The
temple features:
This
temple is located in Kumbakonam 37 kms in the southwest direction
from Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu. The carpet area of the temple is
1,97,904 sqft and is built east-facing. This temple has a tower in 9
stages and four corridors.(Pragarams)
The deity is called Kumbeswarar and it is said that the deity is self incarnated and is 'Prithivi swaroopam' in the east facing pose.The lingam's top looks like the neck of a pitcher The Lord's consort Devi Mangala-Nayaki has a separate sanctum also in the east facing pose.
The deity is called Kumbeswarar and it is said that the deity is self incarnated and is 'Prithivi swaroopam' in the east facing pose.The lingam's top looks like the neck of a pitcher The Lord's consort Devi Mangala-Nayaki has a separate sanctum also in the east facing pose.
The
temple tree is Vanni and the theertham is called Maha-Magam.
There are many stone inscriptions here giving details of the kshetram
There are many stone inscriptions here giving details of the kshetram
The
saint who sang hymns on the Lord:
Thiru-gnana-sambadhar and Thiru navu-karasar
Thiru-gnana-sambadhar and Thiru navu-karasar
Legend:
Once there was deluge and the world was sinking. At that time Lord Brahma had kept a pot containing nectar (amirdham) at the peak of Mount Meru. But Lord Siva came as a hunter and shot an arrow at the pot and the pot fell at an angle in this place. Hence this place is called Kumbakonam.(Kumba is a pot with coconut and mango leaves etc konam is angle) But the liquid split into parts. Some fell in the Mahamaham tank and the other part into potramarai tank at Sarangapani temple close to Kumbeswara temple. The nectar from the pot over-flowed on the ground up to a distance of about 20 kms and flowed into five places around Kumbakonam which became five famous Siva kshetrams. They are as follows:
Once there was deluge and the world was sinking. At that time Lord Brahma had kept a pot containing nectar (amirdham) at the peak of Mount Meru. But Lord Siva came as a hunter and shot an arrow at the pot and the pot fell at an angle in this place. Hence this place is called Kumbakonam.(Kumba is a pot with coconut and mango leaves etc konam is angle) But the liquid split into parts. Some fell in the Mahamaham tank and the other part into potramarai tank at Sarangapani temple close to Kumbeswara temple. The nectar from the pot over-flowed on the ground up to a distance of about 20 kms and flowed into five places around Kumbakonam which became five famous Siva kshetrams. They are as follows:
| Tiruvidaimarudur, |
Tirunageswarm, |
Tirudharasuram, |
| Tiruvoragam |
Tirupadalvanam |
These
five places are called Pancha Kosa Kshetrams.
The
place from where Lord Siva shot the arrows at the pot became a famous
sacred kshethram called 'Bana-puresam' (banam means arrow). The deity
is named Bana-puriswarar.
The
day on which the planet Jupiter moves into the star Makha is
considered auspicious. This usually happens on the full-moon day in
the middle of February once in 12 years. The whole month starting
from that day is celebrated as 'Maha-makam'. Thousands of devotees
take a dip in the 'Maha-makam' tank during this month.
It
is said that during this period confluence of eight holy rivers into
that tank takes place.
The rivers are: Ganges, Prahmaputra, Saraswathi Kavery, Yamuna
The rivers are: Ganges, Prahmaputra, Saraswathi Kavery, Yamuna
Inscriptions
in this temple say that Sri Rama, Devi Chandi, devotee Sulochana and
many others attained liberation by taking a dip in this tank. It is
surrounded on all sides by 16 beautiful meditation halls which were
built in the year 1542.
Sri
Rama on his way to Lanka came here and worshipped Lord Kasi
Viswanatha in this temple. This temple contains marvelous sculptures.
A Single block of stone in the Navaratri hall is inscribed with all
the 27 stars and 12 zodiac signs which is unique.
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