Swamimalai

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This article is about the township of Swamimalai. For the article about the temple, see Swamimalai Murugan Temple.
Swamimalai
city
Swamimalai is located in Tamil Nadu
Swamimalai
Swamimalai
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Thanjavur
Elevation 25 m (82 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 6,985
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Swamimalai is a panchayat town near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the banks of river Cauvery, on the road connecting Kumbakonam and Thiruvaiyaru. It is most famous for the being one of the six "Padai Veedugal" (Battle Camps) of the Lord Murugan. The name of the town means 'God's mountain'. It has the only school that teaches the art (craft) of making bronze icons. Like the rest of this part of the Thanjavur District it is mainly an agricultural town producing rice and sugar cane.

History

The town has one of the six (padal petra sthalangal) temples of Lord Karthikeya. It is fourth among the Padai Veedugal. The sacred story associated with this temple is that Lord Karthikeya expounds the meaning of pranavam (AUM) to His father, Lord Shiva, at this location. Hence, one can see the Lord Karthikeya depicted as Guru (teacher) and Lord Shiva listening as shishya (disciple)in the raja gopuram of the temple complex.

The reinitiation and reassertion of the knowledge takes place after an intense debate with regards to the pranava mantram (AUM) between Lord Brahma (who is the embodiment of creationary aspect) and Lord Karthikeya, during which Lord Brahma fails to adequately convey the meaning of AUM. Hence, Lord Karthikeya suspends Lord Brahma from his duties by imprisoning him. Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi object and Lord Shiva asks Lord Karthikeya if He(Murugan) is aware of the meaning. In response Lord Murugan says that He is well aware of it and that He will teach Lord Shiva the meaning of the mantram if He(Lord Shiva) will take Him (Lord Murugan) as His Guru. Thus Murugan imparts this universal mantra to His father.

The Murugan here is also known as Swaminathan and "Thagapan Swami" (literally "Father God" - referring to the fact that Murugan taught His father and hence was His father's Guru.)

Pujas and Festivals

Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Usha Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the forenoon and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.

The important festivals conducted in the temple are:

  1.  Monthly Kirutikai festival;
  2. Temple Car festival in April;
  3. Visakam festival in May;
  4. Navaratri festival in May;
  5. Skanda Shashti festival in October;
  6. Tiru Karthikai festival in Nov/December;
  7. Taippūcam festival in January; and
  8. Pankuni Uttiram festival in March.

Golden Chariot

The temple has an imposing golden chariot made of seven kilos of gold, 85 kilos of silver and other metals like copper, beautifully illuminated with electric bulbs.

Devotees on payment of Rs. 1001 can take the deity in a procession in the golden chariot around the outer corridor. Devotees are offered a shawl, stainless steel pot and a small box with the Lord's prasadam.

Sub- Temples

Among the sub-temples under the administration of the Swamimalai temple, the Sveta Vinayagar temple at Tiruvalanchuli is an important one. The presiding deity Lord Sadaimudinathar and Goddess Perianayaki have been sung by Tirugnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar in Tēvāram. A unique feature of this temple is the Sveta Vinayagar or White Pillaiyar made of the sea foam formed at the time of churning of the Milky Ocean by the devas and asuras to get the nectar. The sacred Cauvery River flowing nearby herself has turned around in a right semicircle around this shrine and hence the name Valanchuli or right twist. Renovation of this temple at a cost of Rs. 50 Lakhs is progressing.

Another architecturally beautiful temple at Kilpazhayarai dedicated to Lord Somanathaswami is also under renovtion at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 Lakhs. It is worth mentioning that this shring is the birthplace of Saint Managaiyarkarasi, one among the 63 Nayanmars. Hymns in praise of the presiding deity have been sung by Tirunavukkarasar.

Other sub-temples mentioned below under the administrative control of Swamimalai temple are also to be renovated at a modest cost of about Rs. 5 lakhs each.

  1. Dharmapureeswarar Temple, Vallalarkoil;
  2. Chakravageeswarar Temple, Chakkrapalli;
  3. Ezhutharinathar Temple, Innambur;
  4. Skandanathar Temple, Tiruerakaram; and
  5. Thirupandeeswarar Temple, Adanur.

Geography

Swamimalai is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..[1] It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Swamimalai had a population of 6985. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Swamimalai has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Swamimalai, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Swamimalai
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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