Come
to entrance in the base of the hill and you can see a north
facing temple. Here three Vinayagars are housed instead
of one. They have to be worshipped before three acts. One
is going round the hill, the second is going up the hills
and having darshan of Dandayudapani, and the third is fulfillment
of various vows undertaken by a devotee. For the above three
Vinayagars came to be called Patha Vinayagars. Let us bow
before all the three Vinayagars to have the grace of all.
Since
Vinayagar is at the base of tyhe hill, there is always a
huge crowd. Flowers and garlands are sold in plenly. How
to describe the fame of this Vinayagar? He is receiving
our attention long before his brother. The number of Vinayagar
temples in Palani is the greatest than in any other place.
Somaley has reported that ther are 108 Vinayaga temples
in Palani. Perhaps Vinayaga in grreat numbers have assembled
here to shower grace on devotees who come to worship his
brother.
Further
there are many varieties of Vinayagars too here. They built
a new Vinayaga shrine in Shanmugapuram colony. The Tamil
Literary Society is looking after that. He has been bestowing
grace on all, who come to him. The roof of the Patha Vinayagar
temple is very low. In a way it does not affect any devotee,
as bowing with head bent is common in all Vinayaga Temples.
The
Vinayagar sports in his upper hands Ankusa in the right
and Pasa (noose) in the left. Ankusa is an instrument used
tocontrol an elephant. Why this elephant is wielding that
weapon? He has to control himself as nobody else can control
him. The object of bowing down and thumbing our forehead
ourselves is indicative of the truth that one should control
himself; instead of offering ourselves to be controlled
by others.
