthapani, as he shed all his finery and lived in his abode as an ascetic, with the Dhandam (staff) as his only asset. Murugan visited Palani and came to be known as Dhandayuthapani.

Beliefs of Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple

Devotees fervently believe that offering sincere prayers to the deity results in obstacles removed from their path, regarding marriage.

Festivals Celebrated at Dhandhayuthapani Murugan Temple

The temple celebrates the festivals of Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, and Aipppasi. A lot of devotees do the Padha Yatra (walk) during these festivals. The Rudraksha Kavadi is a rare occurrence in the temple. Devotees throng in thousands at the temple on the festival days. The Temple Trust undertakes Annadhanam (feeding) on such occasions.

The temple performs Guru Pooja of Sri Muthuswamy Pillai on the eve of Thirukarthikai every year. The priests offer milk Abishekam (sacred wash) to the main deity, the Maragatha Dhandayuthapani, every Tuesday and on Krithigai.

The most famous festival is the Panguni Uthiram Urchavam, attended by almost three lakh devotees each year.

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