Sri Gauthameswarar Temple / Sri Gouthameswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கௌதமேஸ்வரார் கோயில், கும்பகோணம் / Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Gauthameswarar Temple at Kumbakonam,  was a Part of “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” - on 09^th March 2024. This one of the Shiva Temple around the Mahamaham Tank and one of the 12 Shiva temples, participates in Mahamaham theerthavari festival, which happens once in 12 years.

Moolavar  : Sri Gauthameswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundrayanayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Kodimara Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram under the Mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal Soundara Nayaki is in a separate sannidhi in ardha mandapam facing south. Nalvar is also in the ardha mandapam.

In paraharam Sri Upaveetha Natheeswarar, Soundarya Nayaki, Gautama Maharishi, Maha Ganapathi, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Saniswaran, Suriyan, Chandran, Bairavar and Nagars.

Durga

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a adhistanam without any regular features. Brahma kantha pilasters with pushpa pothyal is on the bhitti. The Vimanam above the Bhumidesam was built with bricks. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtam. The sigaram is of Vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to Chozha period and reconstructed during the Thanjavur Nayakas and Maratas.

This is one the temple, which participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival. The inscriptions records that this temple participated in 06^th March 2004 and 2016 Mahamaham theerthavari festivals.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 09^th September 2015.

A New Chariot was made and trial procession was conducted on 07^th February 2024.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Gautama maharishi worshipped Shiva of this temple and has got boons.

Gautama Maharishi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days etc. 

This Sri Gauthameswarar Temple is one of the 12 Shiva Temples, that participates in 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.      KambattaViswanathar 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 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 2.00 hrs,

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The Gauthameswarar Temple is about 1 KM from Kumbakonam Railway Station and Kumbakonam Bus Stand and about 300 meters from mahamaham Tank.

The temple is about 36 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 44 KM from Thanjavur, 47 KM from Thiruvarur, and 282 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Nalvar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---