Kasi Viswanathar Temple,
Kumbakonam – Legends
Kudanthai Karonam:
Lord Sri Rama was known for his
soft character. He had to acquire the traits of Rudra (anger) to wage a war
against Ravana to rescue Mother Sita. He approached Sage Agasthya for advice. The
Sage advised Lord to stay in Kumbakonam for a while and worship Lord Kasi
Viswanatha to acquire the Rudra character. Rama, following the advice of
the sage, attained the Rudramsam which gave him additional strength to fight
Ravana, a Shiva Baktha.
The Lingam used by Rama in his
Pooja, is kept in the north eastern side of the outer prakaram. It is called
Kshetra Mahalingam and it is believed to grow in size over a period of time. As
Lord Rama acquired the Arakkonam (acquiring the trait of his need), this place
came to be called as Karonam. As it is located in Kudanthai (Kumbakonam), the
place came to be called as Kudanthai Karonam.
Nava Kannikas:
Nava Kannikas (Ganga, Yamuna,
Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Sarayu and Cauvery) were in
extreme burden due to the sins left on them by people who had the holy dip in
the above rivers. They approached Lord Shiva for the solution. Lord Shiva
advised them to go to Kumbakonam on the Maha Magam day and bathe in the holy
tank to cleanse themselves of the sins set on them.
The Kannikas had the darshan of
Lord Kasi Viswanatha and begged him to stay here itself for the sake of the
common people which Lord obliged. The
Temple has a shrine for Nava Kannikas, situated at the entrance of the
temple. Lord Shiva came to this
place from Kasi (now Varanasi) to help the Nava Kannikas to cleanse
them of sins, hence is praised as Kasi Viswanatha and Mother as Visalakshi.
