Sri Adi Kumbeswarar Temple / ஆதி கும்பேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiru Kudamookku – Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 143^rd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 26^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is center of Kumbakonam City near Potramarai kulam. Mottai Gopuram is the landmark of this temple.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Sivapuram and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal from Thiruvalanchuzhi

தேமருவு மலர்ச்சோலைத் திருக்குட மூக்கினில் செல்வ

மாமறையோர் பூந்தராய் வல்ளலார் வந்து அருளத்

தூமறையின் ஒலிபெருகத் தூரிய மங்கலம் முழங்கக்

கோமுறைமை எதிர்கொண்டு தம்பதிஉள் கொடு புக்கார்

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

நல்லூரில் நம்பர் அருள் பெற்றுப் போய்ப் பழையாறை

பல்ஊர் வெண் தலைக்கரத்தார் பயிலும் இடம் பலபணிந்து

சொல் ஊர்வண் தமிழ்பாடி வலஞ்சுழியைத்தொழுது ஏத்தி

அல்ஊர் வெண்பிறை அணிந்தார் திருக்குடமூக்கு அணைந்து இறைஞ்சி

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar  have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

அரவிரி கோடனீடலணி காவிரி யாற்றயலே

மரவிரி போதுமௌவல் மணமல்லிகை கள்ளவிழும்

குரவிரி சோலைசூழ்ந்த குழகன்குட மூக்கிடமா

இரவிரி திங்கள்சூடி யிருந்தானவ னெம்மிறையே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பூவ ணத்தவன் புண்ணிய னன்ணியங்

காவ ணத்துடை யானடியார்களைத்

தீவணத்திரு நீறு மெய் பூசியோர்

கோவ ணத்துடை யான்குட மூக்கிலே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                -“நிலஞ்சுழியா

தோணத்தில் வந்தோனுடன்றுதித்து வாழ்கும்ப

கோணத்திற் றெய்வ குலக்கொழுந்தே

......... திரு அருட்பா

திருக்குடந்தைப் புராணம்

எண்ணிய அனைத்தும் எண்ணியாங்கெய்த எண்ணிய அடியவர்க் கருளும்

புண்ணியமுதலே பூரணப் பொருளே போக்கருஞ் சுடர்ப்பெரு விளக்கே

தண்ணிய சாந்தரூபியே நாளும் தவாதமந் திராசன வாழ்வே

மண்ணியமணியே வளமலி குடந்தை மங்களையே நின்தாள்போற்றி

மங்களாம்பிகை பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்

தேனே வருக ஆனந்தத் திருவே வருக பெருவேதச்

செல்வி வருக எங்கள் குல தெய்வம் வருக உருகுநர்உள்

மானே வருக இமயவரை வனிதாய் வருக வருகவே

மறைவாழ்த் தொலிசால் திருக்குடந்தை மடந்தாய் வருக வருகவே

Moolavar  : Sri Adi Kumbeswarar, Sri Amuthesuwarar

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the Important features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 9-tier Rajagopuram. Except south, the other three directions have the Rajagopuras and three prakaras. After Rajagopuram Vinayakar and Dhandapani sannadhis,  Dwajasthambam, Rishabam ( Nandhi is a little big and beautiful ), and balipeedam are under the recent period Mandapam. There is a 3 tier second-level Rajagopuram. Moolavar is a little big and made of sand, under a golden kavacham in an inclined position. No abhishekam is done and punuku is applied. The Shiva Linga top looks like the mouth of a kalasa.  

In Prakaram Navagraha Sannidhi, Vallabha Vinayagar, 63 var, Urchavars, Veerabhadra, Saptha Kannis, Ashta Lingas, Somaskandar Sannadhi, Valanchuzhi Vinayagar,  Mahalingeswarar, Pichadanar, Shanmugar, Karthikeya, Shiva Lingas, Annapoorani, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ambal Sannadhi.

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south.There are 14 theerthas. Next to Bhairavar ( Kiratha murti ) who had broken the Amirtha Kuda with an arrow, Jurahareswarar with 3 legs, Govinda Dekshithar with his wife, Chandran, Suryan, and Natarajar Sabha.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

திந்ததிமித் தீதகுடட் டுண்டுமிடட் டாடுடுடிட்

            டிந்தமெனக் காளமணித்                           தவிளோசை

சிந்தைதிகைத் தேழுகடற் பொங்கவரிச்  சூர்மகுடச்

            செண்டு குலைத் தாடுமணிக்                   கதிர்வேலா

குந்தியரித் தாழ்துளபச் செந்துருவைச் சேர்களபக்

            கொண்டல்நிறத் தோன்மகளைத்           தரைமீதே

கும்பிடகைத் தாளமெடுத் தம்பொனுருப் பாவைபுகழ்க்

            கும்பகொணத் தாறுமுகப்                          பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A Vesara vimana is on the sanctum. Unfinished Rajagopuram is called mottai gopuram which is a landmark for this temple. Architecture is beautiful and some of the stucco images are damaged. Hindu deities are in the Mandapa niches and over the mandapa parapet wall.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There is a saying that “கோயில் பெருத்தது கும்பகோணம்”, the Kumbakonam has many temples both Saivam and Vaishnavam. Even though in literature, this place was mentioned as Kudamooku, now called Kumbakonam. Once in 12 years, Mahamaham is conducted in Mahamaha Theertha Tank on the day when Guru stands in Simha Rasi and Chandran in Kumbha Rasi.

The Mahamaha Theertha tank is spread over 15 acres and it has 9 wells and 16 sannadhis around the 4 banks. Apart from small temples, the Kumbakonam has 14 big temples with 14 tanks. They are Brahma theertheesam, Mukunthesam, Thanesam, Rishabesam, Banesam, Konesam, Bhakthesam, Bhairavesam, Agasthesam, Vyakesam, Gangadharesam, Bramesam and Moothatheerhesam.  In addition to this temple, it has 14 Theerthas, 7 Thadahas, 3 wells, and 4 river steps. The maintenance of these tanks and Vimanas of 16 Shiva temples was built during the Vijayanagara period by Achuthappa Nayak’s minister Govinda Dheekshithar. He carried out all these with Gold with thulabharam ie equal amount of his weight. His stone image is in Kumbeswarar Temple.

Govinda Dekshithar was instrumental in establishing Raja Veda Padasala, Schools, Pushba mandapas with Jodi / twin Vimanas, Velvi Sala next to Raja Veda Pada Sala, The Silver Chariot & Rishaba vahana at Thiruvidaimaruthur and extension of Mandapas at temples, etc. Hope was next to Chozhas, he was the person who had done this yemon service. He was also called Ayyan so some of the places like Ayyampettai, Manakkal Ayyampettai, Ayyan Street at Kumbakonam, and Thanjavur are named after him. Hence he was praised as Kumbakonam Kshethra Mahatmyam as...

கோவிந்த தீக்ஷிதோ நாம மஹாநாஸீத் கலெள யுகே

தேந ஷோடசலிங்காநி ஸ்தாபிதாதி ஸரோவரே

During pralaya, as per the wish of Brahma the Amutha Kalasa stayed at this place, hence called Amuthasarorukam and Kumbakonam. It is believed that 9 holy rivers start with Ganga, Sarayu, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sindu, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri came in the form of Nava Kannis took bath, hence called “Kanniyar Theertham”.

பூமருவும் கங்கைமுதல் புனிதமாம் பெருந்தீர்த்தம்

மாமக்ந்தான் ஆடுதற்கு வந்து வழிபடுங்கோயில்

..... பெரிய புராணம்

The Paadal Petra Sthalangal Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswara Swamy Temple, Kudanthai Keelkottam, and Kudanthai Karonam are there in the heart of the city.

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before the 7^th century and built during the Pallava period. After Chozhas came to power, this temple was renovated and extended further during the Vijayanagara period. It was learned that there is no Chozha period inscriptions available from this temple.

Instead, the inscriptions available at Sri Nageswarar Temple throw some light on this temple. The Kandraditha Period inscription at Nageswaran Temple records that the king levied 3000 Kalanju pon on the Village Sabha/assembly as Thandam / penalty. A part of the penalty was paid after selling land at Arasalaru. The same king’s other inscription records that a land was sold by the sabha / Village assembly for feeding 5 Yogis, and 20 Veda Pandits. A person called Parantaka Mooventha Velan, gave a gift of land after purchase to this temple for discourse on Meemamsa philosophy of Prabahar.

A Vijayanagara Nayak, Chevvappa Nayak's period Inscription ( 1580 CE  July Month - Vikrama Year Aadi month 22nd day ). The Inscription reads as.....

விக்கிரம வருடம் ஆடி மாதம் 22ஆம் தேதி

செவ்வப்ப நாயக்க ஐயன் தர்மமாக

திருவிலந்துறை புத்தர் கோயிலில்

தீத்தமாமருந்தார் நாயகர் நிலத்திலே

திருமலைராசபுரத்து விசேச

மகாசனங்கள் வாக்கால் வெட்டிப் போகையில்

திருமலைராசபுரத்தில் அகரத்தில்

திருப்பணி சேர்வையாக விட்ட நிலம்.... 

As per the above inscription, this place Thiruvilanthurai, ( now called Elandurai ), is on the Kumbakonam to Karaikal route. Thirumalairajapuram / Tirumalairajpuram is on the east side of this Village. Andhanars lived in Thirumalairajapuram and Buddhists lived in Elandurai. When an irrigation channel was excavated to Thirumalairajapuram, a portion of the land belonging to this Buddhist temple was lost. To compensate for the same, the Thirumalairajapuram Villagers gave an equivalent land to the Buddhist Temple in their Village. This inscription is proof that the Buddhist temple existed and was worshiped till the 16th Century. ( Thanks to Dr Jambulingam's article  from the blog ... சோழநாட்டில் பௌத்தம் )

Thirupani and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was done by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 1722 CE ( may be 1922 ) and on 24^th November 1985.

The Somaskandamurthy shrine ardha mandapam, and Maha mandapam are built in 1800 CE, Sri Hadendra Saraswathy Swamigal, of Kanchi mutt. 

LEGENDS

At the end of each yuga, lord Shiva destroys the living things on the whole earth through Pralaya. Brahma asked Lord Shiva where to create new lives and the procedure to be adopted. Lord told Brahma to create a magical pot and fill it with the seeds of all living things, the soil of various holy places, and the amirtha in the pot. At the end of the yuga, Lord Shiva asked Brahma to leave the pot to float in the pralaya flood water. When the pot reached this place Lord Shiva in the form of Kirathamoorthy shot the pot with an arrow. The pot had broken, and the amrita mixed with soil spilled and spread on this place Kumbakonam. The soil with amrita formed a Shiva Linga.  Hence Lord Shiva is called “Adi Kumbeswarar”, the temple is called Adi Kumbeswarar Temple and this place is called Kumbakonam.

The arrow shot by Lord Shiva creates nostrils around the post. The amirtha flowed through the nostril. Hence this place is called “Kudamooku” ( Kudam – pot, mooku – nostrils ). The Mango leaves, the sacred grass ( Tharpai ), hoop ( uri ), bell tree leaves ( bilva ), Coconut, and the sacred thread which adorns the pot have been thrown out and fallen in different places due to the swirl of the pralaya wind. They formed Shiva Lingas and later as temples around this place. As per the Puranas, the life of the living things started from this place and this is treated as one of the Thiruvilaiyadal of Lord Shiva.

Astronomically the Mahamaham happens on a full moon day as the moon is passing the Magha nakshatra (Leo sign ), and the Sun is on the other end in the opposite Aquarius sign ( Kumbha Rasi ). Mahamaham occurs once in 12 years,w hen the Planet Jupiter's residence in Leo coincides with a full moon in Leo.

PoRRamarai tank is in front of the temple. Mahamaham festival or the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once in 12 years in the Mahamaham tank. It is believed that 9 celestial maidens had a dip in the Mahamaham tank. It is also believed that it is the confluence of 9 holy river Goddesses namely Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Kaveri, and Sarayu. According to Periyapuranam Lord Shiva rejuvenate all the 9 holy rivers.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Theerthavari festival is conducted in Mahamaham Tank on Masimaham day, Butter pot festival on Aswathi Nakshathra day, 8^th day, Panchmurti procession in the month Masi and maha Shivaratri ( Feb – march ), Panguni Festival with special poojas in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Saptasthana festival in the month Chithirai ( April – May ) Urchavars Lord Shiva and Parvati are taken to 7 temples within a distance of 20 KM, Thirukalyanam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June –July ), Aadi Perukku & Aadi Pooram in the month ( July – Aug ).

Golden Chariot 

Golden Vimana 

Jyeshta Devi

Thiru Ezhu Kootrukai

Thiru Ezhu Kootrukai

This Sri Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is one of the 12 Shiva Temples, that participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival, which occurs once in 12 Years. The 12 Shiva temples and 5 Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam used to join and celebrate this Mahamaha festival.

Shiva Temples are…

1.          Kasi Viswanathar Temple,

2.          Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,

3.          Someswarar Temple,

4.          Nageswaraswamy Temple,

5.          Kalahasteeswarar Temple,

6.          Gauthameswarar Temple,

7.          Kodeeswarar Temple,

8.          Amirthakadeswarar Temple,

9.          Banapuriswarar Temple,

10.      Abhi Mukheswarar Temple,

11.      Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and

12.      EkambareswararTemple.

The Maha Vishnu Temples are…

1.          Sarangapani Temple,

2.          Chakrapani Temple, 

3.          Ramaswamy Temple,

4.          Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and

5.          Varaha Perumal Temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :  

Landline number +91 435 242 0276 may be contacted for further details.

Temple website: http://adhikumbeswarar.org/#/home

HOW TO REACH :

Private Town buses are available from bus stand & Govt bus routes nos - 11,12, 14, 15, 25, 29, 48, & 61 pass through this temple landmark mottai gopuram / Porthamaraikulam.  

This temple is  37.5 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 39 KM from Thanjavur 398 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The Third Visit to this temple was a part of the Divya Desam Temples Visit, near Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, organized by Culture Circuits.  Thanks to Mr Balakumaran. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---