#palanai

I’d recommend visiting the town of Henderson some time! In the far, far future though.

Story of Muruga, Ganesha and the Mango The story of Muruga, Ganesha and Mango (Gnana Pazham) is associated with the history of Palani Temple. According to legends, once Sage Narada visited Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. He gave a fruit to the Lord and told him that it was a unique one, the fruit of wisdom (in Tamil it is called as Gnanapazham). Lord Shiva decided to give the fruit to his children – Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganapati. But the sage advised that this fruit should not be cut because its power would be reduced. Consequently, a competition was arranged to get the fruit. The competition was that the son who first surrounds the earth would get the fruit. Without delaying, Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) started his trip around the world on his divine vehicle, the peacock. Lord Ganesha on the other hand believed that his parents were his world, just circled Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and claimed the fruit. On returning, Lord Muruga found that Lord Ganesha had already won and felt that he was tricked. He decided to leave the Mount Kailash and reached Tiru Avinankudi at the foot of the Sivagiri Hill. Lord Siva and the Goddess tried to appease their son by saying that he himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge; ‘Nee’ means you. For this reason, the place was called ‘Pazham Nee’ or Palani or Pazhani.

The choice is yours!