Agni Nakshatram
The Murugan Temple at Palani Celebrates the Summer Festival
Perhaps the only Hindu festival to be celebrated in May is Agni Nakshatram. This is dedicated to Lord Murugan and is celebrated with pomp at the sacred town of Palani.
Agni Nakshatram is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the elder son of Shiva and Parvati. Murugan is also known as Subramaniam and Skanda. He is more popularly known as Kartikeya in North India.
Agni Nakshatram
The Agni Nakshatram festival falls in May in the hottest time of the year. This year the festival is being celebrated between the 7th and the 20th of May. Perhaps it is the only Hindu festival occurring during this period.
The center of the celebrations is the sacred town of Palani. During the Agni Nakshatram festival hundreds of thousands of devotees make their way to Palani to seek the blessings of Lord Murugan. The rituals include circumambulating the holy hill, Giri Valam, on which the temple is situated. This is done both in the mornings and in the evenings. Many medicinal herbs grow on Giri Valam. It is believed that the aroma from the herbs provides the devotees with peace of mind and also good health. The bright Kadamba flowers grow in abundance on Giri Valam at this time of the year. These are the favorite of Lord Murugan and therefore the female devotees are seen wearing Kadamba flowers.
The water with which the abhishekha or ablutions were performed is collected. This is considered holy water and is known as theertham. On the last day of the festivities this water is distributed to the devotees. The water spilled on the temple premises is also considered holy and collected separately. Some devotees take home this water as well.
The Legend
Murugan in Palani is worshipped as Dhandayudapani. He is presented as the renunciate dressed only in a loincloth. The word Palani translates as “You are the fruit”. This is a reference to the Lord Murugan being the fruit of wisdom.
The legend is as follows. Narada, the celestial messenger, gave Shiva the golden fruit of knowledge. Shiva gave the fruit to Parvati who wanted to give it to her children. But the fruit could not be cut so it was decided that whoever circled the globe first would get the fruit. Murugan set out on his peacock to actually circle the globe. But Ganesh circled his parents, who were his world, and got the fruit. When Murugan returned he was angry at being tricked. Parvati consoled him by saying that he did not need the fruit of wisdom, because he himself was the fruit.
Palani
Palani is perhaps the most important temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is about 130 kilometers from Madurai, another important religious center. The temple is on a hill. The main access is through 697 steep stone steps. But it can be reached by rope cars and also on elephants through a longer but less steep route.
The idol was sculpted by Sage Bhogar centuries ago from an amalgam of nine herbs and minerals. But because six abhishekhas are performed daily this idol has become very frail. In order to prevent further damage, for the last 60 years the ablutions have been performed on a bronze replica.
The other temples of Murugan in South India are Tiruttani, Swamimalai, Palamuthirsolai, Tirupparankundram and Tiruchendur.
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