Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam – Religious Significance

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam – Religious Significance

Maha Maham Festival:

Shiva Temples:

Twelve famous Shiva temples in and around Kumbakonam participate in the famous Maha Maham festival during which Theerthavari happens in the Mahamaha Tank. This festival is celebrated once in 12 years in Kumbakonam.

These 12 Shiva temples are:

1. Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam

2. Aadhi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

3. Someswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

4. Nageswarar (Vilvavaneswarar) Temple, Kumbakonam

5. Kalahasteeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

6. Gauthameswarar (Upaveethanathar) Temple, Kumbakonam

7. Koteeswarar Temple, Kottaiyur

8. Sakkottai Amirthakalasa Nathar Temple, Kalayanallur

9. Banapureeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

10. Abhimukeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

11. Aadhi Kambatta Visvanathar Temple, Kumbakonam

12. Ekambareswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Of them 10 temples are in Kumbakonam. The processional deities of these temples come to this tank during festival days.

Vishnu Temples:

Also, 5 Vaishnava temples from Kumbakonam also participate in this festival. However, the Theerthavari happens in the river Kaveri instead of the Theerthavari in Mahamaha tank.

These Vaishnava temples are:

1.    Saarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam

2.    Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam

3.    Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam

4.    Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam

5.    Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple, Kumbakonam

Sapthasthana Temples of Kumbakonam:

The Sapthasthana temples of Kumbakonam are;

·        Aadhi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

·        Amirthakalasa Nathar Temple, Sakkottai

·        Valanchuzhinathar Temple, Tiruvalanchuzhi

·        Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram, Thanjavur 

·        Swaminathaswamy Temple, Swamimalai

·        Kodeeswarar Temple, Kottaiyur

·        Kailasanathar Temple, Melacauvery

Sakthi Peethas:

This temple is one of the Shakti Peetas where Goddess Mangalambigai is known as Manthira Peeteswari. Lord Shiva gave away half of his strength to Goddess Parvathy and married her.

Paadal Petra Sthalam:

As the temple is revered in Thevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. This Temple is the 143^rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 26^th sthalam on south of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Thirupugazh Sthalam:

Lord Murugan of this Temple is praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his revered Thirupugazh hymns.  

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.