Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam

Coordinates: 10°57′23.86″N 79°22′55.92″E / 10.9566278°N 79.3822000°E / 10.9566278; 79.3822000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Kashi Vishwanath Temple (disambiguation).

Kasi Viswanathar Temple
Kudanthai Karonam
Tanjore
DeityKasi Viswanathar
(Shiva) Visalakshi (
Parvathi),
Nava Kannigas
Features
Location
LocationKumbakonam
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam is located in Tamil Nadu
Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates10°57′23.86″N 79°22′55.92″E / 10.9566278°N 79.3822000°E / 10.9566278; 79.3822000
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar, and His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.[1]

The temple complex covers two acres and is located close to the

gopurams
. The tallest is the western tower, with seven stories and a height of 72 feet (22 m). The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Navakanniyar being the most prominent.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The Masi Magam festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February–March) is the most prominent festival.

The present masonry structure was built during the

Nayak during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Legend

Mahamaham tank

This place has been referred to in

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple. Viswanathar of Kaasi is believed to have manifested himself here at Kumbhakonam at Kudandaikkaronam. As per another legend, the holy pot from Shiva's arrow split into twelve places where Shiva temples were built and the temple is counted as one of them.[3]

Architecture

The temple is located near the banks of

Sarayu. The lingam worshipped by Rama is located in the north eastern prakaram (outer courtyard) of the temple. As per local legend, he lingam is believed to grow with time.[4][5] In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[6]

Worship and religious practices

Image of festival deity of the temple

The temple priests perform

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Masi Maham during the Tamil month of Maasi (February–March), Shivaratri in February- March and Panguni Uthiram during Panguni are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.[3]

Specialty

12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are :

This temple is one among them.[7]

The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of

River Kaveri.[8]

References

  1. ^ Census of India, 1961, Volume 7. Director of Census publication. 1961.
  2. ^ "Campantar Tevaram -2" (PDF). projectmadurai.org. 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Sri Kasi Viswanathar temple temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. ^ V., Sriram (12 February 2016). "Mahamkhaam history". The Hindu.
  5. ^ Dr. R., Selvaganapathy, ed. (2013). Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 5 - Temples in Tamil Nadu (Later period). Chennai, India: Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust. pp. 145–6.
  6. ^ "Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 216. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. ^ Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004
  8. ISBN 9781684666041
    .

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