Kasi Viswanathar temple Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam and nearby areas are surrounded by magnificent temples, each has interesting legends associated with it. Even after four or five visits , I am yet to cover a minuscule percentage of those.

But whatever I have seen are very very popular in that area . I am trying to share  the same through my brief descriptions and through pictures.

I do have lot of limitations ,I wish , I could have spent  more time in each of these holy places. But time constraints,situations and personal commitments allow me only a fleeting glimpses of these huge monuments.

This time I am taking you to Kasi Viswanathar temple in Kumbakonam.

The presiding deity here is  Lord Shiva, known as Kasi Viswanathar, His  consort is Visalakshi. This temple is small compared to other Kumbakonam temples. There is a separate shrine for Navakannigas ;7 rivers here. There are also shrines for Bhairava, Sun, Moon, Lindohbhava, Mahishasura Mardhini and Lord Dakshinamurthy.

This comes under Padal petra sthalam hence an important Shivalayam. Legend is that Lord Rama and Lakshmana prayed here to Lord Shiva and sought blessings to enable them to slay Ravana. The nine rivers Known as Nava kannigas prayed to Lord Shiva at Varanasi to absolve them of sins washed away by bathers. Lord directed them to bath in Mahamaham tank and pray to Lord Adi Kumbeshwara  here, yet another beautiful temple.
More details here.

Kai Viswanathar  temple is in the heart of city and is very close to the famous Mahamaham tank.

 I have included a few pictures of Mahamaham tank too.

Once in 12 years people gather here in large number to have a holy dip in the tank during the Mahamaham festival . It is believed that a holy bath during the festival will wash away one's sins and will purify the soul .

Legend is that a few drops of nectar from the Amritha Kumbham spilled in this place.

Last Mahamaham festival took place in February 2016.