Swamimalai Murugan Temple

Literary history has that Swamimalai is the place where Lord Muruga taught the meaning of Om Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva. During Thiruneeru abishegam to the deity Lord Muruga is named as Gnanaguru (for his wisdom) whereas while sandal abishegam is performed he is known as majestic Balasubramanian. The pedestal of the main deity looks alike the Sivalinga Avudaiyar and and the deity himself is in the form of Shivalinga. This stands as a proof of the concept that Shiva and Muruga are one and the same. Unusually, except for peacock, an idol of elephant is installed before the Lord, which, as scriptures hold, was gifted by Indra after the Lord destroyed demon Harikesa.

Swamimalai Murugan Temple History

Thanjavur district, 6 km west of Kumbakonam is Swamimalai, Swaminathaswamy temple. Thiruthalam is the fourth of the six houses of Lord Muruga. It is the famous place where om of Pranava Mantra was preached to his father Lord Shiva.

THIRUMURUGATRUPADAI The sage Nakkheerar has composed a 317 lined poem Thirumurugaatrupadai&rdquo; in praise of six Murugan temples also known as arupadaiveedu The fourth of the six temples is Thiruvaeragam, now known as Swamimalai. The poet has praised the conduct of the Templeisaivars in this place and their rituals to the temple in the thirteen lines of his poem. The saint Arunagirinathar who lived in 15th century has sung 16000 songs which has been grouped as Thiruppugazh, of which 38 songs are in praise of this temple.

Thiruezhukootrirukkai is a song composed on Swaminathaperuman by Arunagirinathar, also known as the spirit of Thiruppugazh. This is a picture-poem where the verses are written in the form of a temple chariot. The poem is engraved in the granite stone and is placed in the temple premises. A renowned poet of yesteryears, KadukkanThyagarajaDhesikar has composed 9 songs in the name of ThiruYaeragaNavarathnamaalai.

Another poet named ThirisiraapuramSubbarayapillai has composed ThiruYaerageNaanmanimalai with 40 songs. This composition has all the forms of Tamil poetic literature like Kattalai, kalithurai, Venba, Viruththam and agaval and is rich in vocabulary and meaning. The book ThiruYearagamagaAnthaathiwritted by KabisthalamVelaiyar, a Veerasaivite with 101 anthaathi type songs, has been published by the ThiruvaaduthuraiAadheenam vide publication no.302 in the year 1978. VannasarbaThandapaniswamigal has composed ThaniVenba in praise of the Thiruyaeraga Swaminathaperuman. All these compositions have been a praiseworthy proof of the divinity of the Lord and his grace.