Palani Hills

Our trusty chariot is sitting in front of the hotel waiting to take us to Palani Hills, that amazing citadel that is Tamil Nadu's riches temple and one that is dear to Gurudeva and the monks. We have arrived late and decide for the first time to take the little cable car to the top. Twenty fit into each train, so 40 at a time ride slowly up the hill. We do pradakshina and then are taken to Murugan's shrine. Just in time, the hour-long abhishekam has just concluded and as the curtain is drawn aside He is dressed ornately, His face pure white, His darshan more than potent. No photos allowed, so we can't share that part here.

We visit Bhogar Rishi's shrine, alive with his mystic power. Remember, he is the one who made the murthi here using nine metallic poisons and is said to still be meditating in the mountain below. You may not know that some years back the temple trustees hired our own Selvanathan Sthapati to resculpt eroded sections of the murthi, for which he did extensive research as you can imagine.

We stayed for the 7-8pm procession of the chariot around the entire temple. Hundreds follow and push the golden chariot which stops at nine stations for arati.

We seem to have stood out, and throughout the procession families, groups of teens and sadhus came up to us shyly inquiring: "Photo? Photo with us?" Mostly we relented, til it began to slow down the entire event and we had to just keep walking in front of the chariot.

There is such a genuine and universal respect for the path of the sannyasin here and even those who don't have the courage to ask for a photo, place palms together, smile or nod approvingly as if to say, "More power to you."

Our hotel, the new Ganpat Grand is so close we opt to walk the busy street back. If ever you are in Palani, this is a great little hermitage.

Off tomorrow to Karnataka State and Suttur Math. Aum Namasivaya!

All aboard for the three hour flight to Palani Hills

Tamil Nadu leads all of India in wind power generation and you can drive for hours and see this out the window. The state generates more than 10,000 megawatts using wind.

Our destination, the famed Palani Hills temple, abode of Murugan as the loin-cloth clad ascetic.

Two cars ply the tracks, pulled by a steel cable.

We feel a little like kids at a Disney ride.

Dinesh captures our cramped seats.

The sun is just setting as we walk past the Om Muruga neon sign.

The sky is on fire.

There is a free darshan, but we buy a ticket to get closer.

And meander alone through what seems like miles of stainless steel corridors. We are late to the puja and so alone at this stage winding our way to His Feet.

That\

s our hotel below, the large white one just above the trees at the center of the photo.'

Another circling of the temple after puja.

The chariot comes out exactly at 7pm and hundred flock to be near their Beloved Dandapani

Jai!

Tavil and nagaswaram announce the chariot\

s approach.'

Many approach for photos. So of course we took photos of their photo taking.

This sadhu was amazingly present, eccentric, smart, and gave blessings freely.

Jai Kumaran! Jai Skanda! Jai Veylan!

This vel can be seen for a hundred miles.

Jai Ceyon! Jai Kathir! Jai Arumugam! Jai Shanmugam!

Looking into the sunset.

Our worship complete, we descend the 685 steps.

The yogis now know one of Murugan\

s most important abodes.'

Everywhere we go, there we are. Aum Namasivaya!

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