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Swamimalai is a sylvan village on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery situated about 5 km west of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. It is known for the Swamimalai Temple, which is built on an artificial hillock of about 60 feet height with 60 beautifully laid stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of 60 years—leading to the Lord. On the ground floor, there are temples dedicated to Lord Sundareswarer and Goddess Meenakshi.
The temple has an imposing golden chariot made of 7 kg of gold, 85 kg of silver, and other metals like copper, beautifully illuminated with electric bulbs. Devotees, on payment of Rs 1,001, can take the deity in a procession in the golden chariot around the outer corridor. Devotees are offered a shawl, a silver pot and a small box with Lord’s prasadam.
Myths And Legends
Legend has it that saint Bhrigu, before commencing on an arduous penance, got the boon that anybody disturbing his meditation will lose 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 gods asked Lord Siva for help. The Lord extinguished the sacred fire by covering the saint's head with his hand. With the saint's penance thus disturbed, the Lord became oblivious of all his knowledge and is said to have regained it by learning the Pranava Manthram from Lord Muruga at this shrine.
According to another story, once when Brahma, the lord of all creations, was proceeding to Kailash, the ever-playful child that was Lord Muruga asked him for the meaning of the Pranavam Om. When Brahma admitted his ignorance, Lord Muruga imprisoned him. With Brahma imprisoned, all creation came to a standstill and the gods prayed to Lord Shiva to get Brahma released. When Muruga insisted that the imprisonment was a just punishment for the ignorance of Brahma, Lord Shiva asked him whether he himself knew the meaning of the primordial Pranavam 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 a Guru and listen to the exposition as a devoted disciple. As Lord Shiva 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.
Hymns in praise of the presiding deity have been sung by saint Nakkeerar in Thirumurukatrupadai and by saint Arunagirnathar in Thirupugazh. The deities are worshiped six times a day.
Festivals
The important festivals conducted in the temple are the Temple Car Festival, Visakam Festival and Navratri Festival in May, Skanda Shashti Festival in October, Thiru Karthigai Festival in November/December, Thai Poosam Festival in January, Panguni Uthiram Festival in March, and the monthly Kiruthigai Festival.
How To Reach
The temple is situated very close to the bus stand and the railway station is about 2 km away. It is well connected to important places like Kumbhakonam, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Mayiladuthurai, Papanasam, Thanjavur, etc.
Where To Stay
Besides a few hotels, for the convenience of the pilgrims and devotees, the temple organizers have constructed 11 rooms, four cottages, two VIP cottages, one donor cottage, three marriage halls, and one dining hall, which are let out at nominal rent.
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