Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

The name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with Kumbeswarar Temple. The pot (kumbha) is said to be of Brahma that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The kumbha is believed to have been displaced by a pralaya (dissolution of the universe) effected by Shiva's arrow and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of Kumbakonam now stands. The nectar is believed to have fallen in two places - the Mahamaham tank and the Potramarai tank. This event is now commemorated in the Mahamaham festival held every 12 years. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the Tamil name of Kudamukku. Kumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam age settlement of Kudavayil. ==History==

The temple is in existence from Chola times of the 9th century, In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. ==Architecture==

Kumbeswarar temple complex covers an area of and houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of The temple is approached by a corridor long and wide. There are five silver-plated chariots in the temple used to carry the temple deities during festive occasions. The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed rajagopuram (gateway tower) 125 ft tall Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and sand. Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is his consort and her shrine is present parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine. The temple has a colonnaded hall and a good collection of silver vahanas (sacred vehicles used to carry deities during festival processions) The Navaratri Mandapam (Hall of Navratri celebration) has 27 stars and 12 rasis (constellations) carved in a single block. The idol of Subramanya having six hands instead of 12, stone nadasvarams (pipe instrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the temple. ==Festivals==

The Mahamaham festival takes place once every twelve years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February–March), when lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is located in the heart of the town. The festival has archaeological and epigraphical evidence. Tulapurushadaram, the practise of weighing oneself against gold and donating to the temple was effected by Govinda Dikshitar and the funds were utilised for funding the construction of the 16 mandapas around the tank. Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE) is believed to have witnessed the Mahamaham festival during this time. He made donations to the temple on this occasion is found in another inscription. == Specialty ==

12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are: • Kasi Viswanathar Temple • Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, • Someswarar Temple, • Nageswaraswamy Temple, • Kalahasteeswarar Temple, • Gowthameswarar Temple, • Kodeeswarar Temple, • Amirthakadeswarar Temple, • Banapuriswarar Temple, • Abimukeswarar Temple, • Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and • Ekambareswarar Temple. This temple is one among them. ==Worship practices==

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Kumbeswarar and Mangalambikai. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like ' (Monday) and ' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. ==Literary Mention and religious importance==

Appar, the 7th-century Tamil Shivite saint poet and nayanar has revered Kumbeswarar and the temple in his verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is counted as the seventh in the list of temples in the southern banks of Cauvery. Appar has glorified the temple in nine poems referring the place as Kudamuku and the deity as "Kumbesar". The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of River Kaveri. The temple was visited by Purandara Dasa, who is known as pithamaha (doyen) of Carnatic music, and composed a song glorifying the main deity Sri Kumbeshwara in his song, "Chandrachuda Shivashnkara Parvathi Ramana" and mentions as "kumbapura vasanu neene". ==Kumbakonam Sapta Stana Temple==

This is one of the Saptha Stana Temples of Kumbakonam. During the Mahahaman of 2016 the palanquin festival was held on 7 February 2016. Following the tirttavari held at Mahamaham tank on 21 April 2016, the palanquin festival of the Sapta Stana Temples were held on 23 April 2016. The festival which started from Kumbesvara Temple at the 7.30 p.m. of 23 April 2016 completed on the morning of 25 April 2016 after going to the following temples. • Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam • Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Sakkottai • Avudainathar Temple, Darasuram • Kabartheeswarar Temple • Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar Temple • Kailasanathar Temple, Melakaveri • Swaminatha Swamy Temple ==Notes==

File: Kumbeswarar temple7.jpg|East (Main) entrance File: Kumbeswarar temple3.jpg|South entrance File: Kumbeswarar temple2.jpg|North entrance File: Kumbeswarar temple4.jpg|West entrance File: Kumbeswarar temple1.jpg|Inner mandapa File: Kumbeswarar temple5.jpg|Mandapa File: Kumbeswarar temple6.jpg|Temple tank