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.

Adi Kumbeshwar temple - Kumbakonam,TamilNadu

Kumbakonam, is a pretty little town in Tanjavur district and is situated at a distance of 40 kms from Tanjore which is famous for its  'Big temple' .  Kumbakonam is known as the "temple town" as there are about  60 odd  temples  in and around .There is a constant flow of pilgrims to this town as many famous and ancient temples are  here with in a radius of few kilometers . It is a one stop destination to visit many of  the ancient monuments and heritage sites as this region was under the Chola dynasty.Many villagers here are agriculturists as the land is made fertile by the Ganges of South , river Kaveri and the town is famous for brass vessels and the famous degree coffee.

This time, I am taking you to the famous and oldest temple of Adi Kumbeshwara .  Kumbha means a pot and it is believed that  an Amrit Kumbha ( Pot of nectar) with seeds of creation was set afloat by Lord Shiva during the Maha Pralaya ( floods) and it  landed  at this place . The divine nectar flowed out and it became the Mahamaham tank and every12 years, pilgrims from all over the globe converge here to participate in the great Mahamaham festival; the Kumbhmela of South and  to have a holy dip in the famous tank  to get rid of all their sins.

 The town also derives its name from this' Kumbha' legend.The temple of Adi Kumbeshwara swamy is right at the centre of the town and the temple is connected to the main gate by a long corridor which is lined with shops selling souvenirs and trinkets.

The presiding deity is  Adi Kumbeshwara  ( Shiva) and the Amman here is Mangalambigai. As we enter inner prakaram of the the temple, on to the left there is a shrine for the  Lord Vinayagar. There are also shrines for Durga, Shanmugha (Muruga) and Lord Nataraja and Kiratha moorthy ( another form Of Shiva) The Idol of Durga and Mangalambigai are of exquisite beauty.

 How to reach- 

Nearest airport is Trichy . Kumbakonam has a railway station with express trains connecting Bangalore, Chennai etc. Bus services are  excellent inTamil Nadu and one can reach any part of Tamil Nadu using this service.

Good hotels are available in Kumbakonam to suit the tastes of all sections of the society.

photos

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM8BhrhHs5RcMxEnqDqqziD9R_DZfHH4LjTKFiH