Swamimalai Explained

Swamimalai
Settlement Type:panchayat town/Sub urban
Pushpin Map:India Tamil Nadu
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:10.9596°N 79.3325°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Tamil Nadu
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Thanjavur
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation M:55
Population Total:6985
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Tamil
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Footnotes:population=330000

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).

Mythology

According 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

Swamimalai is located at 10.95°N 79.33°W.[1] It has an average elevation of 25 metres (82 feet).

Topography

It lies on the banks of river Kaveri

Demographics

Population

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

It is a panchayat town that is a suburb near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District.

Culture

Art and handicrafts

Swamimalai 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Swamimalai.
  2. Web site: Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional). https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. 2004-06-16. 2008-11-01. Census Commission of India.
  3. Book: Masters of Fire: Hereditary Bronze Casters of South India. German Mining-museum Bochum. David Brown Book Company. 2008. 9783937203379. 30,32.
  4. Web site: Geographical indication. Government of India. 28 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130826183844/http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/. 26 August 2013.
  5. Book: Chola: Sacred Bronzed of Southern India. Vidya Dehejia. Harry N. Abrams. 2007. 9781903973837. 21.
  6. News: Worldwide demand for Swamimalai bronze icons. The Hindu. 11 October 2009.