Kumara Swamy Devasthana, Bangalore

Kumara Swamy Devasthana, is a Hindu temple located in Hanumanthanagar, in the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, southern India. It is dedicated to Lord Kumara Swamy, also known as Lord Subrahmanya or Murugan.

There is a saying in Tamil "There is no God greater than Lord Subrahmanya". Lord Subrahmanya is also known as Skanda, Swaminatha, Guru Guha or Kumara, and was born from the third eye, the ajna chakra, between the two eyes of Lord Shiva. He is said to be Lord Shiva himself, in his highest expression. He is the Parabrahman, the Supreme God, Verily that One Truth, the Lord Parameswara himself, who expresses himself as the Vedic Advaitic Shanmatha ( Six Facets ) Gods { Lord Shiva, Lord Maha Vishnu, Goddess Shri Raja Rajeshwari, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Surya Narayana } . It is also believed that Lord Shiva, who is verily the Supreme Paramatman, who would remain alone at the end of the Maha Pralaya, having the entire creation, including all Gods, merged within himself, would finally depict his highest and most refined expression as Lord Subrahmanya, before he reverts to his own form as we know him - Lord Shiva Parameshwara. It is for this reason that prayers to Lord Subrahmanya stress upon highest degree of purity, aided by many ritualistic procedures, before performing his worship. Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped for success in war, for employment, marriage, begetting of children, and, for the experiential knowledge of the Ultimate Truth, the Advaitic Supreme God-Head, Lord Parameshwara Shiva, the Paramatman, the Parabrahman.

The temple is located on top of a gentle hill, known as Mount Joy, with walkways and stairs leading to the summit. The temple at the top of the hill is dedicated to Lord Kumara Swamy. Special prayers are performed during "Subbaraya (Subramanya) Shasti". Adjoining the Lord Kumara Swamy, are the Sacred Shiva Linga, Lord Ganesha in his seated posture and Goddess Parvathi. Also have been consecrated, the Navagrahas, in a separate shrine adjoining this shrine, within the same hall. The Gopuram at the Entrance preceding a huge open hall, preceding the hall enshrining the Main Shrine, as we can see it, is sculpted with the Lord's image of his role as a Guru to the Lord Shiva himself. This is exactly the same as Swamimalai in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. Swamimalai is one of the six pilgrimage centres (Aru Padai Kshetram ) dedicated to the Lord Subrahmanya and it is at Swamimalai that the Lord Kumara Swamy became the Guru to his own father, the Lord Shiva himself.

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