Location
The Swami Malai temple is located at a distance of 32 kms from Thanjavur in the town of Kumbakonam and is considered to be one of the six abodes or Arupadaiveedu in Tamil that is dedicated to Lord Murugan or Subramanian.
Lord Murugan was the one who preached the Pranava mantran OM to his father Lord Shiva and that is the reason why Lord Murugan is also known as Swaminathan. The temple is constructed on a man made hillock that measures about 60 feet in height and has 60 beautifully laid stone steps that represents the Hindu cycle for about 60 years and the main deity Subramanian is at the top of this hillock.