The Fruit Of Knowledge

Once sage Narada visited Lord Shiva to present a Mango fruit (The Fruit of Knowledge). Lord Shiva and Shakthi decided to give it to their sons by cutting it into two. But Narada said, "if this fruit is cut, the power will no longer be there."

Lord Shiva thought for a while and called their sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga, and told, "who first travels around the world thrice deserves the Fruit."

Lord Muruga got onto his peacock and started his journey. But Lord Ganesha started to go around his parents. Surprised Lord Shiva and Shakthi gave the Mango to Ganesha.

Seeing this Muruga got angry and climbed up the hill "Palani" and sat onto it. Avvaiyar, the prominent female poet wanted to calm down Lord Muruga, so she sang "Pazham nee Appa, Gnana Pazham Nee Appa (Tamil meaning: You are Fruit of Wisdom)." Thus the place "Palani" derived from Tamil word "Pazham Nee".