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 the “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” on 09^th March 2024. This is one of the Shiva Temples around the Mahamaham Tank and one of the 12 Shiva temples, which participate in the 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 faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Kodimara Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram under the Mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the 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 the 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 the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam without any regular features. Brahma Kantha pilasters with pushpa pothyal are 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 the vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

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

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

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 09^th September 2015.

A new chariot was made, and a trial procession was conducted on 07^th February 2024.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Gautama Maharishi worshipped Shiva in this temple and received boons.

Gautama Maharishi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

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

This Sri Gauthameswarar Temple is one of the 12 Shiva Temples that participate 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.      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 from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 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.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Nalvar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---