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Friday, July 17, 2020

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam – Legends

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.