Swaminatha Swamy Temple

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Swaminatha Swamy Temple
Temple's Main Entrance
Entrance to the temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThanjavur
DeitySwaminatha (Murugan)
FestivalsVaikasi Visakam
Location
LocationSwamimalai
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Swaminatha Swamy Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Swaminatha Swamy Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates10°57′25″N 79°19′33″E / 10.956844°N 79.325776°E / 10.956844; 79.325776
Architecture
TypeTamil

Swaminatha Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Murugan. It is located on the banks of a tributary of river Kaveri in Swamimalai near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan (Arupadaiveedugal). The temple is located atop a 60 ft (18 m)-high hillock with the shrines dedicated to Shiva (Sundareswarar) and Meenakshi (Parvati) is located at the foothill. The temple has three gopurams (gateway towers), and consists of three precincts. Sixty steps, each one named after the sixty Tamil years, lead atop the temple.

As per Hindu mythology, Murugan extolled the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (Om) to his father Shiva at this place and hence the deity is known by the name Swaminathaswamy. It is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple has six daily rituals at various times and three yearly festivals on its calendar. The annual Vaikasi Visakam is the major festival in the temple.

Mythology

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As per Hindu mythology, a young Murugan asked Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, as to how he created living beings. Brahma said that he did so with the help of the Vedas, and recited the text beginning with the Pranava mantra (Om). When Murugan asked Brahma to explain the meaning of the mantra, Brahma had no answer, and hence Murugan imprisons Brahma.[1][2] The devas requested Vishnu, and Shiva for help in negotiating with Murugan to release Brahma, and Shiva went to reason with Murugan.[3] Shiva asked Murugan to release Brahma, and Murugan refused. When Shiva challenged Murugan to explain the meaning of the mantra, Murugan teaches it to his father. As Shiva was a student to a teacher (Murugan), Murugan is called "Swaminatha Swami" (Teacher of God).[4] To signify this, the shrine of Murugan is atop the hillock, while Shiva's shrine is located at the basement at Swamimalai.[5]

As per the Kanda Puranam, once all sages and gods assembled in Kailasa to witness the wedding of Shiva with Parvati, which resulted in the tilting of the Earth. Shiva asked the sage Agasthya to move towards the South to balance the tilt.[6] Agastya employed Idumban to carry two hills in his shoulders to be placed in the South as a counter balance. Idumban carried the hills down south and Murugan made him place one of the hills at Palani. He carried the other hill to Swamimalai.[2]

Religious importance

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Swamimalai is one of the Arupadaiveedu (six abodes), a set of Hindu temples dedicated to Murugan.[7][8] According to Hindu mythology, Mahalingeswarar (Shiva) at Thiruvidaimarudur is surrounded by Saptavigraha Murtis (seven deities) located at various places, which include Murugan at Swamimalai.[9][10] Brahma, Bhoomidevi, and Indra worshipped Murugan at Swamimalai. The temple is mentioned in the Sangam literature Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai by Nakkeerar.[11] Arunagirinathar was a Tamil poet who lived in the 14 century CE.[12] He composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being Tiruppukal, and included hymns about the temple.[13][14]

Architecture

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image of the shrine from the first precinctThe vimanam (left) of the temple, along with the taller gopuram

The temple is located on a hillock at Swamimalai near Kumbakonam.[15][16] The temple has three entrances, with a five storey gopuram on the south side. There are three precincts (praharams), the first praharam at the base of the hill, the second halfway up the hill and the third at the top encircling the garbagriha. There are shrines dedicated to other gods and goddesses across the temple.[17] There are sixty steps that lead to the temple, which represent the sixty years of the Tamil calendar. In Swamimalai, Murugan is known as "Swaminatha Swami". The main idol is 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, holding a stick (danda) on the right hand.[11]

Instead of the peacock mount (vahana) associated with Murugan, Murugan is depicted with an elephant mount at the temple. This iconography is maintained only in two places, Swamimalai and Tiruttani.[18] The elephant was supposedly gifted by Indra, the king of the devas.[11] While the mount is usually sported axial to the idol of the presiding deity, the elephant is seen in front of Murugan in the temple.[19] The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[20]

Worship and practices

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Second level of the temple

The temple priests perform the puja six times a day– Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m.[21] Like other Murugan temples, the worship practises include tonsuring in the temple, ablution of the deity with sandalwood paste, and offering of panchamirtham (a mixture of five ingredients) and milk. Carrying milk pots and Kavadi are other common forms of worship.[11][22] Vibhuti Abhishekam, the ablution of the central deity with sacred ash, is also performed. The central deity with adorned with diamond Vel every Thursday.[22]

The major festival of the temple, Vaikasi Visakam, commemorates the birthday of Murugan, and is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi. As per Hindu mythology, Indra worshipped Murugan on the day.[4] The Kumbhabhishekham of the temple was performed on 9 September 2015.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Handelman, Don (2013). One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology. Brill Publishers. p. 31-34. ISBN 978-9-004-25739-9.
  2. ^ a b Bhoothalingam, Mathuram (2016). S., Manjula (ed.). Temples of India Myths and Legends. New Delhi: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. pp. 48–52. ISBN 978-8-12301-661-0.
  3. ^ R.K., Murthi. Tales of Lord Kartikeya. Pitambar Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-8-120-90769-0.
  4. ^ a b Clothey, Fred W. (1978). The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God. Walter de Gruyter. p. 55, 121-128. ISBN 978-90-279-7632-1.
  5. ^ "Legend Connected with The Temple". Swaminathaswamy Temple administration. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  6. ^ dr.akila sivaraman (2006). Sri Kandha Puranam. GIRI Trading Agency Private, 2006. p. 49. ISBN 978-8-179-50397-3.
  7. ^ Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2008). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Psychology Press. p. 839. ISBN 978-0-700-71267-0.
  8. ^ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: Volume Two. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 643–. ISBN 978-0-823-93180-4.
  9. ^ Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu (2007). Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu. Chennai: T. Krishna Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-8-17478-177-2.
  10. ^ Narayanaswami (April 1987). "Jyothirmaya Mahalingam". Om Sakthi (in Tamil). Coimbatore: Om Sakthi Publications: 34–5.
  11. ^ a b c d "Sri Swaminathaswami temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  12. ^ Subramanian, V.K. (2007). 101 Mystics of India. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 109. ISBN 978-8-17017-471-4.
  13. ^ Aiyar, P.V.Jagadisa (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 191–203. ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
  14. ^ Zvelebil, Kamil (1975). Tamil literature, Volume 2, Part 1. Netherlands: E.J. Brill, Leiden. p. 217. ISBN 90-04-04190-7.
  15. ^ Karkar, S.C. (2009). The Top Ten Temple Towns of India. Kolkota: Mark Age Publication. p. 81. ISBN 978-8-18795-212-1.
  16. ^ "What to see – Thanjavur district attractions". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  17. ^ "About the Temple". Swaminathaswamy Temple administration. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  18. ^ Zvelebil, Kamil V. (1991). Tamil traditions on Subramanya – Murugan (1st ed.). Chennai: Institute of Asian Studies. p. 36.
  19. ^ Meena, V. (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 27.
  20. ^ "Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 244. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Swamimalai". Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Festivals of the Temple". Swaminathaswamy Temple administration. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  23. ^ "Kumbabishekam performed". The Hindu. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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