Swamimalai Temple

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.