Narada arrived at Kailash with a golden mango — the Jnana-phala, the fruit of wisdom. He offered it to Shiva and Parvati. Both sons — Ganesha and Murugan — wanted it. Shiva set a condition: whoever first circumambulates the three worlds gets the fruit. Murugan leaped onto his peacock and flew. Ganesha sat still, thought for a moment, then walked three times around Shiva and Parvati — 'You are my three worlds.' Shiva gave him the fruit.
When Murugan returned and saw that Ganesha had won, he was grieved. He removed all his royal ornaments — the jewels, the crown — and went to Palani hill. He settled there as a tapasvi (ascetic) with only a staff (danda) in hand. Parvati came to him and said in Tamil: 'Palam-Ni' — 'You yourself are the fruit.' You are wisdom. The place took that name: Palani. And Murugan remains here as Dandayudhapani — the one with the staff — in the simplest possible form.
The Dandayudhapani form of Murugan at Palani wears no royal ornaments — just a staff, and the truth that wisdom cannot be given, only realized.
Palani is one of the Aru-Padai-Veedu — the Six Abodes of Murugan revered in Tamil tradition. The deity's tapasvi form — stripped of all decoration — carries a teaching that devotees carry with them long after they descend the hill.
The temple sits atop the Palani hill at about 450 metres, reached by stone steps. The climb itself is part of the devotion. Thaipusam and Panguni Uttiram are the two festivals most associated with Murugan across south India, and both are celebrated at Palani with great feeling.
- Temple at the hill summit — stone steps to climb; ropeway also available.
- Morning mist and bells make the dawn visit especially memorable.
- Tapasvi form darshan — simple, no royal ornaments, just the staff.
- Thaipusam and Panguni Uttiram are the principal festivals.