Swamimalai

Swamimalai is a panchayat town that is a suburb near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the banks of river Kaveri and is the site of the fourth of the six abodes of the Hindu deity Murugan (Kartikeya).

Mythology

According to Hindu mythology, Kartikeya is described to explain the meaning of pranava mantra (Om) to father Shiva, the site of which is regarded to be Swamimalai in regional tradition. In the Murugan temple of the town, Kartikeya is depicted as a guru (teacher) and Shiva listening as shishya (disciple) in the gopuram of the temple complex. The form of Kartikeya is known by the epithet Swaminathan and Tagapan Swami in this site.

Geography

Swamimalai is located at Template:Coord.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).

Topography

It lies on the banks of river Kaveri

Demographics

Population

Template:As of India census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 in Thanjavur District.

Culture

Art and handicrafts

Swamimalai Bronze Icons refers to bronze idols and statues manufactured in Swamimalai.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2008–09.<ref name="GI">Template:Cite web</ref> During the reign of Chola empire, Raja Raja I commissioned a group of sculptors for the construction of the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Chola">Template:Cite news</ref> The sculptors helped sculpt statues for Airavatesvara Temple and later settled at Swamimalai.<ref name="Chola"/>

See also

• Sacred mountains of India