Gurudeva would say, "If you want to get to know me you must first get to know my friends, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan and Lord Siva." Many Innersearchers had read the book "Loving Ganesha" and queried us about any writing on Lord Murugan. Well, such a book has been thought about and discussed, but there is nothing like direct experience. Today we take you to Palani Hills, the most beloved of Murugan temples.

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Here is Bodhinatha at the foot of Palani Hills. We are ready to make the climb up the 600 plus steps, into the scintillating, other-worldly atmostphere that is the special quality of Lord Murugan's sannidhiya (spiritual atmosphere that radiates out from a whole place.)

We have no photos from the Aadheenam today, which was another quiet day as the monks who have arrived home get back to work on the next issue of Hinduism Today. So we will take you straight away to innersearch documentary photos.

After traveling in urban environments for 3 weeks, all we can say is....it is sooooo peaceful here!

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	Himalayan Academy Travel Study Programs
	2004 Indian Odyssey January 19, 2004 - February 5, 2004 Bangalore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Chennai and Nearby Temples: Palani Hills, Pillaiyarpatti, Chidambaram, Swamimalai, Kanchi and others

We had skipped this day in our consecutive order... so we are going back one day to Day 12 of Innersearch which took us for a long bus ride from Madurai to the much anticipated visit to Palani Hills. The trip gave us ample time to see the landscape of Tamil Nadu.

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Bus rides can be tough, but there's always a lot for happy chatter and napping to compensate. And the swami's told many stories to the groups along the way.

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India holds the record for highest number of modes of transport.... Bullock cart here.

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Bicycles serve as carriers...

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A four-wheel carriage pushed by a man walking.

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Single horse drawn...auto rickshaw, tricycle rickshaws and more....

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Arriving at the base of Palani Hills, Bodhinatha is greeted by the priests.

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We are led by musicians.

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and priests.

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Sadhus who show years of tapas and austerity in their eyes are everywhere...

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We enter the hall that leads to the main stairs.

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Many pilgrims were anticipating a challenge to go up the more than 600 stairs... on the right in sun glasses is our old friend Hari Haran, who is helping to make sure everything goes well during out stay here today.

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As it turned out the stairs are shaded and the climb was not difficult at all.

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Almost there... the excitement builds as we approach the top.

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From this height one gets a great view of the surrounding landscape.

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Beggars line the stairway....some adorned in very traditional garb.

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Just a few more steps!

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On top at last.... there is a great joyous atmosphere as we walk among pilgrims, many of whom have come here on foot after many days of walking to Palani.

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A greeting at the top of the temple.

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The temple is undergoing continuing renovation and expansioin. These small donkeys carry mortar and sand to the top in the project that is expanding the width of the outer prakaram on the edge of this small mountain.

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We all sit quietly....

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awaiting our turn to get in the queue for darshan of the Lord of Palani.

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It is at time to feel the power of Palani which is a high, light blue energy...

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It's a bit warm today...

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Just then another party of Kavadi carriers arrives, having walked here for days... they set down their Kavadi's having completed their penance, hearts and faces full of satisfaction and serenity. We shared our water with them which they gratefully accepted.

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After the puja, during which all the devotees went to see Palani Deity in a very brisk paced passing darshan, we all sat for meditation for a while.

New comers to India are sometimes disappointed that one can only get in a line up and pass in front of the Deity, just for a brief moment. But, the inner goal to be achieved in any temple visit encompasses the whole process of coming here. And the spiritual influence of the Deity of the temple is not restricted to the murthi in the sanctum, but permeates the whole atmostphere. One must tune in to get in touch with the shakti of the Lord of the temple you are in.

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Aum Saravanabhava

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Japa....

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Meditation comes easily in this scintillating atmosphere.

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Other kavadi carriers streaming into Palani...

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A last look from the top before going down.

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Sadhus.

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Holy men of tapas.

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We say goodbye to another spiritual highlight of our journey.

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MORE UPLIFTING THINGS		2004 Indian Odyssey Join Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami on an 18 day Innersearch to South India, from Jan 19 to Feb 5, as we pilgrimage to ancient monasteries, magnificent 1,000 plus year old sacred temples and meet with India's holy men in a life-transforming adventure. Click on the above link for more details.
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