Malai Mandir

Malai Mandir is a place to experience divine feelings, peace. Situated at the heart of Delhi, This temple complex houses the temples of Shri Swaminatha Swami, Shri Karpaga Vinayakar, Shri Sundareswarar, Devi Meenakshi, The Navagraha Sannidhi, Shri Idumban Sannidhi, Shri Adi Sankara Hall and Silpa Kala Mandapam.

This temple was erected to celebrate the conquest of Lord Murugan over the demon kings (the triumph of good over evil) . Skand Sashthi is the most important event here.

Abhishekam’s for various temples

The Maha Kumbhabhishekam for Lord Swaminatha was performed on the 7th of June, 1973. Later on, temples of Shri Karpaga Vinayakar, Shri Sundareswarar and Devi Meenakshi were consecrated and the Maha Kumbhabhishekam performed on the 13th June 1990.

The Navagraha Sannidhi along with a Sannidhi of Idumban was consecrated on the 7th of July, 1995. Shri Adi Sankara Hall was inaugurated on the 9th of November, 1997.

The third Punarudharana,Ashtabhandhana, Swarna Rajathabhandana Mahakumbhabhishekam of the temple was performed on the 27th of June, 2001.

Lord Swaminatha Temple

The temple of Lord Swaminatha has several unique features. This is the only temple where Brahmasthana Prathista has been done. Deities delineated in human form are not normally house in the Brahmasthana or the very centre of the garbha graha. Lord Skanda is an exception.

The shrine has become famous as Sahasrara Kshetra and has been sung by poets as the seventh Padai Veedu. The six important shrines of Lord Subrahmanya at Tiruchendur, Tirupparankundram, Swami Malai, Palani, Pazhamudircholai and Tiruttani represent the six centres (chakras) Mooladhara, Swadisthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Visudhi, and Agyaya. The Sahasrara of Brahmarandhra Kshetra was missing all these centuries and Uttara Swami Malai has filled the void.

Temple’s important feature

One important feature of this temple is that this temple of Lord Swaminatha is assembled and not constructed. The 900 massive stones, some of them weighing three to four tons each, stand assembled together without the use of cement or mortar. Only the crevices have been filled with the time-tested adhesive material made of lime and sand, ground to a paste with molasses and fruit juice.

The Story of Skanda Sashti

Skanda Sashti is observed on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of the Tamil month of Aippasi (October – November). This day is dedicated to the second son of Lord Shiva – Lord Subramanya, also known as Kartikeya, Kumaresa, Guha, Murugan, Shanmukha and Velayudhan. It is believed that on this day, Lord Kartikeya has annihilated the mythical demon Taraka.

Devas requested Lord Brahma

The Story of Skanda Shasti is the story of the birth of Skanda or Kumara and the fulfillment of the purpose of His divine incarnation. All Devtas were at great pain at the hands of Tarakasura, and went to Lord Brahma for help.

Lord Brahma told that only Lord Shiva can help here. Upon Brahma’s suggestion, they sought the help of Parvathi and Kama (the god of love). Parvathi agreed to help and engaged herself in severe penance to attract Shiva’s attention. Kama also agreed to help and engaged himself in the Kama also agreed to help and engaged himself in the suicidal mission of arousing Shiva from His state of Samadhi. Kama shot his arrows of love at Shiva who was eventually disturbed and the fire of anger from his third eye burnt Kama into ashes.

Birth of Skanda

The penance of Parvathi and the sacrifice of Kama paid off. Shiva was aroused from his Samadhi. However, none could bear the sparks of His fiery seed. It fell into the mouth of Agni, and afterwards received by Ganges, who in turn threw it into Sara Vana (forest of arrow like grass). Thus Saravanabava was born. He was also Skanda – Shiva’s power of chastity preserved through penance.

Skanda was raised by the six mothers of the divine constellation of Krithikai (pleiades) .Kartikeya divided himself into six babies to be nursed by six mothers. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha – the one with the six faces and one body.

Killing of Tarakasura

Shanmukha became Kumara – the powerful virile adolescent who was also the beautiful and the handsome (Muruga) . He was made the General (Deva Senapathi) of the God’s army. “….Of the army generals I am Skanda.”..(The Gita). Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful Vel (lance). Hence He is also Sakthi Velan. He engaged the armies of Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura on a six day battle and vanquished all of them on the sixth day. The Asuras were annihilated and the Devas were liberated. The sixth day (Sashti) of the waxing moon (sukhla) in the month of Ashada (Oct/Nov) is celebrated as Skanda Sashti.