Mahamaham tank
Mahamaham tank | |
---|---|
Location | Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India |
Coordinates | 10°57′21″N 79°22′54″E / 10.9558°N 79.3817°E |
Architectural style(s) | Dravidian architecture |
Mahamaham tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. The Masimaham festival held in the tank has 100,000 visitors and the once-in-12-year Mahamaham festival has close to 2 million visitors.[1]
Legend
In the northern bank mandapa, there is an inscription of Tulapurshadana, a practise of weighing oneself against gold. The ceremony is observed during various times like equinoxes, commencement of an era (
History
The antiquity of the Mahamaham is deduced from the architectural and epigraphical patterns. The ceiling of the Gangatirtha mandapam carries the sculptural representation of Tulapurushardava. It is believed that Govinda Dikshitar subjected himself to the event and donated the gold to the building of the sixteen mandapas. The visit of Krishandevaraya during 1445 is recorded in an inscription in the gopuram of Nagalpuram, a village in Chengalpattu district. That Krishnadevaraya visited the event is also recorded in the inscription found in the Shiva temple in Kuthalam.[2]
Architecture
The tank is located in the heart of Kumbakonam town. It covers an area of 21 acres (8.5 ha) and is trapezoidal in shape.
List of mandapams and wells inside the tank
Brahmatheerthesar, Mukunthar, Thalesar, Rishakesar, Umaipakesar, Nairuthesar, Brahmeesar, Gangatheerthesar and Seshtra Paleesar, are the names of deities located in these Mandapams.
There are 21 wells inside the tank in the shape of small spring wells. Beginning the eastern side of the tank, there are 8 wells in the name of celestial deities namely Indra, Yama, Agani, Ninruthi, Vayu, Kubena and Isana respectively. In between the Vayu and Kubera wells, the ninth well is located called Brahma Theertham. Commencing from the north of Vayu Theertham, and ending to the little east of it, there are nine wells indicating the holy rivers of India, namely the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, Saraswathi, Kaveri, Tungabatra, Krishna and Sarayu. At the centre of all these exists the Sixty-six crore theertham, believed to be the most sacred of all.
Name of Theertham | Associated Deity |
Vayu Theertham | Vayu (Air) |
Ganga Theertham | Ganga (River) |
Brahma Theertham | Lord Brahma |
Yamuna Theertham | Yamuna (River) |
Kubera Theertham | Kubera (Celestial Deity) |
Godavari Theertham | Godavari (River)
|
Eshana Theertham | Shiva |
Narmada Theertham | Narmada (River)
|
Saraswathi Theertham | Saraswati (Deity) |
Indira Theertham | Indra (Celestial Deity) |
Agni Theertham | Agni (Fire) |
Cauvery Theertham | Cauvery (River)
|
Yama Theertham | Yama (Celestial Deity) |
Kumari Theertham | Parvathi (Goddess)
|
Niruthi Theertham | Parvathi (Goddess)
|
Bayoshini Theertham | Parvathi (Goddess)
|
Deva Theertham | Shiva (God) |
Varunai Theertham | Varuna (Celestial Deity) |
Sarayu Theertham | Sarayu (River)
|
Kanya Theertham | Parvathi (Goddess)
|
Mahamaham festival
Masimaham is an annual event that occurs in the
Literary mention
Bhavishya Purana mentions the importance of Mahamaham and the importance of the festival as a narrative of Shiva to all celestial deities as under:
Let all of you this very day go to Kumbakonam, a spot dear to me and to Vishnu and bathe there is the nectar full tank created by the directions of the Parabrahman. Do bathe in the presence of Kumbesvara in Vrishaba lagna on this Mahamagam day, the full-moon day combined with Mahga star with Jupiter in the sign of Leo. Thereby you will get rid of all your accumulated sins and regain power to wipe off the sins of others
Sekkizhar, saint author of
"பூமருவும் கங்கை முதல் புனிதமாம் பெருந்தீர்த்தம்
மாமகந்தான் ஆடுவதற்கு வந்து வழி படுங்கோவில்"
meaning a dip in the holy tank on the Mahamaham day is equivalent to dip in all holy rivers and leads to worldly prosperity. Appar, the 7th-century saint poet mentions the subtle presence of holy rivers like the Ganges in the Mahamaham tank in Tiruthandakam.
தாவிமுதற் காவிரிநல் யமுனை கங்கை
சரஸ்வதிபொற் றாமரைபுட் கரணி தெண்ணீர்க்
கோவியோடு குமரிவரு தீர்த்தஞ் சூழ்ந்த
குடந்தைக்கீழ் கோட்டத்தெங் கூத்தனாரே"
Associated temples
Traditionally, twelve Shiva temples and five Vishnu temples are connected with this festival. The twelve Shiva temples are
Gallery
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Yearly Masimagam festival at the tank
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Yearly Masimagam festival at the tank
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Yearly Masimagam festival at the tank
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Percussions
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Elephant procession
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Kumbeswarar Procession
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Kumbakonam Mahamaham tank on a regular day
See also
- Mahamaham Stampede
Notes
- ^ "Hi-tech rein on pilgrims". The Telegraph. 6 March 2004. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ a b Ayyar 1993, pp. 320-323
- ^ a b Bansal 2008, p. 126
- ISBN 978-81-7907-053-6.
- ^ a b c d International Dictionary of Historical Places 1996, p. 503
- ^ V. 1995, p.120
- ISBN 978-81-7907-053-6.
- ^ a b S. 2004, p. 240
- JSTOR 44211361. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via JSTOR.
- ^ a b Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004
References
- Ayyar, P.V. Jagadisa (1993). South Indian Shrines Illustrated. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
- Bansal, Sunita Pant (2008), Hindu Pilgrimage: A Journey Through the Holy Places of Hindus All Over India, Delhi: Hindology Books, ISBN 978-81-223-0997-3
- S., Gajarani (2004), History, Religion and culture of India, Vol.3, New Delhi: Isha Books, ISBN 81-8205-061-8
- V., Vriddhagirisan (1995), Nayaks of Tanjore, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0996-4.