The glory of Lord of the temple is praised
by Saints Tirugnana Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar in their hymns. This is the 26th Shiva temple on the southern
bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Aavani covering August-September is the
Malayalam New Year Day when Sun will be in Leo that determines the weather of
the year throughout. The practice of fasting during the Sundays of
this month praying to Sun and Nagaraja for protection of the crops from creatures
as rat etc. is followed since ancient days.
During the devastating pralaya floods, Lord
Shiva placed all creation materials in a pot (Kumba) and saved them, hence
Lord is praised as Kumbeswarar. Special pujas are performed in this
temple on Aavani Sundays in (August-September).
Devotees enter the temple through the
Rajagopuram, pass the long Mandap, BaliPeeta and the Kodi Maram (flag
post), seek the blessings and Sri Nandi Deva and worship Lord
Kumbeswarar. They then go through the prakara worshipping the 63
Nayanmars, Saptha Mathas, Kamadenu, Bhava Linga, Mahalinga, Lord Dakshinamurthy
and Lord Valanchuzhi Vinayaka. They then have to proceed to Mother?s
shrine through the shrines for Lords Bikshadana, Muruga, Akshayalinga, Sahasralinga,
Mothers Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi and Lord
Brahmma. There is a glass room where Lord is in a reclining
posture. Then are the shrines of Mother Ashtabhuja Durga, Navaneetha
Vinayaka, Kiradhamurthy, Bhairava, Kala Bhairava, Jurakeswarar, Sastha, Great
soul Govinda Dishithar, Nagambal. After worshipping Mother
Mangalambika, devotees leave the temple after worshipping at the Navagraha
(nine planets). It is believed that following this worship procedure
would bring all the boons wished by the devotees.
Lord Shiva announced that the Mango brought
by Sage Narada would be presented to one who wins a marathon round of the whole
world. Lord Vinayaka circumambulated His divine parents Shiva and
Parvathy and established the fact that world means Father and Mother and going
around them fulfilled the condition of competition. He won the
mango. Based on this philosophy, the prakara structure of the temple
covers both Lord and Mother shrines. In other temples, the prakaras
are separate. There is no abishek to the presiding deity. The
Linga is broad in base and sharp at the top as a needle point. The
stones of the temple have musical tones. There is a lion sculpture
in the Navarathri Mandap holding long stones on its head.
The Pottramari tank means tank with golden
lotus flowers which is in front of the temple. Those coming for the bath in
Mahamagam tank bathe in this tank also. After their bath in the
former tank, it is said that the Navakannikas bathed in this tank
also. Hence, this is practiced. Kumbamuni Siddha is in the
outer corridor of the temple. Devotees pray here for relief from the
adverse aspects of planets.
Mother Goddess is praised as
Mangala Nayaki and Mantra Peeta
Nalathal. Sage Tirugnana Sambandar in his hymns had praised Mother as Valar
Mangai. Lord Shiva parted half of His body with Mother Parvathi, He
had also parted 36 crore of His Mantra Shakti-power with Her. Mother
also has Her share of 36 crore Shakti and the share of Lord makes it to 72
crore. Thus Mother is praised as Mantra Peeteswari. Of
the 51 Shakti Peetas, this the first place. She wears the yellow
sari with turmeric on the face and the Kumkum on the forehead. She
glitters with all mercy.
The Mahamaha tank measures 3 acres situated in the heart of the Kumbakonam town. During
the Pralaya floods, when nectar flowed from the pot, Lord Shiva made it fall in
a pit on earth. This pit is the Mahamagam tank. The
Kumbakonam Mahamagam festival is celebrated once in 12 years on a Poornima full
moon day when Jupiter enters Kumba Acquarius and Sun Simha zodiac
signs. On this day, other holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari,
Narmada, Saraswathi, Cauvery, Kumari, Bayodhini and Sarayu also bath in the
tank to cleanse themselves of their sins. It is also believed that
those bathing on this day in the tank, takes the benefit to seven families
related to them.
Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as
Aadhi Vinayaka as He had arrived here well before Lord Shiva and Mother
Parvathi to the place. Lord Muruga had received the Mantra Upadesa
from Mother Mantra Peeteswari before waging the war against
Surapanma. He is praised by Saint Arunagiriar in his Tirupugazh
hymns. Lord Shiva came here in the guise of a hunter (Kiradha) and
broke the nectar pot here. Special pujas are dedicated to Him on the
Magam star days by devotees to realize their wishes.
When the world was facing destruction due
to the devastating tsunami, Lord Brahmma approached Lord Shiva to know
wherefrom He had to restart creation. Lord Shiva suggested that Brahmma make
a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in
the flood water and also taught the procedure of leaving it on the
water. The pot stopped at a place. Lord Shiva shot an
arrow on the pot. The nectar spilled and spread on all
directions. That nectar mixed with the sand and became a
Linga. This Linga is Kumbeswarar. Lord
Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthi. The base of the Linga is broad at the
bottom and narrow at the top as a needle point.
Moolavar: Kumbeswarar Pathigam: Thirunavukarasar , Sambandar
Amman / Thayar: Mangalanayaki
Thala Virutcham: Vanni
Theertham: Mahamagam,
Pottramarai tank
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name: Kudamookku
This sivasthalam temple is located in
Kumbakonam town. The other two paadal
petra sthalams in Kumbakonam
are Tirukkudanthai Kizhkottam and Tirukkudanthai Kaaronam. A Divya Desam shrine of Lord Vishnu known asSarangapani temple is also situated at Kumbakonam.
Kumbeswarar temple is a famous Hindu temple
with presiding deity of Kumbakonam and the Lords consort Manthrapeeteswari
Mangalambika. The famous Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this
temple. This temple was built more than 1300 years old with an area of 30181 Sq
ft, a length and breadth of 750 feet and 252 feet respectively.
It contains a lingam said to have been made
by Shiva himself when he mixed the nectar of immortality with sand. A Unique
feature here is the depiction of 27 stars and the 12 Zodiac signs carved on a
large block of stone in the Navarathri Mandapa. It also has a superb collection
of silver Vahanas(Vehicles) which are used during festivals to carry the temple
deities.
This temple comprises of three Praharas and
three Gopurams in the eastern, northern and western directions. The East
Gopuram consists of 9 stories with a height of 128 ft.
It is believed that Govinda Theeksithan,
the Chieftain of Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur, revoted this oldest temple
during 16th Century. Mangalatheertham and Mangalambigai are other major
constituents of this temple.
The Pottramarai tank is in front of the
temple. Those visiting the temple during the Mahamagam festival (famous
festival celebrated once in 12 years as the Kumbh Mela in North) take bath in
the tank. The story goes that the 9 divine maidens had a dip in this tank after
their bath in the Mahamagam tank. As the Linga is of sand, no abishek is
performed. Only Tirumanjanam is applied. The Linga is broad at the bottom and
narrows at the top in the shape of a needle. There is a Nadaswaram (a musical
instrument) made of stone which is well maintained. A lion carrying some stones
on head in the front hall of the temple stands as an example of the Tamil
sculpture art.
Theerthavari festival is celebrated in the
Mahamagam tank on Masi Magam (February-March).
Sabthasthanam festival in
Chithirai (April-May) when the Lord and Mother visit 7 places at a distance of20 kilometres.
Tirukalyanam (wedding festival) in Vaikasi (May-June)
Tirumanjanam in Aani (June-July)
Aadi perukku and Aadi Pooram (July-August)
Panguni festival (March-April) with special pujas
Butter pot festival on the
Aswathi star day in Masi (February-March), on the 8th day, and the procession
of Panchamurthis are the festivals grandly celebrated in the temple. Masimagam
is the biggest festival in Tamilnadu.
Devotees pray to Mother Mangalambika for
distinction in education and seek wedding and child boons, for progress in
trade and profession and prosperity. They worship mother with red flowers on Sundays in Aavani
month (August-September).
Devotees perform abishek, archanas and
offer vastras to Lord and Mother.
Timings are between 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
and 4.00 to 930 p.m.
Sri Kumbeswarar Temple (Tirukudamookku),
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur.+91-435- 242 0276.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.