Nageswara Swamy Temple, Kumbakonam – Religious Significance

Nageswara Swamy 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

Paadal Petra Sthalam:

This place has been referred in Thevaram written by Saint Tamil poet of 7^th Century AD, Appar. 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 114^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 27^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.  

Rahu Parihara Sthalam:

As per a Hindu belief, people troubled by Sarpa Dosha or malefic effects Rahu-Kethu seek a relief by offering prayers in a single day to Kudanthai or Kumbakonam Nageswarar in the morning, Thirunageshwaram Naganathar at the noon, Thirupamburam Paampuranathar in the evening and Nagoor Nageswarar at night.