Situated atop a hill, shouldering with mountains overlooking the
village, the Balamurugan Temple in Thandikudi is devoted to Lord Murugan and it
is believed that only from here that Lord Muruga cross jumped to reach Palani,
while he was anger with his parents over the contest between the siblings, to who
own the Gnanapalam (wisdom fruit) by coming around the world. It is also
believed that Lord Muruga stayed at this hill for some time, defeated the
monster Idumban to convert him as his devotee before make Palani (one of the
two hillocks which Idumban carried as Kavadi from Kailash) as one of his abode.
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| Sri Balamurugan Temple |
The Balamurugan Temple is said to be 2,000 years old, but the temple
that exists today is built on the belief that Lord Muruga appeared in the dreams
of Sri La Sri Pandrimalai Swamigal (a Siddhar or saint) and ordered him to
build a temple for him on the Thandikudi hill, from where he cross jump to
Palani. He is also believed to show the
exact place – where the temple is built – by lighting some torch on the hill,
and the people who went there were surprise to see a footprint (which is
believed to be Lord Muruga’s) on the rock and image of peacock gripping a snake
on the adjacent. Thus believed that Lord
Muruga has went to Palani only from Thandikudi and the benefit of visiting
Palani is said to be fulfilled only if they appear at Balamurugan Temple.
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| Quite tranquil environs of the temple |
The road to the temple, that begins at the Regional Coffee Research
Station passes through coffee and cardamom plantations. The temple situated at
a height of 500 feet above the Thandikudi village, has pretty good road to
reach by car or take a leisure walk. The slightly showered weather was
refreshing while we drew on the newly tar road. It was also exciting to know
that we passed a prehistoric site where megaliths were found, which we actually
unaware until someone explained at the village. But later at home checking the
photos, I find that we have shot some pictures on the site that lay beside the
road, without knowing what it was.
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| Fabulous view from the temple |
The Balamurugan temple is also a wonderful panoramic viewpoint that
overlooks the village of Thandikudi and surrounding mountains. The drizzling
weather put me at hesitate, initially, whether to climb down or not the car to explore
the place, but glad I did so and went around the pretty green and quite calm environment, despite the voices of boys playing cricket
outside the temple premises. There’s a small Ganesha shrine in front of the
temple and it is a four pillared hall with idol enclosed in gate. The prime
temple is also a hall based structure which was extended by curved sheet
roofing and a small temple tower adorn with colorful idols and Kalasam (bass
pot).
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| Enclosed Ganesha shrining |
The hilltop
provides amazing photo opportunity to capture the village and cloud passing
mounting from the side of temple, where the torch is believed to drag the
attention of people to build the temple there. They have also built a room for
the torch, which seems to light on special occasions and to give company to
events, the temple has a gold coated chariot for procession. The rocks beside
the temple said to have ever flowing natural spring, which revered as scared
water. And sand found at a height of 75 feet from the temple is offered as
Prasad to devotees. Just like Palani, devotees to Balamurugan temple also carry
Kavadies during the festival of Panguni Uthiram.
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| Driving down the valley (the road leads from the temple |
Note on info:
Balamurugan Temple is situated at a height of 1500 meter in the Western
Ghats of Palani Hills. Thandikudi is 40 km from Kodaikanal and Vathalagundu is 45 km
and Palani about 92 km. The temple is open to public from morning to evening. ( click location below for Google map on the place)
