Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy - An Arupadai Veedu Temple

► Swamimalai (Swaminatha Swamy) (Arupadai Veedu)
(Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu)

☗ Small Hillock (The temple lies on a small hillock)
▬ River Kaveri flows (Swamimalai lies on the bank of river Kaveri)
(Tamil Nadu Plain)

• Murugan: Sri Muruga expounded the Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva at Swamimalai (an Arupadai Veedu Sthalam).
- Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple

• Sri Muruga expounding Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva: Sri Muruga expounded the Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva in this place.
- Events: Once when Lord Brahma was proceeding to Kailasha, child Muruga asked him the meaning of Pranava Om. When Brahma admitted his ignorance, Muruga imprisoned him. On the request of the devas, Lord Shiva commanded Muruga to release Brahma, and asked whether he himself knew the meaning of Pranava Om. Muruga replied that he knew the meaning of Om and can expound it only if he (Shiva) approaches him (Muruga) as a disciple. Lord Shiva out of fatherly love agreed and listened to the exposition of Om from Muruga at Swamimalai.
- Note: In Swamimalai Muruga expounded the Pranava Mantra with the attitude of a Guru and Lord Shiva listened to it with the attitude of a disciple. So Muruga is depicted in the posture of a Guru with tuft and sacred thread.