|
|
Kumbakonam is the temple town of
South India
situated in Thanjavur district
of Tamil Nadu. It is a fertile area on the banks of river Cauvery and one
of its tributaries Arasalaru. The town is famous for the Mahamaham
festival that is celebrated once in 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located
in the heart of the city.
Kumbakonam
is flooded with temples of large size. There are as many as sixty temples,
in and around Kumbakonam within 40-km of radius. Of the many temples in
Kumbakonam, the oldest Shaiva fane is the Adikumbeshwara and the oldest
Vaishnava fane, the Sri Sarangapani.
Sri Adikumbeshwara Temple
This is the largest and the oldest Shiva temple located in the centre of
the town of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord
Kumbeshwara and the presiding Goddess is Sri Mangalambigai. There is a
shrine dedicated to Adi Vinayaka (Lord Ganesh).
A Chola King built the temple and the temple building itself would seem
to have been renovated by the Nayak King. Some of the old images like Sri
Ambal, Sri Durgaiamman and Sri Kirathamoorti bear the impress of the
antiquity about them.
The temple contains some wonderful pieces of sculpture and architecture.
Its main Gopuram is 128 feet high and has many intricately carved
sculptures on it. On a single block of stone in the Navaratri Mandapam all
the 27 stars and 12 'Rashis' (signs) have been carved out.
The image of Lord Subramanya, enshrined in this part of the temple, is a
rare specimen. It has six heads but only six hands holding different kinds
of weapons. There is an excellent collection of silver Vahanas
(palanquins) used to carry the deities at festival times.
Legend Connected With The Temple
Tradition goes to say that during the "Mahapralaya" (Great
Floods) after "Dwaparayuga", a 'Kumbam' (Pot) full of Amritham
(also spelt as Amrit) and seeds for creation was set afloat by Lord Shiva.
It was proclaimed by Shiva Himself that the place where the pot touched
theground and had its rest would be considered as the holiest places in
the world.
Since the said Kumbam, as announced by the creator of the world, had its
rest in this place, this ancient place is named as "Kumbakonam"
after that Kumbam. Immediately after its rest Lord Shiva appeared in the
guise of a hunter and broke thesaid Kumbam full of Amritham with his
arrow.
The nectar settled at two places one of which became the famous Mahamaham
Tank. Out of the pieces of the broken pot Lord Shiva made out a ShivaLinga
and entered into it. This is now enshrined in the temple, and hence the
name Adi Kumbeswara, meaning - one who entered the Kumba or vessel long
long ago.
It is to be noted that this MahaLinga unlike other Lingas found in other
temples, is not made of granite stone and as such Abishekams (also spelt
as Abhisheka) cannot be performed with watery substances lest it should
dissolve the shape of the Linga (also spelt as lingam).
Idol Of Kirathamoorti
The idol of Kirathamoorti is a special feature in the temple and it is a
standing monument to commemorate the incidence that, Lord Shiva Himself
has created the present MahaLinga.
The Shaivaite Saints, Appar and Sambandhar who flourished prior to the
7th century AD have sung devotional songs ("Thevarams") in
praise of the presiding deities of the temple.
Temple Timings
The temple is kept open from 5:30 in the morning and stays so till 12:00
in the noon. The temple usually remains closed during the noon hours, and
reopens in the evening at 4:00 p.m. The temple closes in the night after
the last pujas are performed by 8:00 p.m.
Sri Sarangapani Temple 
The
Vaishnavaite temple of Sri Sarangapani is some two thousand years old in
its traditional origins. The earliest Alvars, Bhutam and Pey, have sung of
the Lord. In fact seven of the Alvars in all have sung His praises. It was
in this temple that Nathamuni redacted the Vaishnavaite Tamil hymns.
Tirumazhisai attained salvation here.
While the temple structure dates back to the Pallava times and even
earlier, the Lord's shrine, which is in the form of a chariot, was built
under the later Cholas, in the 12th century.
A Traditional Feature
According to the tradition once a sage named Bhrugu, piqued by the fact
that Lord Vishnu, whom he went to see when He was in the company of the
Goddess, ignored him awhile, kicked him in the chest. The Lord merely
asked whether his feet were paining him. But the Goddess resented the
Lord's indifference to the insult and came down to the earth. After some
time she realised that she was in the wrong. To regain Her place by the
Lord She began severe penance on a thousand-petalled lotus in a tank named
"Pottamarai", in Kumbakonam.
Bhrugu was born in his next birth as Guha, the boatman who helped
Srirama, and subsequently as a sage named Hema. He remembered that he had
caused a separation between the Lord and the Goddess and to expiate his
sin he began severe austerities.
Pleased with him, the Lord asked what boon he wished for. He said that
Goddess Laxmi should be born as his daughter and that the Lord should
marry Her. The Lord granted the request. The sage came to Kumbakonam and
adopted the Goddess as his daughter, giving Her the name of "Komalavalli".
Subsequently the Lord, entering a chariot, named the "Vaidika Vimana",
believed to be an offshoot of the "Pranava Vimana" of Srirangam
and a replica of the one presented to Vibhishna at Sri Rama's coronation,
came to the Pottamarai tank in Kumbakonam. Subsequently He married
Komalavalli. There are two entrances to the Ratha (chariot) shrine, both
from the sides. Each is kept open for half the year.
On the first tier of the entrance Gopura there are labelled sculptures
depicting the poses prescribed in Bharatha's text on the dance. Some
scholars believe that they were brought here from another temple.
Sri
Nageshwara Temple
Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam, the Nageshwara temple dedicated to
Lord Nataraja is one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the
quality of its sculpture. This temple is believed to have been completed
during the reign of Parantaka I (907-c.940). Though the temple is small
but it is known for its marvellous architecture that exceeds many of the
other Chola temples.
The Nataraja shrine here is shaped in the form of a chariot, and the
shrine dedicated to the Sun God is of great sculptural significance.
Sri Chakrapani Temple
The Sri Chakrapani temple enshrines a legend according to which the Sun
God engaged in a competition with the Chakra, or the discuss, which Lord
Vishnu carries, as to who shone brighter. The discus triumphed. The Lord
allowed the Sun God to regain his brightness by retracting somewhat of His
discus' splendour. The Lord is called "Chakrapani". The Goddess
is "Vijayavalli Thayar".
Sri Ramaswami Temple
Raghunatha, the Nayak of Thanjavur, who ruled from 1600 to 1635, built
the Sri Ramaswami temple. It is said that the Nayak obtained the images of
Sri Rama and Sita when a tank was being dug. To enshrine them he built
this splendid temple about 1625. The Lord in the sanctum is in His
coronation ensemble, not in the customary standing Kodandarama one.
In the Mahamandapa there are several pillars on which are sculptures
depicting the "Ramayana". The carvings are sharp, and at the
same time, they exude devotion. On the walls around the Prakara the "Ramayana"
is again told, this time in murals. These have been often restored and
renovated.
Festivals
Celebrated In The Adikumbeshwara Temple
The Great Mahamaham festival celebrated in honour of Lord attracts lakhs
of people from far and wide and it takes place once in 12 years. It is
celebrated on the conjunction of the moon with the Mahanakshatra and
Jupiter crosses one Rashi or sign in about one year. It comes to Simha
Rashi or Leo every 13th year and it is considered especially sacred. It is
believed that on this auspicious day the tank receives supplies of water
from the Ganges and eight other holy rivers and all the deities are said
to remain present here on that occasion.
The Lord has a number of festivals round the year. Every year in the
month of Maasi (February-March) a festival is conducted and the image of
Lord Kumbeshwara is taken out in a procession. It is celebrated for 10
days during that period.
Others include, Theppam festival during Panguni (March - April),
Sapthathanam during Chitirai month (April - May). During this festival
Lord's idol will be carried in a palanquin to the nearby villages.
Marriage festival for Lord Adikumbeshwara and Goddess Mangalambigai is
conducted in the month of Vaikasi (May - June). Daily pujas are conducted
six times from morning to evening.
Festival Celebrated In The Nageshwara Temple
The annual Bhramotsavam in the
Nageshwara Temple
is observed in the Tamil month of Pankuni.
Air: Nearest airports are
Trichy (96-km) and
Chennai (275-km).
Rail: Kumbakonam has a railway station, which is well connected
with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road: Tamil Nadu State Transport
Corporation and Private buses are running daily to/from Kumbakonam from
Trichy,
Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai,
Mannargudi, Nagapattinam,
Neyveli, Villupuram, Coimbatore,
Madurai,
Erode,
Chidambaram,
Pondicherry,
Cuddalore and
Tirunelvelli.
Accommodation is available at the moderate and economy class hotels, lodges and choultries in Kumbakonam.