Adi Kumbeswarar Temple (Ādi Kumbheśvara) in Kumbakonam (Kumbhakonam), representing a sacred place for the worship of Śiva.—The Ādi Kumbheśvar Temple has three towers. The first Rājagopura is 128 feet high with 9 tiers. The tower is noted for the beauty of the sculptures carved on it. The *mūlavar* is Kumbheśa Āvudayar in the form of a *liṅga*. The figure of Lord Murukan in the temple is unique. He is seen with six faces and six hands. The big *mahāmaha* tank lends a unique glory to this *sthala*. It is called Amuda Saroruhamand Kaniyūr Tīrta. There are 16 *maṇḍapas* around the temple. They are said to have been built in 1542 by Govinda Dikṣitar who was a Minister of Achyutappa Nayakar, the king of Tanjore.
The sixteen *liṅgas* worshipped in the *maṇḍapas* are 1. Brahmā-tīrta Īśvara, 2. Kukunda Īśvara, 3. Dhaneśvara, 4. Idapeśvara, 5. Baraneśvara, 6. Koneśvara, 7. Baktikeśvara, 8. Byraveśvara, 9. Agastyeśvara, 10. Vyāsa Īśvara, 11. Umā Pageśvara, 12. Tritīśvara, 13. Brahmeśvara, 14. Gaṅgādhareśvara, 15. Mukta-tīrta Īśvara, 16. Kṣetra Paleśvara. The *sthala-purāṇa* says the primary deity found in this temple is Amudha Kumbhesar (Amuda Kumbheśar) also known Adi Kumbeswarar (Ādi Kumbheśar) and Amudesvar. Goddess Maṅgalāmbikai is also found here and she is called Mantra Pīda Īśvarī. K Rajaram IRS 24525 On Sat, 24 May 2025 at 10:56, 'gopala krishnan' via KeralaIyers < [email protected]> wrote: > *ADI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE, KUMBAKONAM ,* > > *THANJAVUR DISTRICT TAMIL NADU**-Compiled* > > Dear friends, > > Today my posting is about the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam, > dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur > District of Tamil Nadu. > > I have visited the temple during temple visits after retirement in 2004. I > have also visited the temple while working in Pudukkottai during 1979’s as > SG Junior Engineer. > > *The temple is famous for the MAHAMAHAM ONCE IN 12 YEARS*. My wife has > participated in the last Mahamaham and took bath in mahamaham tank during > *Februvary 2016* along with temple visit groups from Chennai. It is the > biggest temple in Kumbakonam. > > Hope a divine reading > > *Gopalakrishnan 24-5-2025* > > Introduction > > 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-CE Tamil Saiva canonical, greatest 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 Vijayanagara period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted > in a single stone.* > > The temple has *six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 9 > p.m., and twelve yearly festivals* on its calendar, with the Masi Magam > festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Masi (February - March) being > the most prominent. > > The present masonry structure was built during the *Chola dynasty in the > 9th century*, while later expansions are attributed to *Vijayanagara > rulers of the Thanjavur Nayaks of the 16th century*. > > The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and > Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. > > Legend > > The name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with > Kumbeswarar Temple. > > Lord Brahma, during the great Pralaya or flood, selected this city to keep > a pot of “Amrita”, the elixir and divine nectar, from where the essence of > Creation could start afresh. The hill of Meru was originally selected by > Lord Shiva. Shiva came in the form of the hunter, and pierced the pot with > an arrow, thus making the nectar flow from the pot to all sides of the > nostrils. The contents of the pot fell on different locations and appeared > as Shiva Lingas later. This is the shrine, where God performed the miracle > known as “Thiruvilayadal”, descending to earth and helping humans. Thus, > this temple is the origin of the human race and one of the revered shrines > of the Shaiva sect. > > * The pot (kumbha) 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 > Kudamukku. Kumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam age settlement of > Kudavayil. > > History > > The temple is in existence from Chola times of the 9th century, and has > been maintained by Nayaks during the 15-17th century. > > Architecture > > Kumbeswarar temple complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2) and > houses four gateway towers known as gopuram. The tallest is the eastern > tower, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet (39 m) *The temple is > approached by a corridor 330 ft (100 m) long and 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. There* > are five silver-plated chariots in the temple *used to carry the temple > deities during festive occasions.* > > The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam is spread over 4 > acres in the centre of the town. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, > elongated along an east–west axis has triple set of gopurams. Beyond the > flagstaff, a hallway whose columns feature painted brackets representing > yali (a mythological creature) leads to the gopuram. > > The Navaratri Mandapam (Hall of Navratri celebration) has 27 stars and > 12 rasis (constellations) carved in a single block. > > The temple has a Chamber of repose, decoration hall, Sacrificial hall, > grand kitchen, marriage hall, *elephant shed, Vasantamandapam, cattle > shed, garden* and four-pillared hall are other notable parts in the > temple. The flag mast is located in the second precinct, directly on the > axis of the presiding deity > > Deities > > Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is > located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to > have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and > sand. > > As said earlier the presiding deity is Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as > Adi Kumbeswara. Adi represents 'first and foremost', and Kumbam means > 'pot'. Thus, this was the pot which was created first, and the basis of > the existence of the human race. It is very important to note the shape of > the Linga, which is like a cone. > > The central shrine of the temple houses the image of Adi Kumbheswarar in > the form of lingam The shrine of Mangala Nayaki is located parallel to the > left of Kumbeswarar and Somaskanda is located to the right. > > Sub deities > > Virabhadra, Saptakannikas, Visalakshi, Visvanatha, Valam Chuzhi Vinayaka, > Bhikshatana, Karthikeya, Annapurani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, > Jasta Devi, Durga, Chandikesa, Kuratirtha, Arukala Vinayakar, Nandi, bali > pitham, Sabha Vinayaka, Kasi Visvanatha, Nataraja are located in the first > precinct around the sanctum. The idol of Subramanya having six hands > instead of 12. > > The temple also has images of Navaneetha Vinayaka, Kiratamurti, Bhairava, > Jvarahareswara, Chandra, Surya, Adikara Nandhi (the sacred bull of Shiva), > Vallabha Ganapathi, Shanmukha, Navagraha (nine planetary deities), Nandhi, > Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Mutra Veli Vinayaka, Bala Dandayutapani, Nandhi, > Vanni Vinayakar, Kumbha Munisiddhar, Kumarappar, Adilinga and Sattananthar. > > Other idols in the temple > > The images of Nalvars (Appar, Sambanthar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar), > images of the sixty three Nayanmars,., Chaota Sri Govinda Dikshits-Nagammal > etc. > > Worship practices > > The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a > daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to > the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed > six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., > Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 > p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. > > There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), > fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new > moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and cathurthi. > > Water bodies > > The Mahamaham tank, Potramarai Tirtha, Varuna Tirtha, Kasyapa Tirtha, > Chakkara Tirtha, Matanga Tirtha and Bhagavad Tirtha (bathing ghats along > the river Cauvery) are the seven outlying water bodies associated with the > temple. > > Mangala Kupam Asva, Naga tirtha, Kura tirtha are the three wells, while > Chandra tirtha, Surya tirtha, Gautama tirtha and Varaha tirtha are the four > tanks located inside the temple. > > The Potramarai tank separates the Kumbeswarar temple from Sarangapani > temple. > > There is a temple tank, where all the water required for the rituals are > drawn. > > Festivals > > The major festivals celebrated here are Shiva Ratri, Chithirai > Brahmotsavam, and the Butter Pot festival, which happens during February - > March. > > Adipooram, Masi Magham, and Thai Poosam Star float festivals are also > celebrated grandly here. Other important festivals include Deepavali, > Pongal, Arudra Darshan, and Navaratri. > > *The Mahamaham festival takes place once every twelve years* during the > Tamil Month of Masi (February–March), when lakhs of pilgrims from various > parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham > tank which is located in the heart of the town. *The festival has > archaeological and epigraphical evidence.* > > Tulapurushadaram, the practise of weighing oneself against gold and > donating to the temple was effected by Govinda Dikshitar and the funds were > utilised for funding the construction of the 16 mandapas around the tank > > Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE) is believed to have witnessed the > Mahamaham festival during this time. He made donations to the temple on > this occasion is found in another inscription. > > Specialty > > 12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once > in 12 years in Kumbakonam.AdiKumbeswarar temple is 2nd among them. *Stone > nadasvarams (pipe instrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the > temple.* > > Literary Mention and religious importance > > Appar, the 7th-century Tamil Shivite saint and poet nayanar has revered > Kumbeswarar and the temple in his verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth > Tirumurai. *As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as > Paadal Petra Sthalam*, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the > Saiva canon. *The temple is counted as the seventh in the list of temples > in the southern banks of Cauvery*. > > Appar has glorified the temple in nine poems referring the place as > Kudamuku and the deity as "Kumbesar.The mention is found in the 59th poem > in the Third Tirumurai by Sambandar and 22nd poem in the Fifth Tirumurai by > Appar. > > *The temple is one of the Shakti pithas where Parvathi, the consort of > Shiva is consecrated as a major deity.* > > Mangalambigai is known as Mantira Piteswari The temple is counted as one > of the temples built on the banks of River Kaveri. The temple was visited > by *Purandara Dasa, who is known as pithamaha (doyen) of Carnatic music, *and > composed a song glorifying the main deity Sri Kumbeshwara. > > Benefits of Worshipping at Adi Kumbeshwarar Temple: > > Since this temple is associated with the genesis of life, it is believed > to contain immense cosmic power, and the power to rejuvenate humanity. Lord > Shiva bestows on his devotees, the spiritual power to tide the challenges > of life. People facing problems in health and suffer from all kinds of > fear would be blessed with the grace of the Almighty to overcome their > problems. > > What is the speciality of Kumbeswarar Temple? > > The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed > rajagopuram (gateway tower) 125 ft tall It is spread over 4 acres in the > centre of the town. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along > an east–west axis has triple set of gopurams. > > Temple timings > > 6:00 am - 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm > > Administration > > In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu > Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil > Nadu. > > How to reach Adi Kumbeshwarar Temple > > By Air-Tiruchirapalli International Airport is the nearest airport. The > temple is more than 100 kilometers from the airport. It is better to use > road transport to reach the temple. > > By Rail-Kumbakonam railway junction is the nearest railway station, and > it is connected by plenty of local transport. > > By Road-Buses ply to Kumbakonam, from all parts of Tamilnadu. It is one > of the major cities and has good connectivity. The bus stop is located > very close to the temple premises. > > Other modes of transport are also available for the ease of travellers. > > > > -- > On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust > > We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join > > Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup > > Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust > > Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: > https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "KeralaIyers" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/365337202.621142.1748064377977%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/365337202.621142.1748064377977%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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