Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,
Kumbakonam – Legends
Maha Pralayam:
According to Hindu mythology, at
the end of every Yuga, there is a huge flood called Maha Pralayam occurs and the
whole world immerses in a deluge on account of the wrath of Hindu god Shiva for
the sins committed by humans in earth. Lord Brahma prepared himself for
the next cycle of creation. He put all the seeds from which creation would
sprout in amrita (the elixir of immortality) along with four Vedas and Puranas
and kept them together in a clay pot. On top of the pot, he placed a coconut
with mango leaves and wrapping around the pot’s neck a sacred thread. He then
placed the pot on the peak of Mount Meru in the Himalayas.
When the Maha Pralayam started,
it destroyed all living creatures on the earth. The Amutha Kalasa also got
displaced and started floating on the seas for years. Eventually when the
Pralayam stopped, the Kalasa settled in Kumbakonam. Then Lord Shiva took the
form of a hunter (Kirata Murthy) and split open the pot with his arrow. The
life on earth started flourishing again. It is believed that when Lord Shiva
opened the pot with his arrow, the pot broke and fell in various places across
the earth. Each of these items became Shiva Lingas and temple has been
established later.
These Temples are;
1. Adi
Kumbeswarar Temple (place
where the Amrutha Kalasa stayed). It is believed that Lord Kirata Murthy (Lord
Shiva) himself made a Shivalingam with the broken pieces of the Kalasa by
mixing nectar and sand with it. He worshiped this lingam and stayed back in
this place. The Shivalingam is in the shape of the neck of a pot (Kudamukku in
Tamil).
2. Someswarar
Temple (place where the string (Uri/Sikkam) fell.
3. Nageswarar
Temple (place where the Vilva leaves tied to the Kalasa fell).
4. Abhimukeswarar
Temple (place where the Kalasa’s coconut fell).
5. Gauthameswarar
Temple (place where the sacred thread of Kalasa fell).
6. Koneswarar
Temple, Kudavasal (place where the rim of the Kalasa fell)
7. Sakkottai
Amirthakalasa Nathar Temple (place where the mid-portion of the
Kalasa fell). Since the pot (locally called kalayam) arrived here, it was
called Kalayanallur.
8. Banapureeswarar
Temple (place where Lord Shiva broke the Kalasa with his arrow).
9. Aadhi
Kampatta Viswanathar Temple (place where the flowers of the Kalasa
fell).
10. Kalahastheeswarar
Temple (place where Chandan of the Kalasa fell).
11. Ekambareswarar
Temple (place where the balance items of Kalasa feel).
12. Kottaiyur
Kodeeswarar Temple (place where some drops of the nectar fell).
Etymology:
Kumbakonam roughly translated in
English as the Jug's Corner. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the Tamil name
of Kudamukku. Kumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam
age settlement of Kudavayil.
Potraamarai Tank:
It is believed that Nava
Kannigas (9 divine maidens) had a dip in Potraamarai tank of this
Temple after their bath in the Mahamagam
tank. It is also believed nectar also got spilled in Potraamarai
Tank during Pralaya.
Mantra Peeteswari:
Lord Shiva parted half of his
body with Mother Parvathi, He had also parted 36 crores of his Mantra
Shakti-power with her. Mother also has her share of 36 crore Shakti and
the share of lord makes it to 72 crores. Thus, Mother is praised as
Mantra Peeteswari. This
temple is considered as one of the Shakti Peetas
Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Aadhi Vinayaka as he had arrived here well before Lord Shiva
and Mother Parvathi to the place.
Lord Muruga received the Mantra Upadesa from his
Mother here:
Lord Muruga had received the
Mantra Upadesa from Mother Mantra Peeteswari before waging the war against
Surapadma.
Conical Shaped Linga:
The
Kumbeswarar is in Shiva Linga form which is a formless form
- called aaru (formless) + uru (form) = aaruuru. The shape of the Linga is of
very special significance as it is of conical shaped Lingam. This is a unique Linga
nowhere to be seen in the world.
Moorka Nayanar:
Moorka Nayanar (Narchuthar), one
of the 63 Nayanmars, is believed to have offered foods to devotees before
attaining salvation here.
Chakrapani:
Lord Mahavishnu worshiped the Lord
Shiva here and was bestowed with the disc (Chakkaram) by Lord Shiva. Hence Lord
Mahavishnu is praised as Chakrapani.
Saarangapani:
Lord Vishnu was also bestowed
with the bow (Sarangam) by Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Vishnu also came to be
called as Saarangapani.
Holier than Kasi:
There is a popular saying in
Sanskrit - Kumbakonam is more sacred than Varanasi (Kasi). A sin committed at
some place can be washed away by visiting a nearby holy place. A sin
committed in one of the sacred places is washed away by going on a pilgrimage
to Varanasi. However, if one commits a sin in Varanasi itself, it can only be
washed off in Kumbakonam. Similarly, any sinful act done at Kumbakonam is
washed away there itself.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
It is also believed that Lord
Brahma, Indra, Kamadhenu, Sages Kashyapa and Hema Rishi have worshiped Lord
Shiva of this
Temple.
