Aaarupadaiveedu-Swamimalai

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Guru is the dispeller of delusion. An assumed form, He leads one to the ultimate truth of formlessness that defines the oneness of creation. Hence He is the 'means' for attaining the end and becomes the 'end' that ends it all in an endless bliss.

Guru is acclaimed as even greater than 'God' Himself as He is the one who unveils the true nature of God which is formlessness. He thus conjoins the trinity, God, World and the Individual self to just a throbbing sense of 'Iam ness' or just the feeling of mere existence. This would mean liberation.

The legend of Swamimalai has Lord Murugan as the Guru who re-initiated Lord Shiva Himself with the Pranava mantra 'OM' which represent the 'oneness of creation'.

The Legend

As per the legend, Sage Brigu once undertook an arduous penance. Before commencing the penance he stated that anyone who disturbed his penance would forget his accumulated knowledge. Due to the severe penance there emanated fire from his head that reached up to the heaven. The petrified Devas surrendered to Lord Shiva who extinguished it by placing His hand on Sage Brigu's head. Hence Lord Shiva became oblivious of the highest wisdom, which is Brahma Jnana. It is said that He regained the wisdom when Lord Murugan re-initiated Him with the Pranava mantra 'OM' in Swamimalai.

Mythology also states that Lord Brahma and Lord Murugan once entered into an intense debate about the interpretation of the Pranava mantra 'Om'. Ultimately Brahma lost in the debate without adequate explanation to His point of view. Lord Murugan hence imprisoned Lord Brahma suspending Him from the duty of creation as unfit for carrying out the job. As a result the process of creation came to a halt.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati intervened on behalf of Brahma and Shiva asked Lord Murugan as to whether He was aware of the meaning of the mantra. Lord Murugan replied that He would do so if Lord Shiva accepted Him as His Guru. He thus expounded the meaning of the Pranava mantra to Lord Shiva who surrendered to Him. Thus Lord Muruga came to be hailed as Swaminathan ( One who is superior to the Lord ( Shiva ) Himself ) or Thagapan Swami ( The Lord of His own father.

Significance of the temple

The temple is situated near Kumbakonam in Tanjavur district of Tamil Nadu in South India. Swamimalai or Thiruverakam is the fourth Aarupadaiveedu ( Six battle camps ) of Lord Murugan. The presiding deity is Lord Swaminathan ( Lord Murugan ). The unusual feature in the temple is that the Lord has an elephant for His vehicle and not the peacock. The temple is located in an artificially created mound with 60 steps leading to the temple. The steps indicate the 60 years of life span of an average Indian. This temple is mainly approached by the devotees for spiritual advancement.

The Sthala Viruksham or the sacred plant is Nellimaram (Aamla tree ). The theertham or the sacred water sources in the temple are Vajra theertham, Saravana Theerhtam, Netra Pushkarini and Kumaratturai.

The legend goes that a blind devotee had his sight restored by taking a dip in the Netra Pushkarini and while proceeding to the Netra Vinayakar shrine in the temple.

The festivals that are celebrated in this shrine are monthly Kiruthikai, Panguni Uthiram, the annual car festival, Vaikasi Vishakam, Kandhar Shashti and Thiru Karthigai festival.

Spiritual Significance

The spiritual significance is very direct, that it expounds the greatness of a 'Guru' and the wisdom imparted by Him.

Hence lets surrender to the feet of Lord Swaminatha to incur His blessings for wisdom.