SREE KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM
Sree Kasi Viswanathar temple is on the northern side of the Mahamaha Kulam (Tank) - around 2 kms from the Central Bus stand. Town Bus services and Mini Buses are available and the bus stop is known Mahamahakulam or Head Post Office. The temple is 2 kms from the Kumbakonam Raiway station too and lot of autos are available from station. Plenty of small vendors in front of the temple sell pooja requirements.
The temple is famous for the Nava Kannigas who bless the devotees - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Thungabhadra, Krishna, Sarayu and Cauvery. Problems connected with puberty, delalyed marriage proposals and couple with no issues pray to the Navakannigas here. The Navakannigas were not knowing how to shed the sins left by people who take a holy dip and they approached Lord Siva for solution. Lord Siva advised them to be at Kumbakonam on Mahamaham Day and take a holy dip and bathe in the Mahamaham tank to cleanse themselves of the sins set on them. On doing so and praying the Lord Kasi Viswanathar, the Nava Kannigas requested the lord to be present here itself to help the common people. The Lord obliged and thus the temple has the Kasi viswanathar and also the Nava Kannigas blessing the common man. Kasi viswanathar here faces West. The lingam has been under a Neem Tree and that is the Sthala Vruksham. Thirugnanansambanthar has praised the lord thus:
வாரார் கொங்கை மாதோர் பாக மாக வார்சடை
நீரார் கங்கை திங்கள் சூடி நெற்றி யொற்றைக்கண்
கூரார் மழுவொன் றேந்தி யற்தண் குழகன் குடமூக்கில்
காரார் கண்டத் தெண்டோள் எந்தை
காரா ணத்தாரே – திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
Kasi Viswanathar - Visalakshi Urchavar
Ganga Yamuna Narmada
Saraswathi Kaveri Godavari
Thungabadra Krishna Sarayu
The entrance Gopuram facing West in of 72 feet height and has 5 tiers. There are 2 prakarams in the temple. Sudais depicting Lord Siva taking the Navakannigas for holy dip in Mahamaha kulam are in the Gopuram. Immediate on entrance to the temple, to our right is Lord Vinayaga. Saptha Mathas and Navakannigais bless in this prakara. Kasi Viswanathar faces west and consort Visalakshi faces South. Bhairavar, Sun and Moon are in the outer prakara and the Linga installed and worshipped by Lord Rama.
The temple is connected with the period of Lord Rama. Lord Rama wanted to get he qualities of a warrior and be ruthless while fighting Ravana. As suggested by Sage Agasthiya, he prayed here to get Rudramasam. As Rama got blessed to have the qualities of Aarokanam, the place acquired the name Karonam. The Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama is on the outer prakaram on the northeast.
Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama
This being one of the twelve temples connected with the Kumbham of the Pralaya period and legend of Navakannigas and Lord Rama is a must for Darshan for a person on a pilgrimage to Kumbakonam.
Temple Timings:
6.00 AM - 12 Noon
4.00 PM - 8.30 PM
Sree Kasi Viswanathar temple is on the northern side of the Mahamaha Kulam (Tank) - around 2 kms from the Central Bus stand. Town Bus services and Mini Buses are available and the bus stop is known Mahamahakulam or Head Post Office. The temple is 2 kms from the Kumbakonam Raiway station too and lot of autos are available from station. Plenty of small vendors in front of the temple sell pooja requirements.
The temple is famous for the Nava Kannigas who bless the devotees - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Thungabhadra, Krishna, Sarayu and Cauvery. Problems connected with puberty, delalyed marriage proposals and couple with no issues pray to the Navakannigas here. The Navakannigas were not knowing how to shed the sins left by people who take a holy dip and they approached Lord Siva for solution. Lord Siva advised them to be at Kumbakonam on Mahamaham Day and take a holy dip and bathe in the Mahamaham tank to cleanse themselves of the sins set on them. On doing so and praying the Lord Kasi Viswanathar, the Nava Kannigas requested the lord to be present here itself to help the common people. The Lord obliged and thus the temple has the Kasi viswanathar and also the Nava Kannigas blessing the common man. Kasi viswanathar here faces West. The lingam has been under a Neem Tree and that is the Sthala Vruksham. Thirugnanansambanthar has praised the lord thus:
வாரார் கொங்கை மாதோர் பாக மாக வார்சடை
நீரார் கங்கை திங்கள் சூடி நெற்றி யொற்றைக்கண்
கூரார் மழுவொன் றேந்தி யற்தண் குழகன் குடமூக்கில்
காரார் கண்டத் தெண்டோள் எந்தை
காரா ணத்தாரே – திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
Kasi Viswanathar - Visalakshi Urchavar
Navakannigas worship in this temple is a speciality as indicated earlier.
The entrance Gopuram facing West in of 72 feet height and has 5 tiers. There are 2 prakarams in the temple. Sudais depicting Lord Siva taking the Navakannigas for holy dip in Mahamaha kulam are in the Gopuram. Immediate on entrance to the temple, to our right is Lord Vinayaga. Saptha Mathas and Navakannigais bless in this prakara. Kasi Viswanathar faces west and consort Visalakshi faces South. Bhairavar, Sun and Moon are in the outer prakara and the Linga installed and worshipped by Lord Rama.
The temple is connected with the period of Lord Rama. Lord Rama wanted to get he qualities of a warrior and be ruthless while fighting Ravana. As suggested by Sage Agasthiya, he prayed here to get Rudramasam. As Rama got blessed to have the qualities of Aarokanam, the place acquired the name Karonam. The Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama is on the outer prakaram on the northeast.
Lingam worshipped by Lord Rama
Temple Timings:
6.00 AM - 12 Noon
4.00 PM - 8.30 PM
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