ADHI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM
As the name denotes, it is connected with the Kumbam with nectar and the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam has also the history based on this. Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is on the Big Bazaar street which is 3 kms from the Bus stand and 2 kms from the Mahamaham tank. The view of temple after entry as seen from inside with the Gopuram and temple tank partially visible is shown in the photo given below. The temple is quite a big one and just opposite to the view shown is the Vanni marathadi Pillaiyar. To our right as we enter the main door is the elephant stable.
This is one of the few temples which still has the temple Elephant.
The temple tank is before the elephant stable and there is no water as can be seen from the picture.
Temple tank - Mangala Koobam
Adhi Kumbeswarar here is the one which Lord Siva himself made from the white sand at this place and spilled Nectar from the Kumbh as a lingam and the Ambal is known as Mangalambikai. Lord Siva gave his 36000 Crore Mantra Saktis to Mangalambigai and she is referred as Sri Mantra Peeteswari also and this place is considered as the first of the 51 Shakti peetas.
Among the temples, some have all the attributes of importance namely the vigraha, the theertham of that place and also the sthala purana. Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is one such. The Vigraha was made by Lord Siva himself and also devas, kings of the period have worshipped here the Lingam made by Siva. Thus the 'moorthi' gets its importance. It is believed that all the sacred theerthas combine together here and hence the importance of the theertha. Finally the sthala purana connects Lord Siva. During Pralaya period, the Kumbam with Nectar also was floating and as it arrived Kumbakonam, Lord Siva broke it with an arrow taking the form of a hunter- known as Kirathamurthy - and as he broke the top of the Kumbam, the nose portion of it, the place was called "Kudamookku", the nose of the pot. Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkuarasar nayanars of the 7th century and Bhoothathaazhwar have referred this sthala as "Kudamookku" and Periyazhvar, Andal and thirumazhisai alwar have referred this place as Kudanthai.
Lord Siva, out of the nectar spilled due to the breaking of the pot and with white sand around made a Lingam and entered into the Lingam. Thus the prathishtai of the Lingam is by none other than Lord Siva himself. Brahma came to know about the Pralaya in advance and went to Lord Siva and told how he would create if all jeeva are destroyed during the Pralaya. Siva instructs Brahama to collect sand from various place and mix with nectar and make a pot and also fill the pot with nectar and jeeva and the pot be adorned with vilva, mango leaves, coconut and after due pooja be kept on top of the himalayas and the pot will float during pralaya and settle at a place and he would be present there to do the rest. Thus the pot which was filled with all punya theerthams and nectar is the one which got settled at Kumbakonam.
Adhi Kumbeswarar moolavar is facing east and the temple is spread in about 30,187 sqft. The eastern gopuram is with 9 tiers and with a height of 128 feet. It has smaller gopuramas on the Western and Northern side and has Mottai Gopuram in the southern side. From he entrance from the big bazaar to the sannidhi is about 980 feet. In the first prahara on the outer of sannidhi of moolavar, urchava moorthys of 63 nayanmars are kept. On the northern side, Bhairavar, Kalabhairavar, Juragareswarar, Sastha, Govinda Deekshitar and Pathini Nagammal vigrahas are there and further Chandran and Suriyan vigrahas are by the side. On the Southern side, nalavar, 63 nayanmars, saptha kanniyars and on the western side on the southwest Vinyagar, and as move further towards north Bikshadanar, Subramanyar, tejolingam/Atchayalingam/Kodilingam and further Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi and Saraswathi bless the devotees. In the northern side of the Prahara, Navaneetha Vinayagar gives darshan. To Vinayagar's west is the Palliyarai. On the east, Kirthamurthy (Lord Siva as Hunter) in standing position with bow and arrow faces south and he is the Main deity of this sthalam, who broke the Kumbam.
In the second Prahara are the sannidhis of Shanumuganathan, navagrahas. On the southeast side of this Prahara is the Madappalli and on the Northeastern side is the Yagasalai. To the south of Yagasalai is the sannidhi of Lakshminarayanan.
When the Nectar Kumbh swirled in heavy winds, the mango leaves, vilva leaves, Dharbai, coconut were all strewn around and the mango leaves took the form of Vanni tree and presently Vannimara Vinayagar under the tree blesses devotees before entering the temple proper.
Govinda Dikshitar helped Nayakkar's rule with capital as Thanjavur. He has renovated several temples during that rule and he was responsible for the renovation works carried out in this temple and also for conducting the first Kumbabhishekam after repair works in the year 1550 and in the presence of the then king Sevappa Nayakkar. Dikshitar also was responsible for the steps provided on all four sides of the Mahamaham tank and also for building 16 Siva temples and conducting the Kumbabhishekam. His and his wife's idol is present in the outer prahara of the temple.
Temple Timings:
6.00 AM to 12.30 PM
4.30 PM to 09.30 PM
Ph: 0435-2420276
Website: www.adhikumbeswara.com
The temple, which gives the name to the place Kumbakonam, is a must for anyone's itinerary for the voluminous details that it gives from the early formation of Kumbakonam to the present day celebrations of Mahamagam.
As the name denotes, it is connected with the Kumbam with nectar and the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam has also the history based on this. Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is on the Big Bazaar street which is 3 kms from the Bus stand and 2 kms from the Mahamaham tank. The view of temple after entry as seen from inside with the Gopuram and temple tank partially visible is shown in the photo given below. The temple is quite a big one and just opposite to the view shown is the Vanni marathadi Pillaiyar. To our right as we enter the main door is the elephant stable.
This is one of the few temples which still has the temple Elephant.
The temple tank is before the elephant stable and there is no water as can be seen from the picture.
Temple tank - Mangala Koobam
Adhi Kumbeswarar here is the one which Lord Siva himself made from the white sand at this place and spilled Nectar from the Kumbh as a lingam and the Ambal is known as Mangalambikai. Lord Siva gave his 36000 Crore Mantra Saktis to Mangalambigai and she is referred as Sri Mantra Peeteswari also and this place is considered as the first of the 51 Shakti peetas.
Among the temples, some have all the attributes of importance namely the vigraha, the theertham of that place and also the sthala purana. Adhi Kumbeswarar temple is one such. The Vigraha was made by Lord Siva himself and also devas, kings of the period have worshipped here the Lingam made by Siva. Thus the 'moorthi' gets its importance. It is believed that all the sacred theerthas combine together here and hence the importance of the theertha. Finally the sthala purana connects Lord Siva. During Pralaya period, the Kumbam with Nectar also was floating and as it arrived Kumbakonam, Lord Siva broke it with an arrow taking the form of a hunter- known as Kirathamurthy - and as he broke the top of the Kumbam, the nose portion of it, the place was called "Kudamookku", the nose of the pot. Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkuarasar nayanars of the 7th century and Bhoothathaazhwar have referred this sthala as "Kudamookku" and Periyazhvar, Andal and thirumazhisai alwar have referred this place as Kudanthai.
Lord Siva, out of the nectar spilled due to the breaking of the pot and with white sand around made a Lingam and entered into the Lingam. Thus the prathishtai of the Lingam is by none other than Lord Siva himself. Brahma came to know about the Pralaya in advance and went to Lord Siva and told how he would create if all jeeva are destroyed during the Pralaya. Siva instructs Brahama to collect sand from various place and mix with nectar and make a pot and also fill the pot with nectar and jeeva and the pot be adorned with vilva, mango leaves, coconut and after due pooja be kept on top of the himalayas and the pot will float during pralaya and settle at a place and he would be present there to do the rest. Thus the pot which was filled with all punya theerthams and nectar is the one which got settled at Kumbakonam.
Adhi Kumbeswarar moolavar is facing east and the temple is spread in about 30,187 sqft. The eastern gopuram is with 9 tiers and with a height of 128 feet. It has smaller gopuramas on the Western and Northern side and has Mottai Gopuram in the southern side. From he entrance from the big bazaar to the sannidhi is about 980 feet. In the first prahara on the outer of sannidhi of moolavar, urchava moorthys of 63 nayanmars are kept. On the northern side, Bhairavar, Kalabhairavar, Juragareswarar, Sastha, Govinda Deekshitar and Pathini Nagammal vigrahas are there and further Chandran and Suriyan vigrahas are by the side. On the Southern side, nalavar, 63 nayanmars, saptha kanniyars and on the western side on the southwest Vinyagar, and as move further towards north Bikshadanar, Subramanyar, tejolingam/Atchayalingam/Kodilingam and further Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi and Saraswathi bless the devotees. In the northern side of the Prahara, Navaneetha Vinayagar gives darshan. To Vinayagar's west is the Palliyarai. On the east, Kirthamurthy (Lord Siva as Hunter) in standing position with bow and arrow faces south and he is the Main deity of this sthalam, who broke the Kumbam.
In the second Prahara are the sannidhis of Shanumuganathan, navagrahas. On the southeast side of this Prahara is the Madappalli and on the Northeastern side is the Yagasalai. To the south of Yagasalai is the sannidhi of Lakshminarayanan.
When the Nectar Kumbh swirled in heavy winds, the mango leaves, vilva leaves, Dharbai, coconut were all strewn around and the mango leaves took the form of Vanni tree and presently Vannimara Vinayagar under the tree blesses devotees before entering the temple proper.
Govinda Dikshitar helped Nayakkar's rule with capital as Thanjavur. He has renovated several temples during that rule and he was responsible for the renovation works carried out in this temple and also for conducting the first Kumbabhishekam after repair works in the year 1550 and in the presence of the then king Sevappa Nayakkar. Dikshitar also was responsible for the steps provided on all four sides of the Mahamaham tank and also for building 16 Siva temples and conducting the Kumbabhishekam. His and his wife's idol is present in the outer prahara of the temple.
Temple Timings:
6.00 AM to 12.30 PM
4.30 PM to 09.30 PM
Ph: 0435-2420276
Website: www.adhikumbeswara.com
The temple, which gives the name to the place Kumbakonam, is a must for anyone's itinerary for the voluminous details that it gives from the early formation of Kumbakonam to the present day celebrations of Mahamagam.
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