Swamimalai

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Swamimalai (Tamil: சுவாமிமலை Suvāmimalai [ suʋa mimalɛi ː ] ) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with 7,300 inhabitants ( 2011 census ). Swamimalai is an important pilgrimage of the popular in Tamil Nadu Hindu God Murugan.

Geography

Swamimalai is located in the Kaveri delta in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu Central in the immediate vicinity of the town of Kumbakonam on the north bank of the Kaveri River. The distance to the center of Kumbakonam is eight kilometers in the Thanjavur district capital is 35 kilometers.

By Swamimalai, the road from Kumbakonam by Thiruvaiyaru ( State Highway 22). Exist from the nearby Kumbakonam from numerous transport links to other cities of Tamil Nadu. Swamimalai also has its own railway station on the railway line from Mayiladuthurai on Thanjavur Tiruchirappalli. This is around two kilometers away on the other side of the river.

Religious significance

In Swamimalai is the Swaminathaswami Temple, an important shrine of Hindu God Murugan ( Skanda ). During this God in the religious practice of North India plays virtually no role, he is under the name Murugan among the Tamils ​​of the most popular deities. How many Murugan temple, the temple of Swamimalai is built on a hill. In the case Swamimalais is a small artificial hill lead to the 60 steps.

Swamimalai is one of six places of pilgrimage ( Arupadaividu ) in Tamil Nadu, which are dedicated to Lord Murugan. The six places of pilgrimage are associated with different aspects of mythology Murugan. Swamimalai is the myth according to the place where his father Shiva Murugan taught the importance of the sacred syllable Om. Therefore, Murugan here as a guru of his father under the name Swaminatha ( "the Lord God") is worshiped. The name Swamimalai means "the mountain of God."

Bronze casting

Swamimalai is a center of traditional bronze sculpture. The art of bronze casting in the technique of lost form is (9th -13th century) practiced for the Chola period and used in Swamimalai to date by the traditional methods. Supposedly, the artisans of Swamimalai have already participated in the time of king Rajaraja Chola I. in the decoration of the Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur. Today, they produce bronze processional images for temple foundations in India and overseas.