Swamimalai Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple
Karu Jeyakumar <sambaviSPAMFILTER@srividya.org>
Friday October 29 2004
- Legends - Puranas and Mythology Nakeerar, in his Tamil
writings compilation called Thirumurugatruppadai, more than 2000 years ago, and
saint Poet Arunagirinaathar, who has composed 95 verses on Murugan, have both
sung in great praise of Lord of Swamimalai.Literary references to the place are
also available in many other ancient tamil scriptures and inscriptions. It is
believed that Lord Muruga teached the significfance of Pranava Mantra (the
sacred OM) to Lord Shiva - his father - here and hence the name Swami malai for
the place and Thagappan swami for the Lord. This temple is of great spiritual
importance to the devotees of Lord Skanda - also known as Kanda and Arumuga - as
he became a guru to his own father who is considered as the Lord of the
universe. It is worshipped by thousands of devotees throughout the year.
- Location and Temple Precincts - The battle of Lord Muruga
with Soorapadman is enacted to the fervor of the Muruga Bakthas in the Tamil
month of Masi at Tiruchendur ending with the marriage of Lord Murugan with
Deivayanai (Devanai).
- Lord in Soora Vahana This sacred and ancient temple of
Swamimalai - is located on the banks of river cauvery - at a distance of 5 KM
along the western side of Kumbakonam in Tamil nadu, India. The temple is located
at a height of 60 feet - above an artificial hillock and is reached by a flight
of 60 steps - which signify 60 years. This south Indian temple of Swaminatha
Swami can be reached easily by motorable roads from Kumbakonam. There are three
prakarams and three entrances in this Murugan shrine. The southen entrance is
the main entrance to the temple and the main temple tower (Raja gopuram) - with
its 5 tiers - is located above this entrance.There is a temple dedicated to
Meenakshi Sundareswarar ( depicting Lord Vishnu giving his sisters hand in
marriage to Lord Shiva ) - this temple is known as Kizh Koil . The main temple
that enshrines Lord Muruga as Swaminadha swami is known as Mel Koil. There are
several small temples around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. As we enter the
2nd Prakaram, there is a very beautiful structure that portrays the teaching of
Omkara by Muruga to Lord shiva. Once we cross the 2nd prakaram we can see the
temple of Netra Vinayagar (Lord Ganesh who blessed a devotee with eyesight) -
along with statues of several other gods and goddesses including
Karthaveeryarjuna, Idumban and subramanya swamy. As we approach the sanctum
sanctorum, we pass across worshipping Sabhabathi, Senapathi, Shanmuka with Valli
and Devasena - all being various manifestations of Lord Kumara or Karthikeya.
There is a beautiful statue of Nataraja or dancing Lord Shiva as well. Poet
Saint Arunagirinathar - who sings about this temple in detail in this sacred
Tamil hymn Thiruppugazh is also represented in the form of an idol here. The
main lord of swami malai - affectionately called as Swaminadha - is 6 feet tall
with broad shoulders holding sakthi vel and dhandam(staff). Instead of Mayil
Vahanam or the peacock vehicle, Elephant is depicted as the vahana (divine
vehicle) in front of the lord. This feature is very unique, not available in any
other temples of Lord Muruga. The stala vriksham for Thiruchendur temple is the
Amla tree( Nellimaram) . There are five Theerthams or divine water sources, in
and around the temple. They are: Vajra Theertham, Saravana Theertham Netra
Pushkarini( well)and Kumaratturai (Kaveri) Legend has it that a blind devotee by
name Sumathi lost his eyesight because of his sins. Sage Bharatwaja asked him to
go and worship Netra vinayaga and take a dip in the Netra teertham to get over
his sins and regain his sight. It is believed that the devotee took a dip in the
sacred waters and regained his sight as he approached the Netera Vinayagar
temple.
- History of the Temple The Swaminatha Swamy temple has been
patronized by many kings - some of whom includes the Chola King First Paranthaka
and Varguna Pandiya, the Pandiyan empire ruler. Temple timings & Festivals
Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Forenoon
: Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the and the
afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with
Arthajama pooja in the night. Monthly Kirutikai festival on the day of the
thirunakshathiram Kirthigai; Teppam festival in January; Pankuni Uttiram
festival in March ; Temple Car festival in April ; Visakam festival in May
Navaratri festival in October ; Skanda Shashti festival in October ; Tiru
Karthikai festival in Nov/December.
