✦ Arupadai Veedu

Swamimalai Murugan Temple

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📖Six Faces of Murugan 🎉Vaikasi Visakam 🎉Vaikasi Visakam 💡Arupadai Veedu Guide 🎉Karthigai Deepam+7 more

Location

Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu

Timings

6:00 AM � 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM � 8:00 PM

Dress Code

Traditional attire. Men: dhoti or pants with shirt. Women: saree or salwar kameez.

Deity

Swaminatha (Lord Murugan as the divine teacher) with Valli and Deivanai

Significance

Swamimalai is the fourth Arupadai Veedu, hallowed as the site where Lord Murugan, in the form of Swaminatha, revealed the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (Om) to his own father, Lord Shiva. This episode establishes Murugan as the supreme guru (Swaminatha � the Lord who teaches).

Architecture

The temple sits on an elevated artificial hillock with 60 steps leading to the main shrine. The sanctum houses Swaminatha with Valli and Deivanai. The vimana is gold-plated with intricate carvings of the 27 stars (Nakshatras) and 12 zodiac signs (Rasis). The gopuram is 4-tiered with Nayak-era stucco figures. The shrines of Vinayagar, Shiva as Sthala Vinayagar, and the temple tank complete the complex.

Festivals Celebrated

Vaikasi Visakam (May-June, grand festival � Murugan's birthday)Skanda Sashti (October-November)Thaipusam (January-February)Panguni Uthiram (March-April)Tamil New Year celebrated