Nadupalani Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple

Dhandayuthapani Murugan temple is a hill temple that lies in the village of Perunkarunai close to Acharapakkam in Kanchipuram district- Tamilnadu.The temple goes by the name of Nadu Palani, as suggested by the Kanchi Periyavar. The temple is amidst ten giant Banyan trees on a beautiful hill.

The God of War, Kartikeya, is also called Subramanya. He went by the name of Murugan and was called Dhandayuthapani, as he shed all his finery and lived in his abode as an ascetic, with the Dhandam (staff) as his only asset. Murugan visited Palani and came to be known as Dhandayuthapani.

The temple on top has a small shrine. At the entrance is Vinayagar and Murugan on his Mayil Vahanam (peacock vehicle). A Mandapam occupies the front. The main deity facing the East is very similar to the one in Sri Dhandayuthapani Temple in Palani.

The hill shrine of Dhandayuthapani Murugan has one landing Mandapam in the middle and 120 steps. While climbing the steps, one comes across a temple for Sri Anjaneya on one side and an Idumban shrine on the opposite side. As one climbs upwards, then comes the Siddhi Vinayagar shrine on one side. There is a shrine for Goddess Raja Rajeshwari with a Mahameru Gopuram and Navagrahams on the other side.Under the Arasu and Vembu trees, there is a Naga Prathishtai.

The temple was built nearly 40 years ago by Sri Muthuswamy Pillai. Murugan appeared in the dream of Sri Muthuswamy Pillai and instructed him to build a temple. He started building the temple with a Vel (spear) but went on to make it an Abhimana temple as it became a big temple. After Sri Muthuswamy Pillai, the temple has been governed by Mysore Sri Ganapathy Sachidhananda Swamigal.

The temple celebrates the festivals of Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, and Aipppasi. A lot of devotees do the Padha Yatra (walk) during these festivals. The Rudraksha Kavadi is a rare occurrence in the temple. Devotees throng in thousands at the temple on the festival days. The Temple Trust undertakes Annadhanam (feeding) on such occasions.