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).
Swamimalai | |
|---|---|
panchayat town/Sub urban | |
 Swamimalai Murugan Temple | |
  Swamimalai Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates: 10°57′35″N 79°19′57″E / 10.9596°N 79.3325°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Elevation | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 6,985 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| population=330000 | |
Mythology
editAccording 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
editSwamimalai is located at 10°57′N 79°20′E / 10.95°N 79.33°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).
Topography
editIt lies on the banks of river Kaveri
Demographics
editPopulation
editAs of 2001[update] India census,[2] 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
editIt is a panchayat town that is a suburb near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District.
Culture
editArt and handicrafts
editSwamimalai Bronze Icons refers to bronze idols and statues manufactured in Swamimalai.[3] It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2008–09.[4] During the reign of Chola empire, Raja Raja I commissioned a group of sculptors for the construction of the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur.[5][6] The sculptors helped sculpt statues for Airavatesvara Temple and later settled at Swamimalai.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Swamimalai".
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ German Mining-museum Bochum (2008). Masters of Fire: Hereditary Bronze Casters of South India. David Brown Book Company. p. 30,32. ISBN 9783937203379.
- ^ "Geographical indication". Government of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ Vidya Dehejia (2007). Chola: Sacred Bronzed of Southern India. Harry N. Abrams. p. 21. ISBN 9781903973837.
- ^ a b "Worldwide demand for Swamimalai bronze icons". The Hindu. 11 October 2009.
