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{{Redirect|Pazhani|the |
{{Redirect|Pazhani|the films|Pazhani (1965 film)|and|Pazhani (2008 film)}} |
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{{About|the pilgrim city in Tamil Nadu, India|the temple|Palani Murugan Temple|the village in Iran|Palani, Iran}} |
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{{Redirect|Pazhani|the 1965 film|Pazhani_(1965_film)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} |
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{{About|the pilgrim town in Tamil Nadu, India|the temple|Palani Murugan Temple}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=March 2014}} |
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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}} |
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<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement |
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement |
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| name = Palani<!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, or the lead, per WP:INDICSCRIPT policy. See "Etymology" section below. --> |
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| name = Palani |
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| nickname = |
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| settlement_type = [[Town]] |
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| image_skyline = Palani Montage.png |
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| image_alt = |
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| image_caption = Clockwise from top left: Gopuram of [[Palani Murugan temple]], [[Winch]] pulled car climbing uphill, Vaiyapuri Pond, View of temple atop the hill |
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| settlement_type = town |
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| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu |
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| pushpin_label_position = |
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| pushpin_map_alt = |
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| image_caption = The Palani Murugan Temple atop the ''Sivagiri'', better known as the Palani Hill |
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| pushpin_map_caption = Palani, Tamil Nadu |
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| coordinates = {{coord|10.450000|N|77.516100|E|display=inline,title}} |
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| pushpin_label_position = |
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| subdivision_type = Country |
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| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} |
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| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]] |
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| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]] |
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| subdivision_type3 = [[Region]] |
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| subdivision_name3 = |
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[[Kongu Nadu]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kongu Nadu |url=http://www.coimbatore.com/kongunadu |website=coimbatore.com |access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref> |
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| longd = 77.510429 |
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| subdivision_type4 = [[List of districts in India|District]] |
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| subdivision_name4 = [[Dindigul district|Dindigul]] |
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| established_title = <!-- Established --> |
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| coordinates_display = inline,title |
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| founder = |
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| government_type = Selection-Grade Municipality |
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| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]] |
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| governing_body = |
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| unit_pref = Metric |
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| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]] |
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| area_footnotes = |
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Dindigul district|Dindigul]] |
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| area_rank = |
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| established_title = <!-- Established --> |
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| area_total_km2 = |
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| elevation_footnotes = |
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| elevation_m = 341 |
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| population_total = 70467 |
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| population_as_of = 2011 |
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| population_rank = |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| population_demonym = |
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| population_footnotes = <ref name=2011census/> |
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| demographics1_title1 = Official |
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| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |
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| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] |
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| population_total = 67175 |
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| utc_offset1 = +5:30 |
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| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] |
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| postal_code = 624 601 |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| area_code_type = Telephone code |
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| population_demonym = |
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| area_code = 04545 |
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| population_footnotes = |
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| registration_plate = '''TN''' '''94''' |
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| demographics_type1 = Languages |
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| website = {{URL|palanimurugantemple.org}} |
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| demographics1_title1 = Official |
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| footnotes = |
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| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |
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| official_name = |
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| utc_offset1 = +5:30 |
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| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] |
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| postal_code = 624 601 |
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| area_code_type = Telephone code |
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| area_code = 91 4545 |
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| registration_plate = TN 57 |
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| website = |
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| footnotes = |
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[[File:Palani Town.jpg|thumb|270x270px|'''View of Palani Town''']] |
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'''Palani''' is a city and a [[municipality]] in the [[Dindigul district]] of the [[South Indian]] state of [[Tamil Nadu]], located about 100 km South-east of [[Coimbatore]] City and 60 km west of [[Dindigul]]. It is the location of the far-famed [[Palani Murugan Temple|temple]] of the god [[Murugan|Kartikeya]], resorted to by more than 7 million devotees each year. |
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'''Palani''' or Pazhani({{IPA-ta|paɻani|lang}}), is a town in [[Dindigul district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] state in [[India]]. It is located about {{convert|54|km|mi}} west of [[Dindigul]], {{convert|106|km|mi}} south-east of [[Coimbatore]], {{convert|122|km|mi}} north-west of [[Madurai]], {{convert|67|km|mi}} from Kodaikanal. The [[Palani Murugan Temple]] or Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple (Thiru Avinankudi), dedicated to Murugan is situated on a hill overlooking the town. The temple is visited by more than 7 million pilgrims each year. As of 2011, the town had a population of 70,467 and the Taluk had a population of 292,301<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/tamil-nadu/dindigul/palani-population.html#google_vignette | title=Palani Population (2021/2022), Taluk Village List in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu }}</ref> which makes it the second largest town in the district after Dindigul.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani {{!}} Dindigul District {{!}} India |url=https://dindigul.nic.in/tourist-place/arulmigu-dhandayuthapani-swamy-temple-palani/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
==Etymology== |
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The town derives its name from the compounding of two Tamil words '' |
The town derives its name from the compounding of two [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words ''palam'' meaning ''fruit'' and ''nee'' meaning ''you'', a reference to poet [[Avvaiyar (Sangam poet)|Avvaiyar]]'s song praising[[Kartikeya|Muruga]] which forms part of the [[Palani Murugan Temple#Mythology|legend]] of the Palani Murugan temple. But the actual correct word is பழம்நீர் which means place surrounded by fruit with water(Coconut and Palm)trees. The word கழனி which is similar in name, both gives agricultural meanings, here கழனி means வயல் (field). |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Tamil Inscriptions Pazhani.jpg|thumb|left|Tamil Inscriptions at Pazhani Temple]] |
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;Tradition |
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References to the place exist in ancient Tamil devotional texts. According to Hindu mythology, "Sage [[Narada]] once visited the celestial court of Shiva at [[Mount Kailash]] to present to Him a fruit, the [[Jnana Palam|''jnana-palam'']] (literally, the fruit of knowledge), that held in it the elixir of wisdom. Upon Shiva expressing his intention of dividing the fruit between his two sons, [[Ganesha]] and [[Muruga|Murugan]], the sage counselled against cutting it. He decided to award it to whoever of his two sons first circled the world thrice. Accepting the challenge, Murugan started his journey around the globe on his mount peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and [[Shakti]] combined, circumambulated them".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dhandapani Murugan Kovil|url=http://tamilnadu.com/temples/dhandapani-murugan-kovil.html|website=tamilnadu.com|publisher=General Interactive, LLC|access-date=28 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307142728/http://tamilnadu.com/temples/dhandapani-murugan-kovil.html|archive-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Pleased with their son's discernment, Shiva awarded the fruit to Ganesha. When Murugan returned, he was furious to learn that his efforts had been in vain. He left Kailash and took up his abode in Palani hills in South India. It is believed that Murugan felt the need to get matured from boyhood and hence chose to remain as a hermit and discarded all his robes and ornaments. He went into meditation to know about himself.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} |
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References exist to the place in ancient Tamil devotional texts. A local tradition holds that a [[velir]] chieftain named Bayhun (பேகன்-கடை ஏழு வள்ளல்களில் ஒருவர்), once came upon a peacock in the forests shivering in the cold and chose to cover it using his own upper garment and face the cold, rather than let it die. Although the legend may be apocryphal, it reveals some interesting facts - that the people of the area were numerous enough to have a chieftain of some standing, that peacocks were as plentiful as, if not more than, they are today, that the people venerated peacocks and held them to be sacred to Lord Subrahmanyan as they do today and lastly, that the weather was cold enough to justify a warm upper garment, a circumstance encountered primarily higher up in the hills today. |
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Palani and most of [[Dindigul district]] were part of the [[Kongu Nadu]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kongu Nadu Areas|url=https://www.tn.gov.in/district_details/575 |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> region of the Tamil country. The northern part of the Palani and [[Oddanchatram]] taluks is held to have been part of the Anda Nadu sub-region, whereas the rest of the area constituted the Vaikapuri Nadu. The area was under the influence of the rulers of Coimbatore and Madurai, at various points of time. In the 18th century, [[Hyder Ali]] and his son, [[Tippu Sultan|Tipu Sultan]] ruled over the place before being annexed the British after the [[Third Anglo-Mysore War]]. |
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;Mediaeval Period |
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[[File:Kongu Nadu.jpeg|thumb|Present Kongu Nadu]] |
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Palani and most of [[Dindigul district]] were part of the [[Kongu Nadu]] region of the Tamil country. The northern part of the Palani and [[Oddanchatram]] taluks is held to have been part of the [[Anda Nadu]] sub-region, whereas the rest of the area constituted the [[Vaiyapuri Nadu]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} |
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==Temples== |
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;Under the Nayaks |
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{{main|Palani Murugan temple}} |
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The area seems to have been under the influence of the rulers of Madurai and Coimbatore, at various points of time. The temple of the Goddess Periyanayaki Amman within the town, serves as the point of reference. The Pandyan motif of two fishes is repeatedly to be encountered in its interior, in relief, which leads one to believe that the area was under the domination of the Pandyan kings of Madurai in the first millennium A.D. However, the mandapam (pavilion) right in front of the temple is more in keeping with the architecture of the Nayaka kings of Madurai, who were appointed to the administration of that city, as ''Vanavarayars'', by the Kings of Vijayanagar by the 14th and 15th centuries. It is therefore logical to presume that the area came under the sway of the Nayakas in their heyday. A tradition in the surrounding area asserts that their kings remained proudly independent and did not become vassals of the Pandyas or the various rulers of Coimbatore. This, when read with historic accounts of the wars of those kings, may lend credence to the fact that certain vassals of the Pandya kings at times turned refractory and at others remained staunch allies of theirs in the numerous wars they prosecuted. |
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[[File:Thiru Avinan Kudi Kulandhai Velappar Temple.jpg|thumb|Thiru Avinan Kudi Temple]] |
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Palani is home to one of the most sacred shrines of the Murugan, as worshiped in the Hindu sect of ''[[Kaumaram]]''. The Thandayudhapani Temple dedicated to Murugan "Palani Andavar", and regarded one of his ''Arupadai Veedu'' (Six Battle Camps), is situated here.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilnadu.com/temples/dhandapani-murugan-kovil.html |title=Dhandapani Murugan Kovil |publisher=Tamilnadu.com |date=5 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307142728/http://tamilnadu.com/temples/dhandapani-murugan-kovil.html |archive-date=7 March 2013 }}</ref> The temple is situated atop a hill known as Sivagiri. The ''Garbagriham'' is surmounted by a gold ''gopuram'' and the walls of the Garbagriham have numerous stone inscriptions describing offerings made by devotees to the temple. Steps are hewn into the rock, besides a wide path meant for the ascent of elephants, up the hill. In addition, a [[winch]] pulled railway with three tracks and a [[Cableway|rope way]] are operational. A temple is dedicated to Murugan near the foot of the hill by the name of ''Thiru Avinan kudi'' which actually forms a part of the six abodes of Murugan ([[Arupadaiveedu]]). It is also called as Kulandai Velayudhaswami Thirukkovil.<ref>{{cite book|title=Palani: The Hill Temple of Muruga|author=Cōmale|publisher=Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, 1975|page=23}}</ref> |
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;The 18th Century |
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Our source of information for the next period of history comes from the records of [[Hyder Ali]] and his son, [[Tipu Sultan|Tippoo Sultaun]], which were handed over to the British on the surrender of the Dindigul district after the [[Third Anglo-Mysore War]]. Herefrom, it is learnt that Palani was then under the rule of the [[poligar]]s or palayakarars (literally, town-keepers) of Balasamudram{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}, who retained control of its brick-fort in return for a nominal tribute to the Sultaun's administrator and representative at Coimbatore.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} Considering the fact that there are numerous people of the Nayakar caste (the same as the Nayaka kings of Madurai), who claim descent from what is modern-day Andhra Pradesh and who retain some vestiges of the Telugu tongue, in Balasamudram, it is more than probable that their forebears were given charge of the fort of that place by the kings of Madurai,{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} and retained its control long after their sovereigns had been displaced. |
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Besides this, right at the foot of the Sivagiri is a small shrine dedicated to the god [[Ganapathi]], where he goes by the name ''Pada Vinayakar''. It is customary amongst the pilgrims to pay their obeisances at this shrine before commencing their ascent of the hill. |
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;Saurashtra |
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Another interesting fact is the existence of a Saurashtra Street in Palani. Since 'Saurashtra' is the term commonly used in Tamil to refer to the numerous people who emigrated to the South in the wake of the Mahratta rulers of Tanjore and Madurai, it seems to be likely that Palani came under the dominance of either the Serfojis of Tanjore or their counterparts of Madurai, in the period between the fall of the Nayaka Kings of Madurai and Hyder Ali's ascent to power in the 18th century. |
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Halfway up the hill, there is the [[Idumban]] shrine where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandayudhapani. The practice of Pilgrims to Palani bringing their offerings on their shoulders in a [[Kavadi Aattam|kavadi]] is associated with the legend of Idumban. |
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;British India |
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We have numerous references to Palani, and its famous temple, in British Gazetteers and land survey documents of the late 18th and early 19th century. The first known painting of Palani and its surroundings was made by a captain of the English East India Company's Madras Army in September, 1792, who was presumably sent to the area to assist in the investiture of the nearby fortress of Dindigul during the Third Anglo-Mysore War and who may have been one of a party sent to ensure the lack of resistance from the numerous small hill-forts that lay between Dindigul and Coimbatore after the fall of the former's fortress. The painting clearly shows the Sivagiri with the temple atop it and a wall at its base, besides a large tank, presumably the Vaiyyapuriyan Kulam, against a background of the Palni Hills as seen from the direction of Coimbatore. Palani is also named as being one of the most prosperous towns of the Dindigul district in a gazetteer from 1821. |
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Within the town is another temple dedicated to the Goddess [[Parvathi]] as ''Periyanayaki Amman''. Near the Periya Nayaki Amman temple are two others – the ''Mariyamman'' Temple and the ''Perumal'' Temple. The former is particularly resorted to in times of epidemics, the goddess there being regarded as the protector against illnesses. |
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The laying of a railway line may have brought an additional spurt of growth to the town since one of its chief roads is named the Railway Feeder Road, presumably because it links the highway to the District Headquarter Dindigul with the railway line. |
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A short distance from the town is a temple dedicated to Shiva as ''Periya Avudaiyar''. |
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The highway that runs from Palani to the nearby town of [[Dharapuram]] is remarkably straight and level, without the numerous windings and turns that characterise old roads. It is known that the area experienced a sudden surge in unempoyment during, or immediately after, the Second World War necessitating the development of schemes to provide employment. The road was a product of one such project floated by the British administration. |
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The Kannadi Perumal Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is a small temple situated on a hillock 9 km south of Palani, a short distance from the highway to Kodaikanal. |
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The area experienced a severe famine in the early 1950s, an occurrence that is still remembered with fear by the inhabitants of the area, considering the privations they underwent. More recently, the Shanmughanadi river was subjected to annual floods in the early 1990s, which cut off links with other towns nearby, and caused some inconvenience. |
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[[File:Gopuramgold.JPG|thumb|200px|Gold plated Gopuram]] |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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{{main|Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park}} |
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A most impressive back-drop to the town is formed by the picturesque slopes of an offshoot of the [[Western Ghats]], the [[Palni Hills]], whereon lies the esteemed hill-station of [[Kodaikanal]]. The ranges extending east-west, to the south of the town, frame the town presenting a most inimitable sight. The view within the town is dominated by the two hills, Sivagiri and Sakthigiri, on the former of which lies the famous and much resorted to temple of Lord Subrahmanyan as ''Bala-Dhandaayudhapaani'' (translated as, the young lord wielding a mace). |
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The backdrop to the town is formed by an offshoot of the [[Western Ghats]], the [[Palani Hills]], whereon lies the hill-station of [[Kodaikanal]]. The view within the town is dominated by the two hills, Sivagiri and Sakthigiri, on the former of which lies the temple. At the foot of the hills lie several lakes which drain to the Shanmuganathi river, a tributary of the [[Amaravathi River]] (itself a tributary of the [[Kaveri River]]), which takes its source on the slopes of the Palani Hills.<br>The nearest towns are [[Oddanchatram]], [[Dharapuram]], [[Udumalaipettai]], [[Kodaikanal]]. |
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[[File:Varadhamanadhi Dam.jpg|thumb|Varadhamanadhi Dam]] |
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At the foot of the hills lie several lakes, the largest of which, the Vaiyyapuriyan Kulam, used, in days past, to serve as the primary water reservoir to the inhabitants of the town. At its greatest expanse during and immediately after the monsoons rains, the lake drains to the Shanmughanadi, a short distance from the town. Though shrunken in expanse due to encroachments and overgrown with weeds, the lake still remains an extensive water sheet during the rainy season. |
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The Shanmughanadi, a tributary of the [[Amaravathi River]], takes its source on the slopes of the Palni Hills and runs not very far from the town. On this river, a few short kilometres from the suburbs, in the lower reaches of the Palni Hills, is built the Varadhaman Nadi Dam, which supplies the town with its supply of fresh water |
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==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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According to [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Palani had a population of 292,301 with a sex-ratio of 1,023 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.<ref name="dashboard">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> A total of 6,467 were under the age of six, constituting 3,283 males and 3,184 females. [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] accounted for 16.57% and 0.23% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 78.95%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.<ref name="dashboard"/> The town had a total of 19,015 households. There were a total of 27,150 workers, comprising 372 cultivators, 1,277 main agricultural labourers, 763 in house hold industries, 23,478 other workers, 1,260 marginal workers, 40 marginal cultivators, 68 marginal agricultural labourers, 107 marginal workers in household industries and 1,045 other marginal workers.<ref name=2011census>{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals – Palani|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=690511|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> As per the religious census of 2011, Palani had 90.58% [[Hindus]], 7.63% [[Muslims]], 1.44% [[Christians]], 0.01% [[Sikhs]], 0.01% [[Buddhists]], 0.42% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.<ref name=religion2011>{{cite web|title=Population By Religious Community – Tamil Nadu|year=2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|format=XLS|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref> |
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As of 2001 India [[census]],<ref>{{GR|India}}</ref> Palani had a population of 67,175. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Palani has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%. In Palani, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The most prominent festivals of Palani temple are " Thaipoosam " and " Panguni Utthiram ". Mr.Sethuraman was the first Municipal Chairman. |
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{{bar box|title=Religious census|titlebar=#ddd|left1=Religion|right1=Percent(%)|float=right|bars={{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|90.58}}{{bar percent|[[Islam|Muslim]]|Green|7.63}}{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|purple|1.44}}{{bar percent|Other|grey|0.46}}}} |
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;Religion |
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Hinduism is the most common religion of the people of Palani, followed by Islam and Christianity. |
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;Caste Distribution |
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The Hindu people of Palani town, for the major part, belong to the Pandaram and Pillai castes. Kongu Vellala Gounders, the dominant community of [[Kongu Nadu]] forms the majority population in the surrounding villages. Gounders are also engaged in commerce in the Palani town.Brahmins, although dispersed all over the town, have two particular enclaves - namely the Kalyamputhur Agraharam(Aka A.kalayamputhur), a short distance from the town, and the Gurukkal Street near the Periyanayaki Amman Temple andnaidu community is distributed in V.k mills and Nagoor located near to palani |
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;Languages |
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The language spoken is, for the most part, Kongu Tamil with a strong infusion of the Madurai Tamil, which may be attributable to the proximity of Dindigul, the district head-quarters, where the latter dialect prevails. |
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==Temples== |
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Palani is home to one of the most sacred shrines of the God Subrahmanyan, as worshipped in the Hindu cult of ''Koumaram''. The Dhandayudhapani Temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, and regarded one of his ''Arupadai Veedu'' (Six Battle Camps), is situated here. The temple situated atop the Sivagiri is small but attracts a flood of devotees from all over the country. The architecture of the temple appears to be of the [[Pandya]] school. The ''Garbagriham'' is surmounted by a gold ''gopuram'', most admirably worked. The walls of the Garbagriham have numerous stone inscriptions describing offerings made by devotees to the temple. Steps are hewn into the rock, besides a wide path meant for the ascent of elephants, up the hill. In addition, a [[funicular railway]] with three tracks and a [[rope way]] have been provided more recently for the comfort of the pilgrims. |
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In keeping with the traditions of all temples of the God Subrahmanyan, another temple is dedicated to his worship near the foot of the Sivagiri. It goes by the name of ''Thiru Avinankudi'', and is remarkable for the exquisite appearance of the chief deity besides other sculptures. |
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Besides this, right at the foot of the Sivagiri is a small shrine dedicated to the god [[Ganapathi]], where he goes by the name ''Pada Vinayakar''. It is common amongst the pilgrims to pay their obeisances at this shrine before commencing their ascent of the hill to worship the Lord Subrahmanyan. A particular offering here is the breaking of coconuts, by flinging them against an enclosed stone before the shrine, of which many hundreds are broken by the devotees in the course of a day. |
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Within the town is another temple dedicated to the Goddess [[Parvathi]] as ''Periyanayaki Amman''. It popularly goes by the name of the ''Oorkovil'' - the town's chief temple. A particularly intriguing aspect of the temple is that, although it is referred to as the temple of ''Periyanayaki Amman'', the central sanctum, the sanctum of supreme honour in Hindu temple architecture, is accorded to the Lord Subrahmanyan. The temple is large in expanse and displays an interesting blend of Pandya and Nayaka architecture. A tradition associated with the temple is that, formerly, a subterranean passage connected it with the Periya Avudaiyar temple some distance from the town, and was used to convey the idols under a peculiar circumstance of duress - when a Nawab attacked; however, beyond the fact, obvious from his title, that he was a Muslim, nothing is known of the Nawab or of his attack. Some evidence may be said to exist of an attack since some of the sculptures in the Nayaka mandapam in front of the temple have their limbs missing. |
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A short distance from the town is a temple dedicated to Shiva as ''Periya Avudaiyar''. This temple, located right on the banks of the Shanmugha Nadi, is situated in particularly peaceful environs far-removed from the bustle of the town. |
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Near the Periya Nayaki Amman temple are two others - the ''Mariyamman'' Temple and the ''Perumal'' Temple. The former is particularly resorted to in times of epidemics, the goddess there being regarded as the protectress against illnesses. |
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The Kannadi Perumal Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is a small temple situated on a hillock 9 km south of Palani, a short distance from the highway to Kodaikanal. The name of the temple is derived from its tradition that the presiding deity of the temple wards off the effects of ''dhrishti'', a Sanskritic term which may be held to mean 'casting an evil eye'. One of the practices of the devotees of the temple is to bring the first-born calves of their cows to the temple seeking the deity's blessing, as the protector of cattle. On account of its secluded location it is not resorted to by many. |
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<gallery> File:Gopuramgold.JPG|Golden Gopuram </gallery> |
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==Transportation== |
==Transportation== |
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Roadways |
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NH209 connects Palani to [[Coimbatore]] and [[Mysore]]. There are frequent buses to [[Dindigul]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Madurai]], [[Erode]], [[Tirupur]], [[Pollachi]], [[Karur]], [[Trichy]]. Many Omni buses are available to [[Chennai]], [[Bangalore]] and [[Kodaikanal]]. |
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===Roadway=== |
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Railways |
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[[File:Palani Bus Stand.jpg|thumb|'''Image of V.O.C Central Bus Stand, Palani''']] |
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There was a metre gauge line between Coimbatore and Dindigul via Palani, which is presently under gauge conversion. After the gauge conversion a Coimbatore-Madurai Intercity Express and Coimbatore-Rameshwaram Express are expected to ply the route. |
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National Highway [[NH 83]] connects [[Coimbatore]] to [[Nagapattinam]] via Palani |
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[[Tiruchirappalli]] [[Thanjavur]]. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation|TNSTC]] buses connect the town to other parts of the state. [[Kerala State Road Transport Corporation|KSRTC]] buses connecting places like [[Kottayam]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Kasaragod]], [[Guruvayur]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Thrissur]], [[Palakkad]], and [[kottarakara]] are available at particular interval of time from Palani bus stand. 24 hours buses are available on all three main roads (via [[Dharapuram]], [[Oddanchatram]] and [[Udumalaipettai]]) |
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===Railway=== |
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Airways |
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{{main|Palani railway station}} |
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Palani is located equidistant from Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai Airports. |
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Station Code :PLNI, Palani is a part of the [[Coimbatore]]-[[Rameswaram]] BG line prior to the commencing of gauge conversion. On 20 November 2012, the Dindigul-Palani section of the line was completed, and the [[Palani railway station|local railway station]] opened to railway traffic again. Currently there are passenger trains are crossing from [[Madurai]], [[Thiruchendur]] to [[Coimbatore]], [[Palakkad]]. And a daily [[Palani Express|express train]] available between Palani to [[Chennai Central|Chennai]]. Recently Amritha express running from Madurai – Thiruvananthapuram via [[Dindigul]], Palani, [[Pollachi]], [[Palakkad]], [[Thrissur]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Kottayam]], [[Kollam]]. |
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===Airway=== |
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==Traditional Commerce== |
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The nearest major airports are [[Coimbatore International Airport]] located {{convert|100|km|mi}} from Palani and [[Madurai International Airport]] located at {{convert|130|km|mi}} from Palani. Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the next nearest, 164 km from Palani. |
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Palani is a centre of a form of traditional Indian medicine known as [[Siddha medicine|Siddha Vaidyam]], said to have been developed by the ascetics resident, in prehistoric times, in the hills about the modern-day town. Further, the town is also the centre for production of ''vibhuthi'' (sacred ash) and ''pancha amritham'' (literally, 'the five nectars' - a traditional preparation of fruit pulp and [[molasses]]), both of which are considered holy and distributed to devotees after being offered to the Lord Subrahmanyan in the hill-temple. |
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==Educational Institutions== |
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Besides numerous government and private schools, the Devasthanam Board runs several institutions of higher education. |
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# Sri Subramanya College of Engineering and Technology |
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# Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts and Culture. |
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# Arulmigu Palaniandavar Arts College (Women) |
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# Arulmigu Palaniandavar Polytechnic College |
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# Madurai Kamaraj University Evening College. |
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# Sri Balamurugan Polytechnic College.(Private) |
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==Climate== |
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The famous picnic and tourist hill station Kodaikanal is located near Pazhani. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Wikivoyage|Palani}} |
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{{commons category}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Sri Subramanya College of Arts and Science |
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== |
==See also== |
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{{commonscat}} |
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* Lord Muruga Information Web Portal http://www.palanitemples.com |
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*{{dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Tamil_Nadu/Localities/Palani}} |
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* Visit http://www.sathishkumar.in/places/palani.html |
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* Sri Subramanya College of Engg. and Tech., Web Portal http://www.subramanya.org |
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* [[Sacred mountains#India|Sacred mountains of India]] |
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==See also== |
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* [[Palani (Lok Sabha constituency)]] |
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* [[Kalthurai]] |
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{{Tamil Nadu}} |
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* [[Palani (Lok Sabha constituency)]] |
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* [[Vibhuti]] |
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{{Adjacent communities |
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| Centre = Palani |
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| North =[[Tiruppur]] |
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| Northeast = [[Karur]], [[Tiruchirappalli]] |
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| East = [[Dindigul]] |
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| Southeast = [[Madurai]] |
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| South = [[Sivakasi]] |
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| Southwest = |
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| West = |
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| Northwest = [[Coimbatore]] |
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}} |
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{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}} |
{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}} |
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{{Dindigul District}} |
{{Dindigul District}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Cities and towns in Dindigul district]] |
[[Category:Cities and towns in Dindigul district]] |
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[[Category:Palayam]] |
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[[bn:পালানি]] |
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[[ca:Palani]] |
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[[de:Palani]] |
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[[hi:पलनी]] |
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[[bpy:পালানি]] |
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[[it:Palani]] |
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[[ml:പഴനി]] |
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[[mr:पळणी]] |
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[[sa:पळनी]] |
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[[ta:பழனி]] |
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[[vi:Palani]] |
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[[zh:帕拉尼]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:26, 18 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2014) |
Palani | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from top left: Gopuram of Palani Murugan temple, Winch pulled car climbing uphill, Vaiyapuri Pond, View of temple atop the hill | |
  Palani Palani, Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates: 10°27′00″N 77°30′58″E / 10.450000°N 77.516100°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Region | Kongu Nadu[1] |
| District | Dindigul |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selection-Grade Municipality |
| Elevation | 341 m (1,119 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 70,467 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 624 601 |
| Telephone code | 04545 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 94 |
| Website | palanimurugantemple |
Palani or Pazhani(Tamil: [paɻani]), is a town in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about 54 kilometres (34 mi) west of Dindigul, 106 kilometres (66 mi) south-east of Coimbatore, 122 kilometres (76 mi) north-west of Madurai, 67 kilometres (42 mi) from Kodaikanal. The Palani Murugan Temple or Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple (Thiru Avinankudi), dedicated to Murugan is situated on a hill overlooking the town. The temple is visited by more than 7 million pilgrims each year. As of 2011, the town had a population of 70,467 and the Taluk had a population of 292,301[3] which makes it the second largest town in the district after Dindigul.[4]
Etymology
[edit]The town derives its name from the compounding of two Tamil words palam meaning fruit and nee meaning you, a reference to poet Avvaiyar's song praisingMuruga which forms part of the legend of the Palani Murugan temple. But the actual correct word is பழம்நீர் which means place surrounded by fruit with water(Coconut and Palm)trees. The word கழனி which is similar in name, both gives agricultural meanings, here கழனி means வயல் (field).
History
[edit]
References to the place exist in ancient Tamil devotional texts. According to Hindu mythology, "Sage Narada once visited the celestial court of Shiva at Mount Kailash to present to Him a fruit, the jnana-palam (literally, the fruit of knowledge), that held in it the elixir of wisdom. Upon Shiva expressing his intention of dividing the fruit between his two sons, Ganesha and Murugan, the sage counselled against cutting it. He decided to award it to whoever of his two sons first circled the world thrice. Accepting the challenge, Murugan started his journey around the globe on his mount peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised that the world was no more than his parents Shiva and Shakti combined, circumambulated them".[5] Pleased with their son's discernment, Shiva awarded the fruit to Ganesha. When Murugan returned, he was furious to learn that his efforts had been in vain. He left Kailash and took up his abode in Palani hills in South India. It is believed that Murugan felt the need to get matured from boyhood and hence chose to remain as a hermit and discarded all his robes and ornaments. He went into meditation to know about himself.[citation needed]
Palani and most of Dindigul district were part of the Kongu Nadu[6] region of the Tamil country. The northern part of the Palani and Oddanchatram taluks is held to have been part of the Anda Nadu sub-region, whereas the rest of the area constituted the Vaikapuri Nadu. The area was under the influence of the rulers of Coimbatore and Madurai, at various points of time. In the 18th century, Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan ruled over the place before being annexed the British after the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
Temples
[edit]
Palani is home to one of the most sacred shrines of the Murugan, as worshiped in the Hindu sect of Kaumaram. The Thandayudhapani Temple dedicated to Murugan "Palani Andavar", and regarded one of his Arupadai Veedu (Six Battle Camps), is situated here.[7] The temple is situated atop a hill known as Sivagiri. The Garbagriham is surmounted by a gold gopuram and the walls of the Garbagriham have numerous stone inscriptions describing offerings made by devotees to the temple. Steps are hewn into the rock, besides a wide path meant for the ascent of elephants, up the hill. In addition, a winch pulled railway with three tracks and a rope way are operational. A temple is dedicated to Murugan near the foot of the hill by the name of Thiru Avinan kudi which actually forms a part of the six abodes of Murugan (Arupadaiveedu). It is also called as Kulandai Velayudhaswami Thirukkovil.[8]
Besides this, right at the foot of the Sivagiri is a small shrine dedicated to the god Ganapathi, where he goes by the name Pada Vinayakar. It is customary amongst the pilgrims to pay their obeisances at this shrine before commencing their ascent of the hill.
Halfway up the hill, there is the Idumban shrine where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandayudhapani. The practice of Pilgrims to Palani bringing their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi is associated with the legend of Idumban.
Within the town is another temple dedicated to the Goddess Parvathi as Periyanayaki Amman. Near the Periya Nayaki Amman temple are two others – the Mariyamman Temple and the Perumal Temple. The former is particularly resorted to in times of epidemics, the goddess there being regarded as the protector against illnesses.
A short distance from the town is a temple dedicated to Shiva as Periya Avudaiyar.
The Kannadi Perumal Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is a small temple situated on a hillock 9 km south of Palani, a short distance from the highway to Kodaikanal.
Geography
[edit]The backdrop to the town is formed by an offshoot of the Western Ghats, the Palani Hills, whereon lies the hill-station of Kodaikanal. The view within the town is dominated by the two hills, Sivagiri and Sakthigiri, on the former of which lies the temple. At the foot of the hills lie several lakes which drain to the Shanmuganathi river, a tributary of the Amaravathi River (itself a tributary of the Kaveri River), which takes its source on the slopes of the Palani Hills.
The nearest towns are Oddanchatram, Dharapuram, Udumalaipettai, Kodaikanal.
Demographics
[edit]According to 2011 census, Palani had a population of 292,301 with a sex-ratio of 1,023 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[9] A total of 6,467 were under the age of six, constituting 3,283 males and 3,184 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 16.57% and 0.23% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 78.95%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[9] The town had a total of 19,015 households. There were a total of 27,150 workers, comprising 372 cultivators, 1,277 main agricultural labourers, 763 in house hold industries, 23,478 other workers, 1,260 marginal workers, 40 marginal cultivators, 68 marginal agricultural labourers, 107 marginal workers in household industries and 1,045 other marginal workers.[2] As per the religious census of 2011, Palani had 90.58% Hindus, 7.63% Muslims, 1.44% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists, 0.42% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.[10]
Transportation
[edit]Roadway
[edit]
National Highway NH 83 connects Coimbatore to Nagapattinam via Palani Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited TNSTC buses connect the town to other parts of the state. KSRTC buses connecting places like Kottayam, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Guruvayur, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and kottarakara are available at particular interval of time from Palani bus stand. 24 hours buses are available on all three main roads (via Dharapuram, Oddanchatram and Udumalaipettai)
Railway
[edit]Station Code :PLNI, Palani is a part of the Coimbatore-Rameswaram BG line prior to the commencing of gauge conversion. On 20 November 2012, the Dindigul-Palani section of the line was completed, and the local railway station opened to railway traffic again. Currently there are passenger trains are crossing from Madurai, Thiruchendur to Coimbatore, Palakkad. And a daily express train available between Palani to Chennai. Recently Amritha express running from Madurai – Thiruvananthapuram via Dindigul, Palani, Pollachi, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam.
Airway
[edit]The nearest major airports are Coimbatore International Airport located 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Palani and Madurai International Airport located at 130 kilometres (81 mi) from Palani. Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the next nearest, 164 km from Palani.
References
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Palani.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palani.
- ^ "Kongu Nadu". coimbatore.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Census Info 2011 Final population totals – Palani". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Palani Population (2021/2022), Taluk Village List in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu".
- ^ "Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani | Dindigul District | India". Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Dhandapani Murugan Kovil". tamilnadu.com. General Interactive, LLC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Kongu Nadu Areas". Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Dhandapani Murugan Kovil". Tamilnadu.com. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013.
- ^ Cōmale. Palani: The Hill Temple of Muruga. Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, 1975. p. 23.
- ^ a b "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Population By Religious Community – Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
See also
[edit]Places adjacent to Palani | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
