Palani: JUNE 4-5, 2012

Puja to Sri Dandayudhapani at Palani & 100th Day of the Vijaya Yatra

On the evening of 4th June, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived at the famous temple town of Palani. The Jagadguru was reverentially welcomed by the local MLA, MP and members of the Municipality. The Jagadguru was then received at the main hall of Sri Angaleshwari Kalyana Mandapam near Adivaram, Palani.

Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by Sri Hariharamuthu. In the Swagata Patrika welcoming the Jagadguru, it was joyously noted that the Jagadguru had arrived at Palani on the 100th day of the Vijaya Yatra that had begun on 26th February from Sringeri. Devotees were also excited that the Jagadguru arrived on a full moon day and that the Jagadguru would worship Lord Dandayudhapani on Tuesday, an auspicious day for the Lord.

In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru expressed that he was joyous to be in Palani, the most famous of the Kshetras of Lord Subrahmanya Swamy.

The Lord has incarnated many times to annihilate evil forces and reinstate Dharma. Sri Rama in Treta Yuga, Sri Krishna in Dwapura Yuga and Sri Adi Shankaracharya in Kali Yuga are instances. Similarly, the Lord once incarnated as Karthikeya to quell the evil influence of Tarakasura and protect the worlds.

तस्मिन् विप्रकृताः काले तारकेण दिवौकसः ।
तुरासाहं पुरोधाय धाम स्वायम्भुवं ययुः ॥

The Gods led by Indra approached Brahma to seek a solution for putting an end to their suffering at the hands of Tarakasura. Lord Brahma was caught between the horns of a dilemma for it was He who had granted Tarakasura boons and made him powerful. There is a message conveyed here for everyone –

इतः स दैत्यः प्राप्तश्रीर्नेत एवार्हति क्षयम् ।
विषवृक्षोऽपि संवर्ध्य स्वयं छेत्तुमसाम्प्रतम् ॥

Lord Brahma reasons that He cannot put an end to Tarakasura by Himself for it was He who gave the Asura boons, just as it is not appropriate for anyone to cut down a poisonous tree after having himself grown it. He however confided in the Gods that only a child of Shiva and Parvati would be able to put an end to Tarakasura. That child was Karthikeya and he became the war general of the Gods – He is called सेनानीः – सेनां नयति इति सेनानीः – One who marches forward the army of the gods. The Lord incarnated as Karthikeya and put an end to Tarakasura. We hence worship him with great devotion. It is the fortune of the Dravida region (Tamil Nadu) that a number of places here are sanctified by temples for Lord Karthikeya. If we adore Him with devotion and faith, He will definitely remove all our difficulties and bless us. His power is unimaginable and beyond limits. He has the power to destruct the universe in an instant, and create a new one in another instant. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada has sung the praise of Lord Karthikeya in Subrahmanya Bhujanga Stotram. He says that whatever be the disease afflicting a person, it will subside by the mere application of the Vibhuti Prasada of the Lord. The same Prasada removes evil spirits too. However setting out to test the power of the Lord is futile. What is the power of the Lord and who are we to test Him? We stand to get nothing out of it. However, if we approach the Lord with devotion, our difficulties subside and it results in our welfare.

Such a divine presence (Saannidhyam) is observed here in Palani. Innumerable devotees have come here for over a millenia, have worshipped the Lord and have become a recipient of His Grace. This fact is known to everyone. No other evidence is required for a fact that has been directly experienced.

Over many centuries, it has become traditional for the Peethadhipatis of Sringeri Sharada Peetham to come here, offer worship to the Lord praying for the welfare of all people, and bless the devotees. Our Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had come here, worshipped the Lord and blessed the devotees. Our Paramaguru had come here and offered worship in 1926 while our Parameshti Guru had offered worship in 1909. The Jagadguru also remembered His visit to Palani 25 years back in 1987 when He too had worshipped Lord Dandayudhapani. The Jagadguru stated that it was the Lord’s Grace that He has been able to come to Palani again and said He had come to worship the Lord and bless all.

After the Bhashanam, songs from Tiruppugazh, a collection of devotional hymns towards Lord Murugan and penned by Saint Arunagirinathar were rendered by a Tiruppugazh Anbargal group from Coimbatore. The Jagadguru’s Chandramoulishwara Puja then took place in the Mandapam.

On 5th June morning, the Jagadguru completed His morning Anushtanams and went up the Dandayudhapani temple where Archakas of the temple along with the Joint Commissioner of the temple, the MLA accorded a traditional welcome. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Sri Ananda Vinayakar and offered a Vastram. Soon afterwards, the Jagadguru entered the main temple complex via the southern Rajagopuram and went for Snanam. The Jagadguru then entered the Garbha Griha at around 8:30 am and first performed Puja to Sharadamba Chandramoulishwara Shiva Linga. The Jagadguru then performed the Kala Sandhi Puja to Lord Dandayudhapani Swamy. As part of the Kala Sandhi Puja, the Jagadguru did Abhisheka to the main deity (Moolavar) and the Utsava Moorti of Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy with thailam, panchamrita, milk, vibhuti and theertham. The Archakas then decorated the deity with the Vastrams offered by the Peetham to the Lord. The Jagadguru then performed Archana to Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy. The Jagadguru then offered Dhupa, Deepa, Neivedya and Mahamangalarati to Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy. After the Puja, the Thakkaar of the temple, Sri Bhaskaran and the Archakas offered the Prasadams to the Jagadguru. The Jagadguru descended from the Palani hill after blessing the officials of the temple headed by the Joint Commissioner.

The Jagadguru then graced the area where the Palani Panchamrita Prasada is prepared and oversaw the preparation process. Later, the Jagadguru proceeded to Palani Dandayudhapani Sthanika Archaka Sangha where the Archakas of Palani accorded a devotional welcome and presented documents highlighting the relation between Palani and the Sharada Peetham at Sringeri.

The Jagadguru then went to the Shankaralaya Trust belonging to the Peetham and laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the building. Afterwards, the Jagadguru returned to Sri Angaleshwari Kalyana Mandapam where devotees had Darshan and offered Bhiksha Vandanam and Pada Puja.