| Adi Kumbeswarar | |
|---|---|
|
Adi Kumbeswarar
Location in Tamil Nadu
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Name | |
| Proper name: | Adi Kumbeswarar Temple |
| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Tamil Nadu |
| District: | Tanjore |
| Location: | Kumbakonam |
| Temple Details | |
| Primary Deity: | AdiKumbeswarar(Shiva) |
| Consort: | Mangalambigai(Parvathi) |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Architectural styles: | Dravidian architecture |
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple (Tamil:கும்பேசுவரர் கோயில்) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at the center of the Tamil Nadu town of Kumbakonam, India. The Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple. The huge temple is built over an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2)[1] is reported to be more than 1300 years old.[2]
The temple is revered by the Tevaram hymns of 7th century Saiva nayanars - Tamil saint poets and is also classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam (temple revered by the nayanars).
Contents |
It is believed that after the deluge and just before the advent of Kaliyuga the celestial pot containing the nectar containing the seeds of life came to rest here.[3] Lord Shiva in the garb of a hunter, shot an arrow at the pot held by Brahma[4] and broke it, making it contents spill resulting in the revival of life. Kumbham means the pot and Konam means crooked - the pot the broke when Shiva's arrow hit it. The place where the nectar fell is the Mahamaham tank.[5] The name of the town Kumbakonam is thus derived from Kumbeswaran temple.
The temple is in existence from Chola times of 7th century and has been widely expanded by Nayaks during the 15-17th century.[6] The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed rajagopuram (gateway tower) 125 ft tall [7][8] It is spread over 4 acres in the centre of the town.[9] The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along an east-west axis has triple set of gopurams.[10]
Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and sand.[8] Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is his consort and her shrine is present parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine. The temple has a colonnaded hall and a good collection of silver vahanas (sacred vehicles used to carry deities during festival processions)[7] Beyond the flagstaff, a hallway whose columns feature painted brackets representing yali (a mythological creature) leads to the gopuram.[11] The Navarathiri Mandapam (Hall of Navrathri celebration) has 27 stars and 12 rasis (constellations) carved in a single block. [9] The idol of Subramanya habings six hands instead of 12, stone nagaswarams (pipe insrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the temple.[9]
The Mahamaham festival takes place once every twelve years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February - March), when lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is located in the heart of the town. The festival has archaeological and epigrahical evidence. Tulapurushadaram, the practise of weighing oneself against gold and donating to the temple was effected by Govinda Dikshitar and the funds were utilised for fuding the construction of the 16 mandapas around the tank[12]. Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE) is believed to have witnessed the Mahamaham festival during this time. He made donations to the temple on this occasion is found in another inscription.[12]
|
|||||||