10th March, 2016.
SRI
CHAKRAPANI TEMPLE
This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the
temple is located near Mahamaham Tank.
Inside view of Rajagopuram, Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam
Moolavar : Sri Chakrapani
Thayar : Sri
Vijayalakshmi Thayar.
Some of the important features of this temple
are...
Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Panchamuga Anjaneyar in
the outer prakaram.
LEGENDS
The history of the temple goes like this...
Mahavishnu – Sri Sarangapani sent his disc to destroy the demon Jalandarasura.
After killing the Chakra came and rested on Brahma who was doing
yagna on the banks of river Kaveri. On seeing the brightness of
Chakra Sun increases its brightness and all the sun’s brightness was
observed by Chakra. On seeing this Sun surrendered to Chakra and
Built a temple and worshiped.
The place where Chakra reappeared after killing the demon is called Chakra Padithurai on the banks of River Kaveri.
The temple was built during the 16th century
by Nayakars reign.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
This is one of the 5 Maha Vishnu Temples, that participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival, which occurs once in 12 Years. The list of 12 Shiva temples and 5 Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam used to join and celebrate this Mahamaha festival is given below.
Shiva Temples are…
11. Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and
The Maha Vishnu Temples are…
4. Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00
hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS :
The landline no 0435 – 2403284 may be
contacted for further details.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Moolavar vimanam view
through grill work
Temple entrance arch with
Dwajasthambam
Temple entrance arch with
Dwajasthambam
Rajagopuram,
Rajagopuram,
Rajagopuram with old hand-made tiled house
..............To be continued.
Mahamaham Tank
I was not very serious about attending the Mahamaham to be held at Kumbakonam once in 12 years and this year it was held between Feb 13th to 22nd, 2016. One of my friends Mr Alex, called me on Mahamaham day and asked me about my program. Also, people who could not take a holy dip on Masi Magam Nakshatra day can have the holy dip on any one of the days of Tamil Masi Month (February – March). So planned to visit Kumbakonam on 13th March 2016. The procedure is after the holy dip in all the 20 wells, we have to take the holy dip in Potramarai Kulam and River Kaveri. From Feb 13th to 22nd water in the Cauvery was released from Kallanai. During the Mahamaham festival water spray arrangements were made on all 20 wells. The 12 Shiva temples and 5 Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam used to join and celebrate this Mahamaha festival.
Mahamaham Tank – devotees are taking the holy dip
A brief history of the Mahamaham is as follows.....
All the 20 rivers went to Shiva and wanted to purify themselves from the sins absorbed by them from the human beings, after taking a holy dip in the rivers. Shiva advised all to take a bath in the Mahamaham tank on the Mahamaham day where the Amirtha fell into the tank, and get relieved from the sins.
How the Mahamaha Day is calculated... The day is decided as per the astrological position: During the full moon day of Tamil month Masi when the conjunction of the moon with the lunar asterism ( Magha Nakshatra ) and when Jupiter is in the constellation of Leo. This festival occurs when the sun is in the Zodiacal sign of the Aquarius ( Kumbha ). Jupiter transits to Leo ( Simha) and the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Maham. Generally, all these astronomical combinations take place on a full moon day of Tamil month Masi ( Solar Kumbh month ) ie. The latter part of February or the first part of March, once in 11 to 12 years.
There is a story about how the Amirtha fell into the Mahamaham Tank... the story goes like this ... At the end of the Thuvabra yuga before the starting of Kali-yuga, Brahma put samples of all living beings in a pot ( Kumbam ) of Amrita and kept on the top of mount Meru. After the pralaya, the pot/kumbh floated in the water and reached Kumbakonam. Lord Shiva as a hunter broke the pot with his bow and arrow. The mouth that falls on the place is called Kudavasal, The center of the pot that falls is called Thirukkalayanallur and the bottom fallen place is called Kumbakonam. The amirtha fell in the Mahamaham tank and the Potramarai Kulam.
On reaching Kumbakonam, my friends Mr. Alex and Mr. Madham took care of me and they took me to all the three theertha tanks and Sri Sakkarapani Temple, Sri Sarangapani Temple, and Sri Someswarar Temple and finally dropped me at Thiruvisanallur.
MAHAMAHAM TANK:
The tank is in an octagonal shape ( Kumbha shape ) with steps. There are 20 wells dedicated to the 20 holy rivers. It is believed that holy water springs out of each well. There are 16 mandapas and a Nava Kannika Temple, built around the Mahamaham Tank. The tank spreads over an area of 6.2 acres. Govinda Theekshitan of Nayaka’s chieftain constructed the Mahamaham tank with steps and 16 Mandapams on the banks of the tank.
LOCATION OF MAHAMAHAM TANK: CLICK HERE
Mahamaham Vaishnava temples and theerthavari route map
Mahamaham Tank – devotees are taking the holy dip
A mandapam with a temple on the banks of Mahamaham tank – on the background is the Kailasanathar temple
A mandapam with a temple on the banks of Mahamaham tank
Mahamaham Tank – devotees are taking the holy dip
Mahamaham Tank – devotees are taking the holy dip
Mr Alex friend of mine who takes care of me during the Mahamaham Yatra
---OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA---
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