| Swamimalai Temple |
| About:Swamimalai is a sylvan village, situated about five kilometers west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. The temple is situated very close to the bus stand and the railway station is about two kilometers away. It is well connected to and surrounded by important places like Kumbakonam, Tiruvidaimarutur, Mayiladuthurai, Papanasam, Tanjavur etc.The temple has three ‘gopuram ‘with three ‘praharam ‘. The ‘gopuram’ on the south side of the temple is decorated with statues and contains five floors while the other two entries have no towers above them.The Swamimalai temple is one of the six shrines dedicated to Lord Subramanya. The Swaminathan temple is associated with the legend of Skanda having re-initiated his father Shiva, with the concept of the oneness of creation of Omkaram. The temple is built on an artificial hill, approached by a flight of steps. The presiding deity at the Swamimalai temple is worshipped as Swaminathan. The Swamimalai temple has three ‘gopuram’ with three ‘praharam’. The ‘gopuram’ on the southern side is decorated with statues and has five storeys while the other two entrances have no gateways above them. |
| Location info: |
| Address: Swamimalai Kumbakonam,Tamilnadu |
| District: Kumbakonam |
| Nearest City: Kumbakonam |
| Best time to visit: November- December |
| History: |
| Mythology says that Saint Bhrugu before starting a difficult tavam or penance gets a blessing that anyone disturbing his mediation will forget all his knowledge. That was the power of penance that the sacred fire from the head of the saint reached up to heaven, and devas surrendered to Lord Siva praying for his pardon. The Lord has extinguished the sacred fire by covering the Holy fire head in his hand. The Holy penance had disrupted the Lord who became oblivious of all his knowledge and is said to have regained their learning by the mantra of Pranava by Lord Muruga in this sanctuary. |
| Interesting places to Visit: |
| Adi Kumbeshwarar TempleThe temple is one of the main Shaivaite temple situated in the centre of the town at Big Bazaar street. It is one of the oldest temples here and Govind Theeksithan, the chieftain of Achuta Nayakar of Thanjavur renovated it in the 16th century. The temple has three paharas and three Gopurams – eastern, western and northern. The Eastern gopuram comprises of nine stories and is the height of 128 feet. There is also Managala Threetha- Marriage hall and small temples of Muruga, Ganapathi and Mangalabigai within the temple complex. Airavatesvara TempleThe temple was constructed during the period Rajaraja Chole and is an example of 12th century Chola architecture. The temple is built at Dharasuram abt 4 kms from Kumbakonam and has stories from the epics and Hindu mythology depicted all over the temple. The word “Airavat means Holy White Elephant”. Chakkarapani TempleThis is the second biggest Vaishnava temple located on the northern part of the Big Bazaar street close to the bank s of River Cauvery. The temple has two entrances- eastern called Thatchinaya vanil and western called Utharayana vayil. The temple has Vishnu appearing in the majestic Sudarsan Chakra and the shrine is surrounded by fort like walls. The outer Prakara is made in the form of a balcony.Agamapara Vinayakar, Panchamuga Aanchenyar, Vijayavali are some of the other idols located in the temple complex. |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Kumbakonam |
| Nearest Airport:Tirchy Airport |
| Road Transport:NH- 45C passes through Kumbakonam. The town has a good road network with all the important cities in Tamilnadu and Karnataka. State run and private buses travel to and fro regularly. |
| Nearest Visiting places:Thirunaaraiyur – Naachiyaarkovil : Thirunaaraiyur, about 10 km from Kumbakonam is famous for the Naachiyaarkovil. The Vishnu Shrine here is dedicated to Lord Srinivasa. A rare feature is, the Garuda Vaahanam made of stone. The divine consort is Naachiyaar or Vanjulavalli Thaayaar.Dharasuram:It is located 4 km(2.5 Miles) west of Kumbakonam, was built by the Chola King, Rajaraja II. This temple is dedicated to Shiva, who is Airavateshvara, the “Lord of Airavata”. Legend claims that after Airavata, the white elephant of Indhra, the God of the Heavens, regained his lost colour, he worshipped Shiva at this spot.Tirubhuvanam:It is located 8 km (5 miles) Northeast of Kumbakonam, is dedicated to Kumbheswara, the “God who removes Fear”. This is also an old silk weaving centre. Kambaharesvarar Temple was built by the King Kulothunga III (1179 AD – 1216 AD). There are two Gopurams and two Praharams,the Karpagraham, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Muha Mandapam and Somaskandar Mandapam.Velankanni:Velankanni is the site of the Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. Thousands of Christian pilgrims file through the impressive white Neo-Gothic structure, which was elevated to the status of basilica in 1962, during the Pope’s visit. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Petrol Pump :Kumbakonam ,India |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:Indeco Hotels Swamimalai 6/30 B Agraharam, Thimmakudi village, (formerly Sterling Swamimalai), Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu 612 302 – 0435 2480044Seagate Group of Hotels Main Road, Vailankanni, nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 611111, velankanni, Tamil Nadu 611111- 04365 263510 No. 1 Queen’s Nest Hostel (Womens) New Bus Stand City Centre Thanjavur PLOT #133, Karupps Nagar 4th St, Near Thanjavur Spinning Mill Main Gate,, New Bus Stand, Thanjavur – 613 005., Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613005- 092 45131563 |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police StationEast Police Station ,Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu?Thaluka Police Station NH 45C(Mutt steet), Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 612001Police Station Mannargudi, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu |
| Nearest Hospital:Priya Poly Clinic 10, 11, kasiviswanathar north Street, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu 612001- 09894034023Bhel Medical Hospital Bhel, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil nadu 620014- 0431 2552544Shankara Global Marketing Services 64/1, Bazaar Street, chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 608001- 04144 224787 |
Image Gallery of Swamimalai Temple
