The son who taught his father. Sixty steps, one for every year of the Tamil cycle.
Deity
Murugan as Swaminatha, the teacher
Where
Swamimalai சுவாமிமலை
Known as
The fourth of the Arupadai Veedu, the six abodes of Murugan
Oldest record
Sangam era
சுவாமிமலை
௧ The legend
The child who taught his father
The young Murugan asked Brahma the meaning of Om. Brahma could not answer, and Murugan imprisoned him for his ignorance.
Shiva came to ask for Brahma’s release, and then asked his son: then what does Om mean? Murugan said he would tell, but only as a teacher to a pupil. Shiva sat at his son’s feet and listened.
As the story is told at the temple. Legends vary in the telling.
௨ Across the centuries
Built by many hands, tier upon tier
Sangam era
Tamil poetry
The abode is named in the ancient Thirumurugatrupadai.
Later centuries
Rebuilt and renewed
The shrine is raised on its artificial hill, with the god’s seat above Shiva’s.
௩ What to look for
When you stand inside
௧
Sixty steps
Each step is named for one of the sixty years of the Tamil calendar cycle.
௨
Swamimalai bronzes
The village below still casts bronze images by the lost-wax method.
௪ The temple’s year
The festivals that fill it
சித்திரைChithiraiApr–May
வைகாசிVaikasiMay–Jun
ஆனிAaniJun–Jul
ஆடிAadiJul–Aug
ஆவணிAavaniAug–Sep
புரட்டாசிPurattasiSep–Oct
ஐப்பசிAippasiOct–Nov
கார்த்திகைKarthigaiNov–Dec
மார்கழிMargazhiDec–Jan
தைThaiJan–Feb
மாசிMaasiFeb–Mar
பங்குனிPanguniMar–Apr
Vaikasi May–Jun
Vaikasi Visakam
Murugan’s birth star.
Aippasi Oct–Nov
Skanda Sashti
Six days remembering Murugan’s victory.
Festival dates follow the temple’s own calendar and change each year. We confirm them before you travel.
Most Tamil Nadu temples close around midday and reopen in the late afternoon. Each day keeps temples for the morning and evening and puts the road in between.
Dress traditionally and modestly. Footwear is left outside every temple.
Darshan arrangements differ from temple to temple and can change on festival days. We confirm what is possible at each one before you travel.
To stand here yourself, with the car, the stay, the guide and the darshan arranged, ask us to plan your journey. We call you back and listen first.
Draft Legends and history are retold from widely published sources and await review. Timings, dress code and special-entry arrangements are published once each fact has a source and a review date.
