Paal abhishekam or pouring of milk on the murti (idol) of
Muruga is an important ritual in all Murugan Temples. The ritual has its origin
in the Palani Muruga Temple .
But why is the milk abhishekam performed?
The murti worshipped at the Palani Murugan
Temple is believed to
have been created by Siddhar Bogar from nine poisons (Nava Bashanam). He mixed
nine deadly poisons and created a medicine which could cure all diseases of
Kali Yuga (the present era). But the medicine could not be taken directly. So
Siddhar created the murti of Muruga out of the medicine.
To extract the medicine from the murti, milk abhishekam is
performed. The milk poured on the murti absorbs medicine. It then contains
medicinal properties. The milk is then collected by devotees.