Swamimalai Swaminathaswamy Temple - 4th Padia Veedu of Lord Murugan

One of the six sacred abodes of lord Muruga, this temple is located on the banks of Cauvery river close to Kumbakonam. According to legend, Brahma, the Hindu divine force of creation, affronted Muruga at the time of going by Mount Kailash. The kid Muruga got irritated with Brahma and asked him how he was making living creatures. Brahma said that he was making living creatures with the assistance of the Vedas (Hindu sacred writings). On listening to his answer, Muruga requested that Brahma recount the writings from Vedas. Brahma began to recount the content with the blessed word called Pranav Mantra, ‘Om’.

Around then, Muruga ceased Brahma and solicited him to clarify the significance from the Pranava Mantra. Brahma could not answer and consequently Muruga thumped Brahma on his temple with his gripped clench hands and rebuffed him with detainment. Muruga took up the inventor's part. The divine Gods were astonished by this act and they asked lord Vishnu to convince Muruga to discharge Brahma. Lord Vishnu could not help and if all else fails, Shiva went to the salvage of Brahma. Shiva came to Muruga and requested that he should discharge Brahma from detention. Muruga declined to discharge him, expressing that Brahma was ignorant of the significance of the Pranava Mantra.

Shiva requested that Muruga clarify the importance and Muruga praised Shiva for the significance of the Pranava Mantra. Shiva acted like an understudy to an educator, listening with riveted consideration from his child, giving Muruga the name 'Swaminatha Swami' which means ‘Teacher of Shiva'. The temple is built on an artificial hillock of 60 feet height with 60 stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of 60 years leading to the Lord. On the ground floor, there are temples dedicated to lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi. The temple is a very ancient one and it is known to have existed even in the 2nd century BC.