Temple: Adi Kumbheshwara Temple
Place: Kumbakonam
Alternate Names: Kudamooku/ Kudanthai/ Thirukudanthai/ Bhaaskara Kshetram
Deity: Swami Adhi Kumbheshwara
Female Deity: Mangalambika
Sthala Vruksham: Vanni Tree
Sthala Theertham: Mangala Theertham
Sthala Puranam:
When Pralaya (Deluge) was appraoching at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, Lord Brahma was worried about preserving life forms on Earth. Following Lord Shiva's orders, Lord Brahma decorated a pot (Sanskrit: Kumbham) containing Nectar and the seeds of creation, with sacred thread, coconut and mango leaves and kept it safely on top of the Mount Meru.
At the time of deluge, owing to non-stop rains, the pot of Brahma was washed away by the floods. As wished by Parameshwara, in due course moving in the south direction the pot came to halt at a particular place (which is the present day Kumbakonam )- where it got tilted.
Now Lord Shiva disguised as a hunter (this form of Lord Shiva is called Kiraata Moorthy) and aimed an arrow at the pot .
The nectar fell out and settled at two places- 1) The Mahaamaham Tank 2) The Portraamarai Tank
The contents and adornments of the pot ( such as mango leaves ,sacred grass(Darbha), hoop(uri), Bell tree leaf (Vilva patraani), coconut and the sacred thread (poonool)) fell into different places due to the whirl wind. They appeared as Shiva lingas and are now enshrined in various Shiva temples.
Out of the pieces of the broken pot Lord Shiva made out a Shiva linga and entered into it. This now enshrined in the temple, and hence the name Adi Kumbheshwara, meaning one who entered "the Kumbha or Vessel long ago"
It is to be noted that this MahaLinga unlike other Lingas found in other temples, is not made of granite stone but of earth, covered by what appears like a metallic sheath .As such abhishekams cannot be performed with watery substances lest it should dissolve the shape of the Linga.
Maha Maagha Utsavam:
This is celebrated when the Jupiter moves over the Leo Zodiac, when the moon is in the Maagha asterism and the Sun is positioned in Aquarius. This astronomical event occurs every 12 years. On this day, it is believed that all the holy waters of all holy rivers are present in the Mahaa Maham Tank. The deity is brought out in procession this day. All devotees make it a point to take a dip in the waters of the Maha Maham tank, after taking a dip in the river Kaveri
The Thirukalyana Utsavam:
Every year, during the tamil month of Vaikasi (may-june) the wedding of Mangalaambika with Adi Kumbheshwara is performed
Daily Worship:
The temple follows the routine of worshipping the deities 6 times a day (6 kaala pooja).
Place: Kumbakonam
Alternate Names: Kudamooku/ Kudanthai/ Thirukudanthai/ Bhaaskara Kshetram
Deity: Swami Adhi Kumbheshwara
Female Deity: Mangalambika
Sthala Vruksham: Vanni Tree
Sthala Theertham: Mangala Theertham
Sthala Puranam:
When Pralaya (Deluge) was appraoching at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, Lord Brahma was worried about preserving life forms on Earth. Following Lord Shiva's orders, Lord Brahma decorated a pot (Sanskrit: Kumbham) containing Nectar and the seeds of creation, with sacred thread, coconut and mango leaves and kept it safely on top of the Mount Meru.
At the time of deluge, owing to non-stop rains, the pot of Brahma was washed away by the floods. As wished by Parameshwara, in due course moving in the south direction the pot came to halt at a particular place (which is the present day Kumbakonam )- where it got tilted.
Now Lord Shiva disguised as a hunter (this form of Lord Shiva is called Kiraata Moorthy) and aimed an arrow at the pot .
The nectar fell out and settled at two places- 1) The Mahaamaham Tank 2) The Portraamarai Tank
The contents and adornments of the pot ( such as mango leaves ,sacred grass(Darbha), hoop(uri), Bell tree leaf (Vilva patraani), coconut and the sacred thread (poonool)) fell into different places due to the whirl wind. They appeared as Shiva lingas and are now enshrined in various Shiva temples.
Out of the pieces of the broken pot Lord Shiva made out a Shiva linga and entered into it. This now enshrined in the temple, and hence the name Adi Kumbheshwara, meaning one who entered "the Kumbha or Vessel long ago"
It is to be noted that this MahaLinga unlike other Lingas found in other temples, is not made of granite stone but of earth, covered by what appears like a metallic sheath .As such abhishekams cannot be performed with watery substances lest it should dissolve the shape of the Linga.
Important Festivals:
Maha Maagha Utsavam:
This is celebrated when the Jupiter moves over the Leo Zodiac, when the moon is in the Maagha asterism and the Sun is positioned in Aquarius. This astronomical event occurs every 12 years. On this day, it is believed that all the holy waters of all holy rivers are present in the Mahaa Maham Tank. The deity is brought out in procession this day. All devotees make it a point to take a dip in the waters of the Maha Maham tank, after taking a dip in the river Kaveri
The Thirukalyana Utsavam:
Every year, during the tamil month of Vaikasi (may-june) the wedding of Mangalaambika with Adi Kumbheshwara is performed
Daily Worship:
The temple follows the routine of worshipping the deities 6 times a day (6 kaala pooja).
