Swamimalai | |
|---|---|
 Swamimalai Murugan Temple | |
  Swamimalai Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates:10°57′35″N79°19′57″E / 10.9596°N 79.3325°E /10.9596; 79.3325 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Elevation | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 6,985 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Swamimalai is apanchayat town that is a suburb nearKumbakonam inThanjavur District in theIndianstate ofTamil Nadu. It lies on the banks of riverKaveri and is the site of the fourth of thesix abodes of the Hindu deityMurugan (Kartikeya).
According to Hindu mythology, Kartikeya is described to explain the meaning ofpranava mantra (Om) to fatherShiva, the site of which is regarded to be Swamimalai in regional tradition. In the Murugan temple of the town, Kartikeya is depicted as aguru (teacher) and Shiva listening as shishya (disciple) in thegopuram of the temple complex. The form of Kartikeya is known by the epithetSwaminathan andTagapan Swami in this site.
Swamimalai is located at10°57′N79°20′E / 10.95°N 79.33°E /10.95; 79.33.[1] It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).
It lies on the banks of riverKaveri
As of 2001[update] Indiacensus,[2] 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.
It is apanchayat town that is a suburb nearKumbakonam inThanjavur District.
Swamimalai Bronze Icons refers tobronzeidols andstatues manufactured in Swamimalai.[3] It has been recognized as aGeographical indication by theGovernment of India in 2008–09.[4] During the reign ofChola empire,Raja Raja I commissioned a group of sculptors for the construction of theBrihadeeswarar Temple atThanjavur.[5][6] The sculptors helped sculpt statues forAiravatesvara Temple and later settled at Swamimalai.[6]
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