"Pazham Nee"

The illustrated story of Lord Muruga, why He left Kailasa and came to Palani, and how Palani got its name.

The devas (gods) and saints used to go to Mount Kailasa to worship Lord Shiva. At Mount Kailasa Shiva and Parvati were greatly pleased to see saints meditating, Nandi Deva praying for God's blessing, Lord Muruga playing at the feet of Lord Shiva, and Ganapati dancing with his trunk.

At that time Narada arrived there. Playing his veena and chanting a “Hara-Hara! Shambo Maha Deva!” Lord Shiva welcomed him gracefully. After worshipping the God and Goddess, Narada offered them a very special mango fruit.

Upon seeing this, Muruga and Vinayaga anxiously waited to receive the fruit. This fruit (Gñâna Pazham) had unparalleled taste. So the Lord decided to conduct a contest to choose the right person for the fruit. The winner should circle the world first.

Muruga and Vinayaga were astonished by this order for a while but soon got to work. Goddess Uma watched them with a smile.

The brave young Kandavel (Murugan) started his journey around the world at once.

"Within a second I will go around the world upon my blue peacock," he said.

The blue peacock fluttered its wings like a golden chariot an flew around the world in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, Vinayaga realised his disadvantage and thought of a solution. He went around his father and mother and worshipped them.

Then Lord Shiva asked his son Lord Ganapati, “Vinayaga! What did you do?”

Saying to his father and mother, “Because of you only, this world arises and falls. Father and mother are the world,” he claimed the prize fruit.

Shiva and Uma were pleased by this act of Vinayaga and presented the fruit to him.

Lord Muruga reached his father Lord Shiva within a second to claim the fruit. But it had already been won by his brother Ganapati!

Muruga was very surprised and angry. At that time Shiva told Lord Muruga that Ganapati had completed the contest faster by circling his parents.

Lord Muruga could not accept this reason. Hence he became hard-hearted and his lips became reddish.

Lord Muruga went and sat upon his peacock in anger.

Goddess Parvati's heart was beating rapidly. She came to Muruga, said, “Darling! Kathirvela! Stop!” and took her son Muruga in her lap.

At that time Vinayaga did not know what to do. But Muruga flew away on the peacock.

This happened for the welfare of the people in the world. This is known as “Grace Play” and “Grace Anger”.

From Mount Kailasa Lord Muruga traveled to the extreme South and landed at Tiru Avinankudi Hill and settled there. To cool the heat of Lord Muruga's anger, the God and Goddess followed him.

They consoled him by saying you need not worry about this fruit. “You are the fruit (Pazham nee),” said Lord Shiva to Palani Muruga.

From that day onwards, Lord Palani Muruga sheds His grace upon devotees.

Lord Muruga showed his grace just like a saint (ândi) in Tiru Avinankudi.

His bright face in equal to the rising sun; His very sight pours grace upon the devotee. His forehead displays tilakam, sandal and tiruneeru (vibhuti).

His broad chest having a cord with danda (staff) gives safety for others; His left hand on thigh shows abundant grace; His jeweled ankles shine with beauty; He shows grace to all wearing only a kaupîna (loincloth) along with the blue peacock.

"Muruga! We love you."

Source :

http://palani.org