Swamimalai · Tamil Nadu · Shaiva · Fourth of the six Arupadai Veedu
Swamimalai Murugan Temple – Timings, Darshan & Seva Booking
Where Murugan explained the meaning of Om to his father Shiva. Today’s darshan timings, pooja schedule, seva ticket prices and festival days for Swamimalai Murugan Temple, Swamimalai, from the official HR&CE temple portal.
Lord Swaminatha Swamy (Murugan)
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- 6 daily poojas
- Sevas from ₹600
Tickets are booked on the government HR&CE portal, which opens in a new tab. If the portal is down, that tab waits and opens it as soon as it’s back.
Right now at the temple
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About Swamimalai Murugan Temple
Swamimalai Murugan Temple stands about 6 km west of Kumbakonam and is the fourth of Murugan’s six abodes — the Thiruveragam praised in thirteen lines of Nakkeerar’s Thirumurugatruppadai. It is honoured as the place where the young Murugan explained the meaning of the Pranava mantra, Om, to his own father Shiva, earning the name Swaminatha — the teacher of the lord.
The shrine sits on a built-up hillock. The pedestal of the main image is shaped like the base of a Shiva lingam, a reminder that Shiva and Murugan are one. Unusually, an elephant — said to be Indra’s gift after Murugan destroyed the demon Harikesa — stands before the deity alongside the peacock. During the sacred-ash abhishekam Murugan is seen as the wise teacher, and after the sandal abhishekam as the regal Balasubramanya.
- Fourth of the six Arupadai Veedu, the Thiruveragam of Sangam poetry
- Murugan as Swaminatha, teacher of Om to Shiva
- 38 Thiruppugazh hymns by Arunagirinathar, and a chariot-shaped verse carved in stone
- An elephant before the deity instead of only the peacock
Temple Timings
Time at the temple (India)
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- Open for darshan
- Darshan paused
- Pooja
The ring shows the AM (midnight to noon) hours.
Open for darshan
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nadai closed
- 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Darshan runs 6 AM–1 PM and 4 PM–9 PM.
- On monthly Krithigai and major festival days the shrine stays open all day, until the night Arthajama pooja.
- Town buses from Kumbakonam (routes A1, 16, 37 and others) stop at Swamimalai.
Daily Pooja Schedule
6 poojas are performed every day. Times are India time and change on festival days.
6:00 AM
to 7:00 AM
Vishwaroopa Pooja (Nirmalya alankaram)
9:00 AM
to 9:30 AM
Kalasandhi Pooja (jewel alankaram)
12:00 PM
to 12:30 PM
Uchikala Pooja (jewel alankaram)
5:00 PM
to 6:00 PM
Sayaratchai Pooja (jewel alankaram)
7:00 PM
to 7:30 PM
Irandamkala Pooja (evening alankaram)
9:00 PM
to 9:30 PM
Arthajama Pooja (Ekantha alankaram)
Seva & Darshan Tickets
All sevas on HR&CEFees for booking online on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Tickets are issued by the temple; Trypdeals does not sell them.
Upcoming Festival Days
Festival and special-pooja days — some paid sevas are suspended and crowds are larger.
Next festival
Krithigai
Tue, 27 Oct 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
- KrithigaiTue, 27 Oct 2026
- Kandhasasti festivalSun, 15 Nov 2026
- Thirukarthigai ThiruvizhaTue, 24 Nov 2026
- KrithigaiMon, 21 Dec 2026
Gopurams & Temple Tanks
Towers drawn to scale by height; shapes are illustrative.
Dress Code & Facilities
Wear
- Men: dhoti or veshti, or trousers with a shirt
- Women: saree, half-saree, or salwar with dupatta
Avoid
- Shorts and sleeveless tops
- Leather items near the sanctum
- Footwear — leave it at the free stands outside
Facilities
- LibraryIn front of Office
- Feeding room for mothersInside of Marriage Hall No.2 in Ground Floor
- WheelchairsSouth Entrance Office Front
- RO drinking water1. In front of the Thirumadaippalli in the ground floor. 2. East Entrance right side.
- ToiletsNear by Temple West Entrance Parking Area
- Free footwear standOutside of the temple South Entrance
- ParkingNear dormitory (Ettam Thirunal Thopu)
- Pilgrim accommodationWest side of the temple.
- Marriage hallMarriage hall in temple have in ground floor.
- ThulabharamOpposite of Thala Virutcham
- Tonsuring (hair offering)Ettamthirunaal Thoppu
- Wooden temple carChithirai Marather
- Silver chariotHave in temple east road side safety room
- Golden chariotSafe room on temple&rsquos west side.
How to Reach
Swamimalai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu 612302 Get directions
- Government HospitalHospital1 km
- District Headquarters Hospital, KumbakonamHospital8 km
- Kumbakonam railway stationRailway station8 km
- TrichyAirport60 km
City bus routes: A1 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai) · 16 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai) · 37 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai) · 12 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai) · 30 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai) · 324 (Kumbakonam – Swamimalai)
History
Through the centuries
1514–15
An inscription of Krishnadevaraya’s time, at the south gopuram entrance, records the king remitting taxes for Swaminatha Swamy.
16th century
A second charter inscription from the Sevappa Nayak period is cut beside it.
2015
Kumbabhishekam on 9 September 2015.
Temple at a Glance
- Abode
- Fourth of the six Arupadai Veedu
- Steps
- 60 — one for each year of the Tamil cycle
- Prakarams
- Three: at the foot, halfway up and at the top
- South rajagopuram
- About 40 ft, five tiers
- Last Kumbabhishekam
- 9 September 2015
Art & Architecture
Halls, sculptures and paintings worth seeking out inside the temple.
- The built hillWhole templeThe shrine stands on a man-made hillock about 60 ft high, in two storeys; the third prakaram is about 300 ft by 295 ft.
- Golden chariotFirst prakaramRuns round the corridor at the foot of the hill.
Customs & Rituals
Thirupadi pooja
Devotees worship each of the 60 steps, the years of the Tamil calendar.
Online Booking Rules
How seva and darshan booking works on the HR&CE portal — worth reading before you pay.
- 1Book only on the official portalDarshan and seva tickets are sold on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Many temples offer free darshan slots; paid tickets are priced by each temple.
- 2A government ID for every personEach devotee on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence.
- 3One ID, one booking at a timeThe same ID cannot be used again until a gap set by the temple has passed. If a booking fails, the ID is released and can be used straight away.
- 4Your e-ticketA confirmed booking produces a PDF e-ticket to download; it is also sent to the email and mobile number you give. The portal’s “e-Ticket Verification” page lets you check a booking and download the ticket again.
- 5If a payment is stuckA pending payment usually settles within 10 to 30 minutes — the portal re-checks with the bank on its own. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it in 3–5 working days.
- 6Paid bookings are finalPaid tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded, so check the date and slot before paying.
- 7Ticket won’t open?On older Android phones the PDF sometimes won’t display — download it and open it in an up-to-date PDF reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Swamimalai Murugan Temple timings?
Swamimalai Murugan Temple is open 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; the nadai is closed 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Timings change on festival days.
What is the daily pooja schedule at Swamimalai Murugan Temple?
6 poojas are held every day, starting with Vishwaroopa Pooja (Nirmalya alankaram) at 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM and ending with Arthajama Pooja (Ekantha alankaram) at 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Can I book sevas at Swamimalai Murugan Temple online?
Yes — 4 sevas, from ₹600, can be booked on the Tamil Nadu HR&CE portal. Each seva above links to its official booking page.
What is the dress code?
Traditional dress is expected: dhoti or pants with a shirt for men, and saree, half-saree or salwar with dupatta for women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
When was the last Kumbabhishekam at Swamimalai Murugan Temple?
The latest Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) of Swamimalai Murugan Temple was held on 9 September 2015.
What ID do I need to book darshan online?
Every person on the ticket needs a government ID number at booking — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, ration card or driving licence. The same ID can be used again only after a gap set by the temple.
Can I cancel a paid seva or darshan ticket?
No. Paid bookings on the HR&CE portal are final and cannot be cancelled or refunded. If money was debited but the booking failed, the bank refunds it within 3–5 working days.
Timings, pooja schedule, fees and festival days come from the official Tamil Nadu HR&CE Thirukoil portal and are refreshed daily (last update 9 Oct 2026). They change on festival days — please confirm on the official temple page before you travel.