Swamimalai
is one of the six renowned abodes of Lord Subramanya. The temple is built on
an artificial hill and is approached by a flight of steps. The presiding
deity is worshipped as Swaminathan.
The temple has three 'gopuram' with three 'praharam'. The 'gopuram' on the
south side of the temple is decorated with statues and contains five storeys
while the other two entrances have no towers above them.
Swamimalai is a sylvan village, located about five kilometers west of
Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. The temple is
situated in close proximity to the bus stand and the railway station is
about two kilometers away. It is well connected to and circumscribed by
important places like Kumbakonam, Tiruvidaimarutur, Mayiladuthurai,
Papanasam, Tanjavur etc.
Mythology and History
Swamimalai is fourth among the six padai veedu or sacred shrines built to
offer reverence to Lord Muruga. The presiding deity here expounded the
inference of the Pranava mantra OM to his own Father Lord Siva Himself.
Mythology says that saint Bhrugu before begining an arduous Mythology says
that saint Bhrugu before commencing an arduous tavam or penance, got the
blessing that anybody disturbing his mediation will forget all his
knowledge. Such was the power of the penance that the holy 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.
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 begining from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded
with Arthajama pooja in the night.
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 Nov/December
- Taippucam festival in January; and
- Pankuni Uttiram festival in March
|
Swamimalai
Temple
