List of Hindu temples in Kumbakonam
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Kumbakonam (
12 Shiva temples are connected with
Likewise five Vishnu temples are connected with Mahamaham. They are
Saivite Temples in Kumbakonam
Kasi Viswanathar Temple
Kashi Vishwanathar Temple is situated very close to the Mahamaham tank and another one temple is placed in Solaiyappan street. Here the main deity is Kashi Vishwanathar/Vishalakshi. The important and peculiar point about this temple is the navakanniyar, which are the 9 holy rivers. It is believed that the mahamaham function is closely associated with the 9 presiding deities namely Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Saraswati, Kaveri, Godavari, Tungabhadra, Krishna and Sarayu. Another important part is the sthala lingam present in the southern part of the temple. It was worshipped by Ravana and is believed to grow with ages. The temple can be accessed by alighting at the Head post office bus stop.
Adi Kumbeswara Temple
Adi Kumbheshwarar temple is the major one among the
Someswar Temple
Someswar Temple is situated in the southern portion of Sri Sarangapani temple. This temple faces east with a 5-tier Gopuram at the entrance. It also has an entrance in the south. The architectural style and element of this temple resembles the
Nageswaran Temple
Nageswaran Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king. Also known as "Koothandavar Kovil", it is located near the Kumbakonam old bus stand. Aditya Chola constructed this temple during the 12th century. It stands as a great marvel of Chola architecture, building technology and astronomy. The design and orientation are structured in such a way that it allows sunlight inside the temple only during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April/May), therefore, it bears another name called Surya Kottam or Keel Kottam. The Karuvarai (Sanctum Sanctorum) of Nageswaran temple is similar to that of Sarangapani Temple, as it is made in the form of a Chariot. The temple consists of three gopurams in the eastern western and southern directions.
This vast temple known is for its shrine to Rahu, one of the nine celestial bodies in the Navagraha. A legend has it that the mythological serpents Adiseshan, Dakshan and Kaarkotakan worshipped Shiva here. Legend also has it that King Nala worshipped Shiva here as in Thirunallar.
Ekambeswarar Temple
Ekambeshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kumbhakonam. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The presiding deity is known as Ekambeshwarar also known by other names Ekamranathaswamy or simply Ekamresha. It is one of the famous Pancha-linga kshetra ( pilgrimages consisting of five Shaivite places )
Abimukeswarar Temple
Abhimukheshwarar Temple is situated in the eastern bank of the Mahamaham tank, Kumbhakonam. It is a Shiva temple. The presiding deity of the temple, in the form of Shivalinga, is known as Abhimukheshwarar. His consort is known as Amirthavalli or Amritavalli.
Gauthameswarar Temple
Gautameshwarar Temple is situated in the western bank of the Mahamaham tank, Kumbhakonam It is a Shiva temple. The presiding deity of the temple, in the form of Shivalinga, is known as Gautameshwarar. His consort is known as Saundaryanayaki.[3]
Kambatta Viswanathar Temple
Kambatta Viswanathar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kumbakonam at the south west of Kumbeswarar Temple. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The presiding deity is known as Kambatta Viswanathar.
Banapuriswarar Temple
Banapuriswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Kumbakonam. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The presiding deity is known as Banupuriswarar.
Kalahasteeswarar Temple
Kalahasteeshwarar Temple is a Shiva temple located at Kumbhakonam. The presiding deity is known as Kalahasteeshwaraswamy . His consort is known as Gnanambikai. The temple was renovated during the period of Serfoji or Sharabhoji ( śarabhōji ) .
Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar temple
Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar ( ot koteeshwarar ) Temple (
Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Sakkottai
Amirthakadeswarar Temple (
Sarangapani Temple
Of the many temples in Kumbakonam, the most striking is the Sarangapani Temple, a
Chakrapani Temple
Chakrapani Temple is situated about 1.5 km North of Ramaswamy Temple. Here the main deity is Chakraraja. The Sudarshana Chakra is also here. The temple is also an exquisite exponent of the early temple architecture. The important and peculiar point about this temple is that Vilva (Bilwa) archana which is normally performed in Shiva temples is also performed here for the Perumal (Vishnu).[4]
Ramaswamy Temple
The Ramaswamy Temple which depicts the paintings of
Rajagopalaswamy Temple
The Rajagopalaswamy temple is situated at Big Street in Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is known as Rajagopalaswamy. His consort is known as Sengamalavalli.
Varahaperumal Temple
The Varahaperumal Temple is situated at Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is known as Varahaperumal. His consort is known as Boomidevi.
Specialty
Twelve Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam.[2] They are:
- Kasi Viswanathar Temple,
- Kumbeswarar Temple,
- Someswarar Temple,
- Nageswara Temple,
- Kaalahasteeswarar Temple,
- Gowthameswarar Temple,
- Koteeswarar Temple,
- Banapuriswarar Temple,
- Abimukeswarar Temple,
- Kambatta Visvanathar Temple,
- Ekambareswarar Temple and
- Amirthakalasanathar Temple
Five Vishnu temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam.[2] They are:
- Sarangapani Temple,
- Chakrapani Temple,
- Ramaswamy Temple,
- Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and
- Varahaperumal Temple.
Other temples in Kumbakonam
Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha Moola Brindavanam
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We can find the moola brindavanam of Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha (Raghavendra Swamy guru's guru) here. It is in Solaiyappan Street. The great Vijayeendra Tirtha's Aradhana falls on Jyeshta Trayodashi. He was one of the greatest scholar what India has produced. He was a staunch Vishnu bhakta and a great philosopher. He was an exponent of 64 vidyas.
Sri SitaRama Bhavani Sankarar Temple
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Solaiappan_st_Ramaswamy.jpg/100px-Solaiappan_st_Ramaswamy.jpg)
This temple is situated at Solaiyappan street on the banks of the Cauvery river (Nangam Thirunal Padithurai). This private temple is supposed to be more than 200 years old built by Achalpuram Shri.Lakshmana shrowthigal's (great scholar of Krishna Yajur Veda)son Indore Shri.Subba Rao Lakshmana Dravid. In this temple deities are Sri Rama, Shiva (Sankara) in the form of Bhana lingam and Parvathi (Bhavani) are in separate sannithis. Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman are made of white marbles. This ramar (called Solaiappan Agraharam Ramaswamy) is one of the twelve deities in the Akshya trithi celebrations in Kumbakonam. This temple was managed by Late. Smt. Rajalakshmi(Ramarkoil Rajalakshmi Ammal, daughter of late Shri.Subba Rao (II) Son of Shri.Ramachandra Rao Dravid) till 2013. The temple is currently managed by all the children and grandchildren of Late Shri. Subba Rao (II) Dravid alias Subramanya Iyer & Late Saraswathi Ammal family. Several Hindu religious saints use to come here to do chaturmasya. Paramahamsa Siva Prakasa Anandagiri Swamigal stayed in this temple did his tapas and puja for quite a number of times and got information at the entrance of the temple to travel to Thiruviyaru to attain mukthi. Similarly, he did and attained mukthi at Thiruviyaru. Hanuman in this temple has a knife, gatha, bow & arrow at the back and japamala in his hand doing Ramajapam. Rama with jadamudi and knife(valkaram)at hip and marauri (dress) and kothdhandam in his hand.
Sri Rama Bhajanai Sabha
Sri Rama Bhajanai Sabha founded and nurtured by Venuganam Sri Sarabha Sastri about 125 years ago. It is in Solaiappan Street. Every year sabha celebrates Sri Rama Navami Utasavam and Sri Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam and committed to its various cultural and religious needs of the Hindu society with the grace of Lord Rama.
Temples around Kumbakonam
Thirunageswaram Temple
Pateeswaram temple
Sri Thenupureeswarar temple at Patteeswaram, 5 km south-east of Kumbakonam, was constructed during the 16th century by Govinda Dikshithar, a Minister of Nayak King Achuthappa.
Airavatesvara Temple
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Darasuram%2C_Airavatesvara_Temple%2C_Dravidian_architecture%2C_India.jpg/200px-Darasuram%2C_Airavatesvara_Temple%2C_Dravidian_architecture%2C_India.jpg)
The temple at
The area surrounding Kumbakonam is home to a set of Navagraha temples dating from the Chola period.
Swamimalai temple
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Swamimalai_temple.jpg/200px-Swamimalai_temple.jpg)
The Murugan temple is located in Swami Malai, which is around 10 km from kumbakonam. It is located on the main road connecting Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. It is one among the six famous temples (Arupadai Veedu) of Murugan. This is the place where the Murugan in childhood taught the meaning of mandra "OM" to his father Shiva. Murugan's Fourth home.
Thiruvalanjuzhi Vinayakar Temple
This siva temple is famous for vinayakar sculpture which has been carved from white foam while churning the milky sea. So the name of the god in Tamil is "Vellai pillayar" meaning that "White vinayakar". This temple is located in small village "Thiruvalansuzi" which is 4 km from Kumbakonam and 2 km from Swamimalai. The name "Thiruvalansuzi" has come because the Cauvery river prayed to Shiva by doing pradhaksana from right hand side to left hand side. (Usually it will be left to right). The name for lShiva in this temple is "Sadai mudi nathar".
Tribhuvanan or Thirubhuvanam Sarabeswarar Temple
Sri Kampa-hareshwarar is the main deity, Sharabheshwarer, a form of Shiva is the presiding deity of the temple. Particularly, worshipping the deity at 4.30-6.00 pm on Sundays is special. as only on Sundays , time between 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm is known as rahu-kaalam.
Thirucherai Temples
Thirucherai is a beautiful village which is 15 km from Kumbakonam. Sri Saranatha Perumal Temple and Sara Parameswarar temple are popular here.
References
- ^ "list of temples". templenet.com. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ a b c Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004
- ^ Kumbakonam Temples, Gautameswarar Temple
- ^ "Chakrapani Kovil". Tamilnadu.com. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.