Swamimalai Murugan Temple

The Swaminatha Swamy Temple at Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, counts among Murugan's six abodes (Arupadaiveedu) and stands on a 60-foot hillock by a tributary of the Kaveri. Legend says the young Murugan explained the meaning of the sacred syllable Om to his father Shiva here, earning the name Swaminatha, 'teacher of god'; so Murugan's shrine is on top of the hill, while Shiva and Meenakshi have shrines at its foot. The temple appears in the Sangam poem Tirumurukarruppadai and in Arunagirinathar's hymns.

Sixty steps, each named after one of the sixty years of the Tamil calendar, climb through three precincts, at the base, halfway up and at the top around the sanctum. The main image of Murugan is 6 feet tall and holds a staff. Unusually, his mount here is an elephant, said to be a gift from Indra, rather than a peacock. Vaikasi Visakam, marking Murugan's birthday, is the chief festival.