Swami Malai

This temple is associated with the legend of Muruga having re-initiated his father Lord Siva, the concerned meaning of Pranavam"Om-karam."

The popular legendary about this temple.

Once..Lord Brahma, who is the Lord of creations, was proceeding to Kailash,to have dharshan of Lord Siva and Parvathi. While he was going in a hurry he did not notice Lord Muruga who was also there..Lord Muruga got annoyed with Brahma's act. He got insulted because Brahma the Lord of creation did not revere Muruga. hence the child Muruga was waiting for Brahma to come back...
when Brahma returned .. while he was go to his abode Lord Muruga ..he called him.. in order to make him realize his mistake Lord Muruga asked Brahma the meaning of Pranava (Mantra)The "OM". Brahma failed to answer,...`angry Muruga made fist with his palm hit on Brahma's mid skull with his knuckle.. the impact caused due to the fist of his furry was felt in the whole of the universe.. then he imprisoned him.

This act Stunned his parents Lord Siva and Parvathi they asked Muruga to release him immediatly..Lord Muruga refused to do so..appeals made by by trinity god and goddess were futile..Finally Lord Siva told Muruga to reveal the meaning of pranava if he knew it...Lord Muruga agreed to expound the meaning of Pranava. In order to so, muruga put forward a condition..The condition was if he only accepted Muruga as his guru( preceptor) and listened to the exposition as a committed disciple. Lord Siva agreed to do so as it was inevitable.

Child Muruga sat on Lord Siva's lap as his pedestal was as guru Lord Siva who took the place of the disciple lent his right ear with composure.Lord Muruga proanounced the divine" Prnava Mantra OM"and its meaning. That is the reason why the place came to be known as Swamimalai and the presiding deity at the temple as Swaminathan.in Tamil Litrature called this deity as Thagappn Swamy

This temple has three 'towers' with three 'caridors'. The 'Tower' on the southern side is decorated with statues and has five stages while the other two entrances have no gateways above them.

The Netra Vinayakar shrine is located adjacent to the flagstaff.(Twajastambam) The southern entrance of the temple has a 5 tiered tower (rajagopuram.) A flight of 60 steps representing the cycle of 60 years in the tamil system of beliefs leads to the Swaminathan shrine in the upper level. Facing the sanctum is an elephant (There is no peacock.)

Swamimalai is located in the vicinity of the temple town of Kumbhakonam.
This temple is built at an elevation, on artificially constructed mound, reached through a flight of steps. Although the shrine is of ancient origin,

The stala vriksham is the Nellimaram (goosbury tree)and this tree is said to be a manifestation of Bhudevi.

The theerthams (Holy water)here are Vajra theertham, Saravana Theerhtam, Netra Pushkarini and Kumaratturai (Kaveri).

Festivals:
Six worship services are carried out every day. The Kartikai Nakshtram each month celebrated well manner here. Skanda Sashti for 6 days is one of the most important festivals celebrated here.

The outermost caridor of this temple is at the ground level. The second one is half way up the stairs, and the innermost corridor is around the Swaminathan shrine. 

LOCATION.

Swamimalai is about 2 km from
the railway station of the same name
and is about 8 km north of Kumbakonam
The temple is easily accessible by road

                                                   

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