Friday 23 August 2024

Sri Adi Kambatta Viswanatha Swamy Temple / Shri Adi Kambatta Viswanathar Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதி கம்பட்ட விஸ்வநாதர் சுவாமி திருக்கோயில், Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Adi Kambatta Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Kumbakonam was a part of the “Shiva, Vishnu and Amman Temples Visit, in and around Kumbakonam”, on 13th July 2024. This is one of the 12 Shiva Temples that participates in the Mahamaham festival, once in 12 years in Kumbakonam.  This temple is also called as “Thirumalathi vanathalam – திரு மாலதி வனத்தலம்”.




Moolavar  : Sri Adi Kambatta Viswanathar
Consort    : Sri Anandha Nidhiyammai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The Temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are between the entrance arch and the 3 tier Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Shiva Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In Kostam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiar/Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Vishnu Durgai.

In mukha mandapam Vinayagar, Murugan ( at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum, Navagrahas and Natarajar. In prakaram Sekkizhar, Nalvar, with Moorka nayanar, Mangayarkarasiyar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Dharmaketu Muni, chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Suriyan.

Ambal is in a separate temple like Sannidhi facing east. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.



ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and Pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The pilasters are Virutha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothole. A beautiful Jala is fixed on the Ardha mandapam wall. Kumba panjaras are the prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. The Vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks, one tala, greevam, and sigaram in vesara style. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma. Maha Vishnu and Brahma are with their consorts. 
  



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old and might have been reconstructed during the Vijayanagara Nayakas and Marathas period.

Temple Thirupani was started on 11th June 1960. The Maha Kumbabishekam of the temple was conducted on, 08th July 1961, 19th August 1981,  and 26th October 2015.





LEGENDS
Dhoomaketu Maharishi was searching for the greatest Shrine on the earth and came to this place Malathi Vanam ( a forest full of fragrant jasmine flowers ).  Found a Shiva Linga amid the forest. Started worshipping the Shiva Lingam with Devotion. Satisfied with Dhoomaketu’s devotion, Shiva gave him the boon of naming this Shiva Linga as Sri Viswanathar and Ambal as Sri Anandavalli. 

As per தற்கால தமிழ்ச்சொல்லகராதி published by MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED,-MADRAS, BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND LONDON, 1925, the meaning of Kambattam is - கம்பட்டம் ‌- காசு Coin. It is believed that this place was once a Coin minting place. Hence Shiva of this temple might have got the name of Kambatta, and Adi was added before to signify as an old temple. To prove that many jewelry-making units are functioning in this place.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas Special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc. 

This Sri Adi Kambatta Viswanatha Swamy 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…
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,

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 kept open between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
This Sri Adi Kambatta Viswanatha Swamy Temple is on the Thanjavur to Kumbakonam Road, at Valayapettai Agraharam in Kumbakonam City.

The temple is about 2.8 KM from Kumbakonam Bus Terminus, 3.5 KM from Kumbakonam Railway Station, 35 KM from Mayiladuthurai, and 37 KM from Thanjavur.
Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE









--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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