The
Visit to this Sri Kalahasteeswarar Temple was a part of the “Shiva, Vishnu and
Amman Temples Visit, in and around Kumbakonam”, on 13th July 2024. This
is one of the temples associated with the Mahamaham festival.
Moolavar
: Sri Kalahastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Gnanambigai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Natarajar with
celestial deities are on the top of the mukha mandapam after the passage. Balipeedam
Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of the ardha mandapam. Stucco
Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In kostam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In
ardha mandapam Sri Kathyayini Samedha Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi facing South in ardha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakis
are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in standing posture with
abhaya varada hastam.
In
Praharam, Anjaneyar, Nalvar, Siddhi Vinayagar, Nagars, Meenakshi Sundareswarar,
Vishwanath, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durgai,
Visalakshi, Viswanathar, Natarajar, Chandikeswarar Navagrahas, Bairavar, Rahu, Ketu,
and Siva Suriyan.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is ona pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy,
three patta kumudam, and Pattkai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The Pilasters
are Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, Palakai,
and vettu pothyai. The Prastaram consists of valapi with madhalai, Kapotam with
Nasi kudus, and Viyyalavari ( only poo mottu not the Viyyalas ). The temple
from adhistanam to Prastaram was constructed with stone. The Superstructure ie
the Vimanam above the Prastaram was built with bricks. The Vimanam is of 1
tala, greevam, and Vesara sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, and
Brahma are in the tala and greeva kostams. In addition to this stucco images of
the Puranas, Meenakshi Sundaraeswarar, celestial wedding, Kalasamharamurthy, Kannappar,
and Gajasamhara murthy.
The
mandapas are Vavval nethi mandapas built during the Marathas period.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple may have existed from the 12th to 13th
Century Chozha period and was reconstructed and expanded during the Vijayanagara
Nayakas and Marathas period. The Rajagopuram was constructed in recent years.
Jeernodharana
Ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 2nd May 1960.
As
a part of participation in the Mahamaham Festival 2016, Granite flooring was
done at Swamy, Ambal, Durgai, Dakshinamurthy, Murugan, and Vinayagar Sannidhis.
In
Commemoration of the Sri Shankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal’s Pon Vizha,
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14th May 1986.
The
temple is under the control of the HR & CE Department. Maha Kumbhabhishekam
was conducted on 26th October 2015.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, Sri Kalahasti is the name
derived from SRI = Spider, KALA = Serpent ( Snake), and Hasti = Elephant.
It was believed that all three worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple and
attained mukti. The story goes like this. The Spider weaved a shade to avoid
leaves falling on Lord Shiva. This was destroyed by wind with fire and Lord
Shiva gave mukti to Spider. The snake used to worship Lord Shiva by offering
precious gems which it brought from its Naga land. This was cleaned and
worshiped by the elephant through water which it brought from the river.
On seeing this, the snake got angry and went inside the trunk and killed the
elephant through bite and injected its poison. The elephant hits its head
on the rock to kill the snake and dies. Lord Shiva gave mukti to both snake and
elephant for their bhakti.
In another legend, the wedding celebration of
Shiva, the Sri Kalahasteeswarar is followed in this temple on the Makara
Sankranti day. Sri Kalyana Sundarar
grants the darshan to Kathyayini with a walking stick. This symbolic
representation of the bride-groom going to Kasi during marriages.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Pradosham,
Amavasya Days, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi etc.
This Sri Kalahasteewarar Temple is one of the 12 Shiva Temples that
participates in the Mahamaham Theerthavari festival, which occurs once every 12
Years. In addition to the Shiva temples, 5 Maha Vishnu temples of
Kumbakonam also join in the Mahamaham festival.
Shiva
Temples are…
11. Kambatta ViswanatharTemple and
The
Maha Vishnu Temples are…
04. RajagopalaswamyTemple, and
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
Temple may be contacted on the landline numbers +914352403274 and
+914352403284.
HOW
TO REACH
This
Sri Kalahasteeswarar Temple is on Mutt Street ( Madathu Street ), in Kumbakonam
City.
This
temple is about 2 KM from Kumbakonam Bus Stand, 2.5 KM from Kumbakonam Railway
Station, 34 KM from Mayiladuthurai, and 38 KM from Thanjavur.
Nearest
Railway Station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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