Swamimalai – Lessons in Knowledge & Humility



It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least in India, that all who wish to commence a task and keep it obstacle free need to pray to Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed one. Lord Ganesha is the offspring of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. It is perhaps not as universally familiar in many parts of India that Shiva & Parvati have another son – Murugan, the dynamic warrior, Lord of action and ruler of the planet Mars, Mangal. However, as soon as one crosses southwards past the Aravali’s the legends of Lord Murugan, also known as Skanda, Kumaran, Arumugam and Karthikeya come into their own. 

The first time I visited the Swaminathaswami Swamimalai Murugan temple the doors had already closed around midday. Our taxi had navigated the coconut palm tree lined sleepy back streets to deliver me to Swamimalai. Perhaps the Lord had wanted me to rest awhile in the shadow of his abode. I had booked a room for the afternoon just outside the main entrance of the temple, enjoyed a massive traditional meal of rice & sambar curry served on a banana leaf and called it siesta time! The temple is situated at the edge of town’s end and at the beginning of rural Tamil Nadu, a quiet, leafy backwater quite near the Cauvery riverbank. 

The six largest temples dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god strangely of both love and war, are at Thiruthani, Swamimalai, Palani, Palamudurcholai, Thirupparankunram and Thiruchendur. Swamimalai is located 5 km from Kumbakonam, on an artificial hill. Lord Murugan’s first task was to kill Soorapadman who was making the life of the Devas miserable. 

The Swamimalai temple commemorates the incident where Murugan explained the essence of the pranava mantra ‘Aum’ to his father Shiva proving one more time that the child, if not the father of man, is definitely his best teacher. I had walked up two steep flights of steps and paid obeisance to the small statue of Lord Ganesha carved into an alcove in the wall. The temple is sprawling. Two full grown elephants chewed on leaves and grass in the courtyard. The statue of the Lord in the sanctum sanctorum is large and radiates a strong, confident energy – a promise that matters will progress, and progress well.

Murugan had been very angry with Lord Brahma for not being able to explain the meaning of ‘aum’, imprisoned him and took over his duties as the creator of the universe. The negotiation for Brahma’s release finally came down to Lord Shiva. Shiva asked Murugan to explain the meaning of Aum and Murugan extolled to Shiva the meaning of the Pranava Mantra. Shiva behaved like a student with a teacher, listening with rapt attention to his son, giving Murugan the name ‘Swaminatha Swami’ – The teacher of Shiva!

Swamimalai is one of the most visited temples in the region and devotees throng its gates with a hope and prayer that Lord Murugan’s wisdom and awesome strength will fire up progress in their lives.

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