Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,
Kumbakonam – Religious Significance
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:
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:
Sapthasthana Temples of
Kumbakonam:
The Sapthasthana temples of
Kumbakonam are;
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.
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 143rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 26th
sthalam on south of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
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.