The myth about the temple's origin goes like this: sage Agasthya was once gifted two hills by Siva. The ticket for the rope car costs Rs 50 during peak season the temple makes about Rs 50 lakh every month from this. Those who cannot do this can either take the winch-rail or the rope car to the top. Those who find it difficult to climb the steps can take the comparatively less steep path running on the left, through which elephants climb up to the temple during festivals. Devotees usually offer coconuts and camphor at the Ganesha temple at the bottom before starting the climb. The belief is that devotees should start the climb after a bath at Saravanapoyka or Shanmukhanadi at the bottom of the hill. The temple is situated at a height of 1,068 feet and devotees have to climb 693 steps to reach it.
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References to the temple can also be found in Sangam literature. Arunagirinathar has written many kirtans about Palani Murugan. Siddhas like Alwar and Avvaiyar have written that they got Murugan's darshan at Palani. References to Palani can be found in Tamil literature from 3 BC. Siva and Parvathy tried to console him, saying he was the essence of all knowledge, and telling him "Pazham Nee" or you are the fruit itself. When Subramania returned and found out what had happened, he gave up all luxuries, walked toward the south from Kailasa and took up his abode at Thiru Avinankudi. His logic was that since they were the creators of the world, by circling them he had circled the whole world. But Ganapathy, who is fat, realized it was no easy task he smartly took a circle around his parents and demanded the fruit. Subramania immediately climbed on his peacock and started on the journey. Siva then told his sons Subramania and Ganapathy that the first among them to circumnavigate will get the fruit. She wanted to give it to her sons but then Narada said the divine fruit should not be cut. **Pazham Nee or Palani** Legend has it that sage Narada once presented a divine fruit to Siva, who gave it to his wife Parvathy. Palani has two Murugan temples: Thiru Avinankudi at the bottom of the hill and Palani Subramanian temple at the top. Among these, Palani is the most popular among Keralites and also the nearest to the state. These temples are also known as garrison homes, or padai veedu, in reference to the belief that the gods’ pitched camps at these places during their war with the demons. Tamil Nadu has six important Murugan temples: Thiruthani in Thiruvalloor, Swamimalai in Thanchavoor, Palani in Dindigul, Pazhamudircholai and Thiruparankundram in Madurai, and Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi.
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Not surprisingly, the most popular names in the state are all synonyms with Muruga. The son of Siva and Parvathy, described as the general of the army of the gods, is the most popular god in Tamil Nadu. Murugan, Skandan, Kumaran, Kuzhanthaivelan, Shanmukhan, Swaminathan, Saravanan, Kumaraswamy, Karthikeyan-these are the many names that devotees call Subramanian.