Temple Architecture

Around the Palani Hill is a circumambulatory passage called ‘The Giri Veedi’. It is considered auspicious to circumambulate the hill here,   as in Tiruvannamalai. The herbs on the mountain are believed to have miraculous healing properties. Girivalam is especially popular during the Agninakshathiram fortnight in summer.

At the foothills is a shrine to Meenakshisundareswarar and PadiVinayakar. There is also a shrine to Murugan on the way where Idumban is portrayed as worshipping Murugan. There is yet another shrine to Murugan representing his appearance in front of Idumban under the Kura Tree.

The main Temple to Dhandayudapani is located on top of the Palani hill. The inner most sanctum is crowned with a gold plated vimanam. In the inner sanctum are situated shrines to Navaveera, Navadurga, the Saptamataas, Kailasanadar and Chandeswarar. Navadurga(Bhuvaneswari) is worshipped here along with a Maragatalingam. There is also a shrine to Bhogasiddhar, the founder of this temple.

The entrance to the inner temple is through the Manikatti, and the Kattai gopuravaasal mandapams constructed by local chieftans. There are also shrines to Dakshinamurthi, Shiva and Malainachiyamman.

The beautiful navaranga mandapam supported by 12 pillars is located in front of the sanctum. The processional images of Natarajar, Navaveerar, Murugan, Shiva and others are located in this mandapam.

The golden Kavacham, the Thanga ratham and the Golden peacock vaaganam are of great beauty.

There are several temples in town and on the hill steps and in the Giri veedi affiliated to the main temple.