Kudamoonkku Sri Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Diety: Kumbeswarar Amman: Mangalambigai
Temple Address: Kudamoonkku Sri Adhi Kumbeswaraswamy Temple,Kumbakonam Post & Taluk Tanjore District,Tamil Nadu – 612 001.Tele: +91 435 242 0276.
Open between: 05:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Introduction

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2) and houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet (39 m) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone. Thala Virutcham : Vanni Theertham : Mahamagam, Pottramarai tank

Puranic Significance

It is believed that the name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with Kumbeswarar Temple. “Kumbakonam”, roughly translated in English as the “Jug’s Corner, is believed to be an allusion to the mythical pot (kumbha) of the Hindu god Brahma that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The kumbha is believed to have been displaced by a pralaya (dissolution of the universe) effected by Hindu god Shiva’s arrow and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of Kumbakonam now stands. The nectar is believed to have fallen in two places – the Mahamaham tank and the Potramarai tank. This event is now commemorated in the Mahamaham festival held every 12 years. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the Tamil name of KudamukkuKumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam age settlement of Kudavayil. When the world was facing destruction due to the devastating tsunami, Lord Brahmma approached Lord Shiva to know where from He had to restart creation. Lord Shiva suggested that Brahmma make a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in the flood water and also taught the procedure of leaving it on the water. The pot stopped at a place. Lord Shiva shot an arrow on the pot. The nectar spilled and spread on all directions. That nectar mixed with the sand and became a Linga. This Linga is Kumbeswarar.

Beliefs

Devotees pray to Mother Mangalambika for distinction in education and seek wedding and child boons, for progress in trade and profession and prosperity. They worship mother with red flowers on Sundays in Aavani month-August-September. Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord and Mother

Special Features

Aavani covering August-September is the Malayalam New Year Day when Sun will be in Leo that determines the weather of the year throughout. The practice of fasting during the Sundays of this month praying to Sun and Nagaraja for protection of the crops from creatures as rat etc. is followed since ancient days. During the devastating pralaya floods, Lord Shiva placed all ‘creation materials’ in a pot (Kumba) and saved them, hence Lord is praised as Kumbeswarar. Special pujas are performed in this temple on Aavani Sundays in August-September. Devotees enter the temple through the Rajagopuram, pass the long Mandap, Bali Peeta and the Kodi Maram (flag post), seek the blessings and Sri Nandi Deva and worship Lord Kumbeswarar. They then go through the prakara worshipping the 63 Nayanmars, Saptha Mathas, Kamadenu, Bhava Linga, Mahalinga, Lord Dakshinamurthy and Lord Valanchuzhi Vinayaka. They then have to proceed to Mother’s shrine through the shrines for Lords Bikshadana, Muruga, Akshayalinga, Sahasralinga, Mothers Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi and Lord Brahmma. There is a glass room where Lord is in a reclining posture. Then are the shrines of Mother Ashtabhuja Durga, Navaneetha Vinayaka, Kiradhamurthy, Bhairava, Kala Bhairava, Jurakeswarar, Sastha, Great soul Govinda Dishithar, Nagambal. After worshipping Mother Mangalambika, devotees leave the temple after worshipping at the Navagraha (nine planets). It is believed that following this worship procedure would bring all the boons wished by the devotees.

Festivals

Theerthavari festival is celebrated in the Mahamagam tank on Masi Magam (February-March). Sabthasthanam festival in Chithirai (April-May) when the Lord and Mother visit 7 places at a distance of 20 kilometres. Tirukalyanam (wedding festival) in Vaikasi (May-June), Tirumanjanam in Aani (June-July), Aadi perukku and Aadi Pooram (July-August), Panguni festival (March-April) with special pujas, Butter pot festival on the Aswathi star day in Masi (February-March), on the 8th day, and the procession of Panchamurthis are the festivals grandly celebrated in the temple. Masimagam is the biggest festival in Tamilnadu.