Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

05:30 – 21:30

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Miraculous Navapashanam (amalgam of nine poisonous herbs synthesized into nectar) standing icon of Lord Murugan as an ascetic youth holding a danda (staff)

Religious tradition

Vedic Agamic Kaumara Tradition & Siddha Alchemy of Sage Bogar

Sanskrit name

श्री दण्डायुधपाणिस्वामि मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Palani Murugan Temple, Thiru Aavinankudi, Palani Hill Temple, Third Arupadai Veedu

Darshan hours

Daily

05:30 AM - 09:30 PM

Break timings

Continuous darshan throughout the day; darshan paused momentarily during major abhishekas

Special days

Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam: 04:00 AM - 11:30 PM (Continuous Darshan)

Festival timings

Open 24 hours continuously during Thaipusam and Panguni festival peaks

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:00 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Night aarti

08:30 PM

Special aarti days

Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti, Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram

Ritual schedule

Six daily major pujas and abhishekas, Thanga Ratham (Golden Chariot) procession nightly, Bogar Samadhi worship

Pooja timings

06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Abhishek timings

Viswaroopa Abhishekam (06:00 AM), Sandhi (08:00 AM), Uchikalam (12:00 PM), Sayarakshai (06:00 PM), Rakkalam (08:00 PM)

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

Yes

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Consecrated by Sage Bogar; hilltop stone flight and prakaras built by Chera King Cheraman Perumal and Pandya kings

Architect / builder

Traditional Kongu and Pandya royal sthapathis

Construction materials

Solid dressed granite stone masonry, gold-plated vimana dome, ropeway, and winch track systems

Historical events

Sage Bogar crafted the Navapashanam deity using nine secret herbal minerals to bestow immortality upon mankind; king Cheraman Perumal was directed by Murugan in a dream to uncover the hidden deity

Renovations

Continually modernized by Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department with high-speed haulage winches, passenger ropeway, and gold-plated Vimana

Archaeological importance

Epigraphical records from Chera, Chola, and Pandya monarchs detailing village donations and perpetual ghee lamps

Legends

Sage Narada brought a divine fruit of wisdom (Gnana Pazham); Shiva and Parvati held a contest around the cosmos; Ganesha won by circumambulating his parents; Murugan left Mount Kailash in anger and settled on Sivagiri hill as "Pazham-Nee" (You are the Fruit)

Inscriptions

More than 50 inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 8th to 16th centuries recording royal endowments

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Ancient foundations with 8th - 16th Century CE structural expansions

Structure

Hilltop walled fortress temple standing atop a 450-foot hill reached by 693 steps, ropeway, and winch tracks, with vast foothill complexes at Aavinankudi

Floors

1

Gopuram

Stepped stone Vimana tower above the sanctum completely covered in pure gold plate, and imposing entrance gopurams

Mandapa

Spacious pillared Navaranga and circumambulatory corridors supported by monolithic granite pillars with relief sculptures of Murugan

Sculptural features

The venerated Navapashana idol of Dhandayuthapani; golden chariot (Thanga Ratham); rock-cut shrine of Sage Bogar Samadhi; granite Nandi and Mayil (Peacock)

Artistic elements

Gold-plated kalashas, embossed silver doorframes, traditional hanging brass lamps, and diamond-studded Vel

Construction technique

Interlocking monolithic granite masonry anchored onto solid Precambrian hill bedrock

Unique features

The Navapashana deity synthesized from nine poisonous herbs by Sage Bogar; the GI-tagged Palani Panchamirtham made of five natural ingredients without artificial preservatives

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Thai month Poosam (January/February), Panguni Uthiram (March/April)

Special celebration days

Every Kiruthigai, Tuesdays, Sashti, Sundays

Cultural events

Traditional Kavadi dance, Kavadi attam, classical Carnatic vocal concerts, and Nadaswaram festivals during Thaipusam

Annual events

The monumental Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram Rathotsavams with millions carrying Pal-Kavadi and Mayil-Kavadi

Peak crowd season

December to April (Thaipusam, Panguni, and Sabarimala pilgrimage seasons)

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Elevator
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

100+ Vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.