The Kumbheswara temple in Kumbakonam is considered to be the 26th in the series
of Thevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. This
temple is situated at the center of the town which is 38 km north east of the
neighbouring big town Thanjavur and 35 km. west of Mayiladuturai.
During the great deluge, it is believed that Shiva caused the Amritakalasam
to stall here. This shrine is said to have been established built
and consecrated by Bhrama. Amirthakalasam - The pot holding the divine nectar.
The Saivaite Saint Tirugnana Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar praised this
kshetra as Kudamookku and among the Alwars Periyalwar, Sri Andal and
Tirumalisai Alwar called this as Kudanthai while Boodhathazhwar, called
this as Kudamukku.
As Arunagirinathar points out this kshetra as
Kumbakonam, we can safely conclude that kudamukku turned into kumbakonam during
the intervening period of the Azhwars and Arunagirinathar.
The Temple
Kumbeswarar Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at
the center of the Tamilnadu town Kumbakonam, India. The famous Hindu festival
of Mahamaham is associated with this temple.
The huge temple with built over an area of 30187 sq ft is reported to be more
than 1300 years old. This temple covering an area of about 4 acres in the heart
of the temple town of Kumbakonam.
The Raja Gopuram at the east rises to the lofty height of 128' with nine
terraces, a symbol of grandeur and splendour of the deities as also the
majesty, immensity and all pervasiveness of the universal consciousness.
In the northern and western sides there are small Gopurams and the Mottai
Gopuram at the South. Four prakarams line this temple and are lined with local
shops, that it is hard to visualize the spread of the temple by looking at its
entrance.
At the eastern end of the first circumambulatory path of the Mulavar
shrine in the Southern side there abide the sixty three saivaite saints.
In the northern part there are Bhairava, Kalabhirava, Jvarahareswara,
Chasta, Sivalingam, Govinda Dikshitar and his consort Nagammal and
ChandraSurya. In the South there are the Big Four of Saivism, 63 Nanmars,
Sapta Kannikas. In the west there are Vinayaka, Bhikshatana, Subramanya
Kartikeya Shrines and continuing there are Tejo Linga, Akshaya Linga,
Kotilinga, as also Annapurani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati. At
the center of the northern circumambulatory path there is Navaneetha
Vinayaka and to the west is the chamber of rest and respite of the Lord
and Sri Ambal and to the east abides Sri Kirathamurti holding the bow and
arrow facing south in the standing posture. He is the principal Deity of
this temple.
The centre of attraction at the inner circumambulatory path is the shrine
of the Mulavar at the Sanctum sanctorum. The Mulavar Sri Parameswara in
the self - originated linga form abides in all splendour and grace facing
east. At the entrance of the Arthamandapa the sentinels - Dhwarapalakas -
Chandi and Mundi stand in vigil on either side. At the Mandapa - Swami
Mandapa - western to this and in its southern side there is Aarukula
Ganapati. At the centre of the mandapa there abides the Nandi followed by
the sacrificial altar and behind this is Nandi made of brass, all facing
Sanctum sanctorum. Passing through the southern gate of Mahamandapa we
have the statue of Soma Skanda facing east.
Western to the Sabhamandapa in the souththere is SabhaVinayaka and at the
entrance towards Mahamandapa there are sentinels on either side and
continuing we have NandiDeva and Kasiviswanatha. Northern to this mandapa
Lord Nataraja abides in all glory and grandeur persecuting the cosmic
dances.
At the Navaratri Mandapa situated inside the second circumambulatory path
- Mahamandapa - Nandi abides facing the Mulavar and behind it there is
the sacrificial alter. Southwest to Nandi there abides Vallabha Vinayaka
and at the northwest there is Shanmukha with six faces and twelve hands.
Northern to Nandi abides Navagraha shrine.
Southeast to second circumambulatory path is situated the temple kitchen
and at the Northeast the Yagasala. Southern to the Yagasala there abides
Lakshmi Narayana Perumal and eastern to this there is the flag mast of the
temple.
At the outer circumambulatory path in the southwest, Kumbha Muni Siddha
abides in meditation, upon the Gopura in bas - relief. Vinayaka of this
shrine is called Adi Vinayaka, in the northwestern end there is Adhi
Linga shrine facing east. To the east of this circumambulatory path at
the gateway of Kailasagopura are Mutra Vinayaka to the left and Balan
Dandayuthapani to the right. Northwest to the Rajagopuram there is
Mangalakupa a well and adjacent to it is the elephant shed and the
Tirukkalyanamandapam. Southern to the Rajagopuram is the flower garden west
wards to the flower - bower abides the Vannimara Vinayaka shrie facing
east.
The Navaratri mandapam bears a carvings of the 12 zodiac signs and the 27
asterisms. This temple also houses two nadaswarams made of stone. Many images
in this temple deserve mention, especially those of Kiratamurthy and
Subramanyar. The Kalyana Mandapam hall in the temple, is the seat of the
Tirukkalyana Utsavam.
Kumbeswarar is represented as a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth - said to
have been made by Shiva in the guise of a hunter - Kiratamurthy. Shiva is also
known as Amudha Kumbhesar and Amudheesar. The Kumbariya Vinayakar shrine is
situated near the tank, while Aadi Vinayakar is worshipped in the temple.
Moorka Nayanaar is one of the 63 Nayanars associated with this temple.
The Saptastanams of Kumbeswarar are Kalayanallur, Valanjuzhi, Darasuram,
Swamimalai, Kottiayur, Melaikkaveri and Kumbakonam.
Festivals
Six worship services are offered each day here. The annual festival in the
month of Masi (February 15 to march 15) is well attended. The Mahamaham tank is
the center of great festivity once every 12 years - when Jupiter is positioned
in the zodiac sign of Leo, and the sun is positioned in Aquarius and the moon
is in the asterism of Magam - when Kumbeswarar is taken in procession there.
Thousands of pilgrims converge for a dip in the Mahamagam tank during that
time. Several other minor festivals are celebrated each
month here.
During Vaikasi the Thirukkalyana Utsava of Sri Mangalambhigai with Sri
Adi Kumbheswara is celebrated. Moreover festivals of different months
are celebrated on a grand scale, namely Ani Tirumanjanam, Dakshinayana,
Adi Perukku, Adi pooram, Avani Mulam, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Navaratri,
Kandashasthi, Kadaimukham, Kartigai Somavaram, Kartigai Deepam, Tiru
Adirai, Mahaditi padam, Sankranti, Sivaratri, and Amudhu Padayal.
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