The Temple is about 2000 years old. Nakkirar in his Thirumurugattrupadai has praised this Sthals as third Padai Veedu. The holy tree of this Sthala is Amlaka. Velavi Koman, a feudatory chief was the ruler in the Sangam period. The classical Ahananooru speaks very highly of him. Vakisa Kalanidhi K.V.Jagannadan has opined that Podini must have been changed in to Palani and how apt it is.
‘Avi’ is the general name of a clan, like Chera, Chola, etc. Becouse they ruled small territories, they were called Velirs; as they belonged to Vellala caste they were known as Velirs; becouse of their philanthropic nature they came to be called Velirs; as they aided the kings in battle they were known as Velirs; Muruga too is called Vel. And instead of calling their ruler merely as Velir, they called him as Nedu Vel Avi. This place was once a big city. Nakkirar in jhis Tirumurugattrupadai only in this Padaiveedu, describes in 18 lines about several sages who worshipped here and about them, their thoughts and feelings. Finally when he praises them as having bodies without illness. We understand the medicinal nature of this place and of the existence of Siddhars. he adds “Devars”. Moolavars and others from heaven come here and bow.
Palani is approximately 100 kilometers from the Coimbatore. Mode of transport from the Coimbatore to the Palani includes taxi, bus and train.
By plane
The nearest air port is in Coimbatore. Coimbatore has has regular flights from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Sharjah. Air India, Kingfisher,Indigo,Spicejet and Jet Airways operate flights out of Coimbatore Airport.
By Train
There is a rail line through Palani station, stretching Madurai to Coimbatore via Pollachi. Now Tiruchendur to palani via madurai, Chennai central – Palani Express, operating on this line.
By bus
The state transport corporation and a lot of private bus operators ply bus from Palani to major cities in Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Tuticorin etc) and also to the neighboring Kerala(Palakkadu, Kochin).
