Uttara Swami Malai Temple
Encyclopedia
Uttara Swami Malai Temple , popularly known as Malai Mandir (literally, Hill Temple), is a Hindu
temple complex in New Delhi
located on the affluent Palam Marg
primarily dedicated to Lord Swaminatha (more commonly known as Lord Murugan), most revered by the religious Hindus of Tamil
, Telugu
, Malayalam and Kannada community in the city.
of Lord Swaminatha. It is situated atop a small hillock in Sector-7 R.K. Puram and overlooking Vasant Vihar
in South West Delhi
. This is in keeping with the tradition of locating Murugan temples on hills. The sign outside the main temple is written in Tamil, proclaiming Lord Swaminatha's motto, "Yaamirukka Bayamain" meaning "Why fear when I am there?". The temple is built entirely of granite, and is reminiscent of the Chola style of South Indian Temple Architecture
.
Besides the main Swaminatha Swami Temple, the complex contains temples dedicated to Sree Karpaga Vinayagar (elder brother of Lord Swaminatha), Sree Sundareswarar (father of Lord Swaminatha) and Devi Meenakshi
(mother of Lord Swaminatha). These subsidiary temples draw inspiration from the Pandya style of South Indian Temple Architecture, as can be seen at the historic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai
, Tamil Nadu.
In the Hindu religion, the peacock is considered Lord Swaminatha's mount or vahana
. Accordingly, the temple has adopted a peacock as its pet. This peacock can be seen and heard among the trees and foliage within the temple compound.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
temple complex in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
located on the affluent Palam Marg
Palam Marg
Palam Marg is essentially a stretch of the Outer Ring Road of New Delhi which serves as the access point to the affluent neighbourhood of Vasant Vihar in South West Delhi...
primarily dedicated to Lord Swaminatha (more commonly known as Lord Murugan), most revered by the religious Hindus of Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
, Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
, Malayalam and Kannada community in the city.
Architecture
The main temple within the complex, formally called Sree Swaminatha Swami Temple, houses the sanctum sanctorumSanctum sanctorum
The Latin phrase sanctum sanctorum is a Latin translation of the biblical term: "Holy of Holies" which generally refers in Latin texts to the Holiest place of the Tabernacle of Ancient Israel and later the Temples in Jerusalem, but also has some derivative use in application to imitations of the...
of Lord Swaminatha. It is situated atop a small hillock in Sector-7 R.K. Puram and overlooking Vasant Vihar
Vasant Vihar
Vasant Vihar is an up-market neighborhood located in the South West Delhi district of National Capital Territory of Delhi, which houses many diplomatic missions of foreign countries ....
in South West Delhi
South West Delhi
South West Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.South West Delhi is bounded by the districts of West Delhi to the north, Central Delhi to the northeast, New Delhi and South Delhi to the east, Gurgaon District of Haryana state to the south, and...
. This is in keeping with the tradition of locating Murugan temples on hills. The sign outside the main temple is written in Tamil, proclaiming Lord Swaminatha's motto, "Yaamirukka Bayamain" meaning "Why fear when I am there?". The temple is built entirely of granite, and is reminiscent of the Chola style of South Indian Temple Architecture
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
.
Besides the main Swaminatha Swami Temple, the complex contains temples dedicated to Sree Karpaga Vinayagar (elder brother of Lord Swaminatha), Sree Sundareswarar (father of Lord Swaminatha) and Devi Meenakshi
Meenakshi
Minakshi is an Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati - and consort of Shiva - who is worshipped mainly by South Indians. She is also one of the few Hindu female deities to have a major temple devoted to her - the far famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu...
(mother of Lord Swaminatha). These subsidiary temples draw inspiration from the Pandya style of South Indian Temple Architecture, as can be seen at the historic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Tamil Nadu.
In the Hindu religion, the peacock is considered Lord Swaminatha's mount or vahana
Vahana
Vāhana denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular deva is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's mount. Upon the partnership between the deva and his vāhana is woven much iconography and mythology...
. Accordingly, the temple has adopted a peacock as its pet. This peacock can be seen and heard among the trees and foliage within the temple compound.
History
- Sep 8, 1965 The foundation stone for the temple is laid by M. Bhakthavatsalam, Chief Minister of Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, at a function held under the presidentship of Sri Lal Bahadur ShastriLal Bahadur ShastriLal Bahadur Srivastava Shastri was the second Prime Minister of the Republic of India and a significant figure in the Indian independence movement.-Early life:...
, then Prime Minister of India.
- Jun 7, 1973 The main temple for Lord Swaminatha - Sree Swaminatha Swami Temple - is consecrated and a MahakumbhabhishekhamKumbhabhishekhamKumbhabhishekam is a Hindu temple ritual that is believed to homogenize, synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity. Kumbha means the Head and denotes the Shikhara or Crown of the Temple and Abhisekham is ritual bathing.On the appointed day and at an auspicious time, the Kumbha is bathed...
performed.
- Jun 13, 1990 The temples for Sree Karpaga Vinayakar, Sree Sundareswarar and Devi Meenakshi are consecrated and Mahakumbhabhishekhams performed. A Jeeranoddharana Kumbhabhishekham for the Lord Swaminatha temple is also performed on the same day.
- Jul 7, 1995 The NavagrahaNavagrahaGraha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
temple (nine planets), along with a small temple for Idumban Swami, is consecrated and Kumbhabhishekham performed.
- Nov 9, 1997 The Adi Sankara Hall is inaugurated.
- Jun 27, 2001 The third Punaruddharana, Ashtabandhana and Swarna-Rajatha Bandhana Mahakumbhabhishekham of the temples are performed by H.H. Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipati Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal. H.H. Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal also participates in the yagna poojaYajnaIn Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
on the night of June 25, 2001.