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Sunday, June 14, 2020

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam – Legends

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.