Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur

SRI KUMBESWARAR TEMPLE

Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India

God

The main deity of this temple is Adhi Kumbeshwarar, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva faces East direction and He is swayambhu. The lingam is made by sand, broad at the bottom and narrows at the top in the shape of a needle.

Goddess

Goddess Mangalanayaki is consort of Adhi Kumbeshwarar.

Interesting Facts

This temple is considered to be the 26th in the series of Thevara Sthalams or Paadal Petra Sthalams (temples revered in the Tamil scripture Thevaram) in the Chola kingdom that spread South of the River Cauvery.
The temple complex covers an area of more than 30,000 sq Feet .
There are five silver plated chariots in the temple used to carry the temple deities during festive occasions.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 25°C during night)Average - May (36°C during the day and 20°C during night)Lowest - December to February (28°C during day and 19°C during night)Monsoon season – July to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Kumbakonam Bus Stand	2.6 KM	1800-419-4287
Kumbakonam Railway Station	3.4 KM	139
Tiruchirappalli International Airport	91 KM	07373774163

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Kumbakonam Railway Station	3.4 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Tiruchirappalli International Airport	91 KM	07373774163

Architecture

Origin of the Name - During the Devastating pralaya floods, Lord Shiva placed all ‘creation materials’ in a pot (Kumba) and saved them, hence Lord is praised as Kumbeswarar.

The temple faces East direction and built in Chola style of architecture. There are 4 Raja gopurams in the four directions with the tallest 11-tiered 128 feet tall one in the East direction. The Dhwaja stambham is placed infront of the temple. The temple is approached by a corridor 330 Feet (100 Meters) long and 15 Feet (4.6 Meters) wide. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along an East-West axis has triple set of gopurams. Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529 C.E.) 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. Kumbeswarar Kumbakonam complex has many Mandapas, the most notable being the sixteen pillared one built during the Vijayanagar period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone. There is a lion sculpture in the Navarathri Mandap holding long stones on its head. Chamber of repose, decoration hall, sacrificial hall, marriage hall, Vasanta mandapam, garden and four pillared hall are other notable parts in the temple. There is a koneru named as Mahamagam, Pottramarai tank.

Religious Significance

Lord Shiva came here in the guise of a hunter (Kiradha) and broke the nectar pot here. Special pujas are dedicated to him on the Magam star days by devotees to realize their wishes. When the World was facing destruction due to the Devastating Tsunami, Lord Brahmma approached Lord Shiva to know where from he had to restart creation. Lord Shiva suggested that Brahmma make a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in the flood water and also taught the procedure of leaving it on the water. The pot stopped at a place. Lord Shiva shot an arrow on the pot. The nectar spilled and spread on all directions. That nectar mixed with the sand and became a linga. This linga is Kumbeswarar.

History

The temple was built in 7th century C.E. by Cholas, Vijayanagar Kings and Thanjavur Nayaks and renovation work done in 16th century C.E. Govinda Dikshitar who was the Minister of Raja Achuthappa Nayakkar of Thanjavur, served as the Minister to three Nayaka rulers from 1515 - 1636. Achuthappa Nayakkar is said to have given gold equal to his weight (Tulaabaaram), which Govinda Dikshitar used to renovate the Mahamaham tank, the 16 mandapams and the tank steps. He constructed the Vimanams for the mandapams. He was in charge of renovating the Aadi Kumbheswarar koil with a new Raja gopuram and the Kudamuzhukku took place during the reign of Sevappa Nayakkar.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 12:30 PM	04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757