Kumarakottam Temple

Kumarakottam temple. Tamil: குமர கோட்டம் திருக்கோவில்.
Kumarakottam temple towers.
Kumarakottam temple. Tamil: குமர கோட்டம் திருக்கோவில். Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Subramaniya swāmi temple.
Tamil	சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி திருக்கோவில்
Geography
Coordinates	12°50′28″N 79°42′04″E / 12.841°N 79.701°E / 12.841; 79.701Coordinates: 12°50′28″N 79°42′04″E / 12.841°N 79.701°E / 12.841; 79.701
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Kānchipuram district
Location	Kānchipuram city
Culture
Primary deity	Subramaniya Swāmi (Murugan), Tamil: சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி
Poets	Kacchiyappar, Aruna giri nādhar
Important festivals	Kandha Shashti
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture (Pallava)
History and governance
Date built	rebuilt 1915 CE.
Website	kumarakottammurugantemple.tnhrce.in

The Kumara kottam Temple (Tamil: குமர கோட்டம் திருக்கோவில்) is a Hindu temple in Kānchipuram, Tamil Nādu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu war god and the son of the gods Shiva and his wife Pārvathi. The temple is also known as the Subramaniya Swāmi temple (Tamil: சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி திருக்கோவில்). The ancient temple was rebuilt in its present form in 1915 CE. The temple is one of the 21 major temples in Kānchipuram and is an important pilgrimage centre. Saint Aruna giri nādhar has sung hymns in praise of the Murugan icon of this temple.

The Kumara kottam temple is located on the main Rāja Street. It is said to form a cluster with Ekāmbareswarar temple and the Kāmākshi Amman temple but each temple has its own liturgical identity. The Murugan temple is located between the temples of his parents – the Ekāmbareswarar temple dedicated to Shiva and the Kāmākshi Amman temple dedicated to Kāmākshi, an aspect of Pārvathi. Symbolically, this setting represents the iconography of Somāskandha, an aspect of Shiva where he is depicted with Murugan and Pārvathi. The child Murugan is depicted seated between his parents. This representation led to the cult of Somāskandha. All temples in Kānchipuram are stated to be dedicated to one extended family of gods.

The temple legend in the Kandha Purānam – the Tamil version of the Skanda Purāna which is mainly devoted to Murugan (also known as Skandha or Kandha) – states that Murugan had imprisoned the creator-god Brahmā here for the latter's ignorance of Om, the Sanskrit single syllable mantra which is sacred in Hinduism and himself assumed the role of the creator in this place. However, Murugan's father Shiva had ordered him to release Brahmā. When Murugan realized his mistake in not obeying his father’s instruction, he did penance before a Linga (the aniconic symbol of Shiva), which subsequently was worshipped by the name of Devasenāpathīsar, literally, the Lord who was worshipped by Devasenāpathi (an epithet of Murugan as the commander-in-chief of the gods). In another version it is said that the penitent Brahmā is said to have been released by Shiva after he worshipped Murugan after learning his lessons in humility.