Swamimalai Temple

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Swamimalai Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple located in the township of Swamimalai, 5 km from Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery, 250 km from Chennai and is near to Thanjavur in India.

It is one of the Arupadaiveedu, believed to be the six main abodes of Muruga. According to Hindu belief, Swamimalai is where Muruga preached what as called as "Pranava mantra" to his own father, Shiva, at a tender age, after arresting 'Brahma' for not answering his question about Pranava Mantra. Though this temple is considered as one of the Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga, the real Padaiveedu lies at a place called 'Thiruveragam', from where the Lord Muruga idol is brought during the 'Soorasamharam' festival.

In Swamimalai, Lord Muruga is known as "Balamurugan" and "Swaminatha Swami". The speciality of the temple is that it has been built on an artificial hill. In Tamil language, such an artificial hill is called "Kattu Malai". The next important feature is the steps of this small artificial hill. There are 60 steps and each is named in one Tamil year. There are a total number of 60 Tamil years and hence the 60 steps. Another name for this place is "Thiruveragam".

The history of the temple known as "Sthala Puranam" is as follows: Once, Lord Brahma, the creator of living beings, had disrespected Lord Muruga (the son of Lord Shiva) at the time of visiting Mount Kailash where Lord Shiva resides. Hence Lord Muruga got angry with Lord Brahma and asked him how he was creating living beings such as people, animals etc. Lord Brahma said that he was creating living beings with the help of the Vedas (The Holy Hinduism Books). On hearing the reply, Lord Muruga asked Lord Brahma to recite the slogans from such Vedas. Brahma started to recite the slogans with the Holy word called Pranav Mantra "Om". At that time Lord Muruga stopped Lord Brahma and asked him to tell the meaning of the holy word "Om". Lord Brahma couldn't tell the meaning and hence Lord Muruga punished him with imprisonment. With Brahma imprisoned, all creations came to a standstill and the devas prayed to Lord Siva to get Brahma released.

Lord Shiva came to Lord Muruga and asked him to release Lord Brahma from imprisonment. Lord Muruga refused to release him on the grounds, that Lord Brahma was not suitable to do the work, as he did not known the meaning of the Pranav Mantra(Hindi: ॐ AUM).So Lord Shiva asked Lord Muruga whether he knew the meaning himself and to tell the meaning to him. Lord Muruga told Lord Shiva that he was ready to tell but levied one condition that, even though Lord Shiva who is his father should hear the meaning by giving full respect to him, like the respect given by a student to his master at the time of learning. Lord Shiva accepted the request and heard the meaning of the Pranav Mantra (Hindi: ॐ ) like a student from his beloved son.

This important and interesting incident happened in Swamimalai and hence Lord Muruga is known as "Swaminatha Swami". The meaning of this name is "The Teacher of Lord Shiva". The Lord Muruga idol is 6 feet in height. There are Gold coverings, Gold crown and a Diamond Vel for the Lord.

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LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple is located at Swamimalai of thanjavur district. situated about five kilometers west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. The temple is situated very close to the bus stand and the railway station is about two kilometers away

HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE: Swamimalai is fourth among the six padai veedu or sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Muruga. The presiding deity here expounded the meaning of the Pranava mantra OM to his own Father Lord Siva Himself.

Mythology says that saint Bhrugu before commencing an arduous tavam or penance, got the boon that anybody disturbing his mediation will forget all his knowledge. Such was the power of the penance that the sacred fire emanating from the head of the saint reached up to the heavens, and the frightened devas surrendered to Lord Siva praying for his grace. The Lord extinguished the sacred fire by covering the saint's head by hand.


With the saint's penance thus disturbed the Lord became oblivious of all his knowledge and is said to have regained them by learning the Pranava mantra from Lord Muruga at this shrine
Once when Brahma, the lord of all creations was proceeding to Kailasa, the ever-playful child Lord Muruga asked him for the meaning of the Pranava OM. When Brahma admitted his ignorance, the Lord imprisoned him. With Brahma imprisoned, all creations came to a standstill and the devas prayed to Lord Siva to get Brahma released.


When Muruga insisted that the imprisonment was a just punishment for the ignorance of Brahma, Lord Siva asked him whether he himself knew the meaning of the primordial Pranava OM. Lord Muruga said that he knew the meaning of OM and can expound it to the latter only if he can accept him as guru and listen to the exposition as a devoted disciple. As Lord Siva acceded to the request of Lord Muruga and heard the exposition of OM as a disciple, the place came to be known as Swamimalai and the presiding deity as Swaminathan.

DIVINESS OF THE TEMPLE: The temple is built on an artificial hillock of about sixty feet height with sixty beautifully laid stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of sixty years - leading to the Lord . In the ground floor there are temples dedicated to Lord Sundareswarer and Goddesss Meenakshi.
Hymns in praise of the presiding deity have been sung by saint Nakkeerar in Tirumurukatrupadai and by Saint Arunagirnathar in Tiruppukazh.

AUSPICIOUS DAYS: ADaily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day. The important festivals conducted in the temple are Monthly Kirutikai festival; Temple Car festival in April; Visakam festival in May; Navaratri festival in May; Skanda Shashti festival in October; Tiru Karthikai festival in Novv/December; Taippucam festival in January; and Pankuni Uttiram festival in March.

POOJA TYPES AND TARIFF: Poojas listed here are applicable for this temple only.The tariff shown are not actual cost payable to the temple. It includes our service charge, cost of pooja items and Delivery charges.

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Sunday, April 17, 2011 by deivam P Mohanraj · 0