Swamimalai is a
panchayat town that is a suburb near
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...
in
Thanjavur District in the
Indian
state of
Tamil Nadu. It lies on the banks of river
Kaveri and is one of the
six abodes of the Lord
Muruga
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
.
History
The town has one of the
six abodes of
Karthikeya
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
and the temple is fourth among the
Padai Veedugal. According to Hindu mythology, Karthikeya explains the meaning of
pranavam to His father Lord
Shiva at Swamimalai. Hence, one can see the Karthikeya depicted as
Guru (teacher) and Shiva listening as shishya (disciple) in the
gopuram of the temple complex. The God is given by the name ''Swaminathan'' and ''Thagapan Swami'' (literally ''God of Father'').
Geography
Swamimalai is located at . It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).
Topography
It lies on the banks of river
Kaveri
Demographics
Population
India
census, Swamimalai had a population of 6985. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Swamimalai has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Swamimalai, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Government and politics
It is a
panchayat town that is a suburb near
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...
in
Thanjavur District.
Culture
Art and handicrafts
Swamimalai Bronze Icons
Swamimalai Bronze Icons refers to bronze idols and statues manufactured in Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu. It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2008–09.
History
During the reign of Chola empire, Raja Raja ...
refers to
bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...
idols and
statue
A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to life-size; a sculpture t ...
s manufactured in Swamimalai. It has been recognized as a
Geographical indication by the
Government of India in 2008–09.
During the reign of
Chola empire,
Raja Raja I commissioned a group of sculptors for the construction of the
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram () by its builder, and known locally as ''Thanjai Periya Kovil'' ("Thanjavur Big Temple") and ''Peruvudaiyar Kovil'', is a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the ...
at
Thanjavur.
The sculptors helped sculpt statues for
Airavatesvara Temple and later settled at Swamimalai.
References
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Thanjavur district