View source for Adi Kumbeswarar Temple Kumbakonam

{{short description|Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name               = Devaram Padal Petra Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
| image              = Kumbeswarar temple 01.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption            = 
| map_type        = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption        = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates        = {{coord|10|57|30|N|79|22|16|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country            = [[India]]
| state     = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district           = [[Thanjavur district|Thanjavur]]
| locale             = [[Kumbakonam]]
| deity  = AdiKumbeswarar([[Shiva]]), Mangalambigai([[Parvathi]])
| architecture       = [[Tamil architecture]]
| temple_quantity  = 
| monument_quantity= 
| inscriptions       = 
| year_completed         = 
| creator            = [[Cholas]]
| website            = 
}}

'''Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in the town of [[Kumbakonam]] in [[Thanjavur District]] [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.

The temple complex covers an area of {{convert|30181|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and houses four gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of {{convert|128|ft|m|0}} The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar period]] that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from [[5:30]] a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar, with the ''Masi Magam'' festival celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Maasi'' (February - March) being the most prominent.

The present masonry structure was built during the [[Chola dynasty]] in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers of the [[Thanjavur Nayaks]] of the 16th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Kumbeswarar temple3.jpg|250px|left|The entrance of the temple|thumb]]
It is believed that the name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with Kumbeswarar Temple. "Kumbakonam", roughly translated in English as the "Jug's Corner",<ref name="catholicp710">[[#Herbermann|Herbermann 1934]], p. 710</ref> is believed to be an [[allusion]] to the mythical pot (''[[kumbha]]'') of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Brahma]] that contained the seed of all living beings on earth.<ref>[[#Bhandari|Bhandari 2009]], p. 26</ref> The ''kumbha'' is believed to have been displaced by a ''[[pralaya]]'' (dissolution of the universe) effected by Hindu god [[Shiva]]'s arrow and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of Kumbakonam now stands. The nectar is believed to have fallen in two places - the [[Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam|Mahamaham tank]] and the Potramarai tank.<ref name="Knapp">[[#Knapp|Knapp 2011]], p. 336</ref> This event is now commemorated in the Mahamaham festival held every 12 years. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] name of Kudamukku.<ref name="southindianshrinesp320">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar]] 1920, p. 320</ref> Kumbakonam is also identified with the [[Sangam period|Sangam age]] settlement of Kudavayil.<ref name="ancienttamilsp88">[[#Pillai|Pillai]], p. 88</ref>

==History==
The temple is in existence from [[Chola]] times of the 9th century,<ref name=Diwakar/> and has been maintained by [[Nayak dynasty|Nayaks]] during the 15-17th century.<ref name="Sajnani">[[#Sajnani|Sajnani 2001]], p. 307</ref> In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|page=216}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Kumbeswarar4.jpg|Sculpture inside the temple|thumb|200x200px|alt=]]
Kumbeswarar temple complex covers an area of {{convert|30181|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and houses four gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/aadikumb.html
|title = The Templenet Encyclopedia - Aadi Kumbeswarar Temple at Kumbakonam}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.kumbakonam.tn.gov.in/temple.htm 
 |title=District govt page 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116060402/http://www.kumbakonam.tn.gov.in/temple.htm 
 |archive-date=2006-11-16 
}}</ref> The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of {{convert|128|ft|m|0}}
The temple is approached by a corridor {{convert|330|ft|m|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide. There are five silver-plated chariots in the temple used to carry the temple deities during festive occasions.<ref name=Ram>{{cite book|title=Hindu Pilgrim centres|last=Harshananda|first=Swami|isbn=978-81-7907-053-6|year=2012|publisher=Ramakrishna Math|location=Bangalore, India|edition=2nd|pages=76}}</ref><ref name="illustrated">[[#South|South Indian Railway Company 1926]], p. 57</ref>  The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'' (gateway tower) 125&nbsp;ft tall <ref name="Bradnock">[[#Brodnack|Brodnack 2009]], p. 839</ref><ref name="Singh"/>  It is spread over 4 acres in the centre of the town. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along an east–west axis has triple set of ''gopurams''.<ref name ="Michell">Michell 1995, p. 95</ref>

Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre.  Kumbeswarar is in the form a ''[[lingam]]'' believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and sand.<ref name="Singh">[[#Singh|Singh 2009]]. p 432</ref>  Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is his consort and her shrine is present parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine. The temple has a colonnaded hall and a good collection of silver ''[[vahana]]s'' (sacred vehicles used to carry deities during festival processions)<ref name="Bradnock"/>  Beyond the flagstaff, a hallway whose columns feature painted brackets representing ''[[Yali (mythology)|yali]]'' (a mythological creature) leads to the ''gopuram''.<ref>[[#Middle|Middle East and Africa 2009]], p. 503</ref>  The Navarathiri Mandapam (Hall of [[Navrathri]] celebration) has 27 stars and 12 ''rasis'' (constellations) carved in a single block.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=25}}</ref> The idol of [[Murugan|Subramanya]] having six hands instead of 12, stone ''[[nadaswaram]]s'' (pipe instrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the temple.<ref name="Knapp"/>

The central shrine of the temple houses the image of Adi Kumbheswarar in the form of [[lingam]] The shrine of Mangala Nayaki is located parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar and Somaskanda is located to the right. The images of Nalvars ([[Appar]], [[Sambanthar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Manickavasagar]]), images of the sixty three [[Nayanmars]], Virabhadra, [[Saptamatrikas|Saptakannikas]], Visalakshi, Visvanatha, Valam Chuzhi Vinayaka, Bhikshatana, Karthikeya, Annapurani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Jasta Devi, Durga, Chandikesa, Kuratirtha, Arukala Vinayakar, [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]], Bali peetham, Sabha Vinayaka, Kasi Visvanatha, [[Nataraja]] are located in the first precinct around the sanctum. The temple also has images of Navaneetha Vinayaka, Kiratamurti, [[Bhairava]], Jvarahareswara, Chaota Sri Govinda Dikshits-Nagammal, Chandra, [[Surya]], Adikara Nandhi (the sacred bull of Shiva), Vallabha Ganapathi, Shanmukha, [[Navagraha]] (nine planetary deities), Nandhi, Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Mutra Veli [[Vinayaka]], Bala Dandayutapani, Nandhi, Vanni Vinayakar, Kumbha Munisiddhar, Kumarappar, Adilinga and Sattananthar. Chamber of repose, decoration hall, Sacrificial hall, grand kitchen, marriage hall, elephant shed, Vasantamandapam, cattle shed, garden and four-pillared hall are other notable parts in the temple. The flag mast is located in the second precinct, directly on the axis of the presiding deity.<ref name="theplan">{{cite web|title=Plan of the temple |url=http://www.adikumbeswarar.org/theplan.htm |publisher=Adi Kumbeswarar Temple administration |access-date=2013-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323074859/http://www.adikumbeswarar.org/theplan.htm |archive-date=2014-03-23 }}</ref><ref name=R/>

The [[Mahamaham tank]], Potramarai Tirtha, Varuna Tirtha, Kasyapa Tirtha, Chakkara Tirtha, Matanga Tirtha and Bhagavad Tirtha (bathing ghats along the river [[Cauvery]]) are the seven outlying water bodies associated with the temple. Mangala Kupam Asva, Naga tirtha, Kura tirtha are the three wells, while Chandra tirtha, Surya tirtha, Gautama tirtha and Varaha tirtha are the four tanks located inside the temple.<ref name="theplan"/> The Potramarai tank separates the Kumbeswarar temple from [[Sarangapani temple]].<ref name=Diwakar>{{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Macherla|last=Diwakar|location=Chennai|year=2011|edition=1st|page=138|isbn=978-93-83440-34-4|publisher=Techno Book House}}</ref>

{{wide image|File:Kumbeswaran pano1.jpg|800px|Panoramic image of the temple tank}}

==Festivals==
[[File:Kumbeswarar temple 10.jpg|Festival procession of Kumbeswarar|200px|thumb|alt=]]
The Mahamaham festival takes place once every twelve years during the Tamil Month of ''Masi'' (February - March), when [[lakh]]s of pilgrims from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is located in the heart of the town. The festival has archaeological and epigrahical evidence.  ''Tulapurushadaram'', the practise of weighing oneself against gold and donating to the temple was effected by Govinda Dikshitar and the funds were utilised for funding the construction of the 16 ''[[mandap]]as'' around the tank.<ref name="Ayy">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar]] 1991, p. 323</ref> [[Krishnadeva Raya]] (1509–1529 CE) 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.<ref name="Ayy"/>

Twelve Shiva temples are connected with [[Mahamaham]] festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are [[Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam|Kasi Viswanathar Temple]], [[Adi Kumbeswarar Temple|Kumbeswarar Temple]], [[Someswaran Temple|Someswarar Temple]], Nageswaran temple, [[Kalahasteeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Kalahasteeswarar Temple]], [[Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Gowthameswarar Temple]], [[Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar temple]], [[Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Sakkottai|Amirthakalasanathar Temple]], [[Banapuriswarar Temple]], [[Abimukeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam]], [[Kambatta Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam|Kambatta Visvanathar Temple]] and [[Ekambeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Ekambareswarar Temple]].<ref>Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004</ref>

==Worship practices==
[[File:Kumbeswarar temple 11.jpg|250px|right|The five chariots of the temple|thumb]]
The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Shaiva]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30&nbsp;a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00&nbsp;a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00&nbsp;a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00&nbsp;p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00&nbsp;p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00&nbsp;p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Kumbeswarar and Mangalambikai. The worship is held amidst music with ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the [[Vedas]] (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'' and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''.<ref name="temple">{{cite journal|title=Thirukoyil |publisher=Hindu Religious And Endowment Board Tamil Nadu |volume=15 |series=1 |date=January 2013 |url=http://www.tnhrce.org/thirukoil.html |pages=42–43 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Literary Mention and religious importance==
[[Appar]], the 7th century Tamil saivite saint poet and ''nayanar'' has revered Kumbeswarar and the temple in his verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Fifth Tirumurai''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is counted as the seventh in the list of temples in the southern banks of Cauvery.<ref name="appar">{{cite web |url=http://projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0188.pdf|title=Tevaram Of Tirunavukkaracu Cuvamikal Tirumurai 5 part - 2 Poems(510-516)|access-date=2011-12-13 |last=Swamigal |first=Tirunavukkarasu  |publisher=projectmadurai.org|pages=33–34}}</ref> Appar has glorified the temple in nine poems referring the place as Kudamuku and the deity as "Kumbesar".<ref name="temple"/><ref name="appar"/> The mention is found in the 59th poem in the ''Third [[Tirumurai]]'' by Sambandar and 22nd poem in the ''Fifth Tirumurai'' by Appar. The temple is one of the [[Shakti Peetha]]s where [[Parvathi]], the consort of [[Shiva]] is consecrated as a major deity. Mangalambigai is known as Mantira Piteswari<ref name=R>[[#R.|R. 2001]], pp. 219-220</ref> The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of [[River Kaveri]].<ref name=Ka>{{cite book|title=River cauvery the most battl(r)ed|last=Ka. Vi.|first=Kannan|page=34|publisher=Notion Press|year=2019|isbn=9781684666041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CGFDwAAQBAJ&q=thiruvavaduthurai}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist
| colwidth = 20em
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==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
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* {{Cite book |last=Bhandari|first=Laveesh |author2=Robert Bradnock |title=Indian states at a glance, 2008-09: Tamil Nadu : performance, facts and figures|year=2009|publisher=Dorling Kindersly (India) Pvt. Ltd. | location  =Delhi |isbn=978-81-317-2347-0|ref=Bhandari}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bradnock |first=Roma |author2=Robert Bradnock |title=Footprint India |year=2009|publisher=Patrick Dawson | location  =USA |isbn=978-1-904777-00-7|ref=Bradnock}}
*{{Cite book |last=Knapp|first=Stephen |title=Spiritual India Handbook |year=2011|publisher=Jaico Books | location  =Mumbai |isbn=978-81-8495-024-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djI5mL2qeocC&q=mayuranathaswamy+temple&pg=PT335|ref=Knapp}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sajnani|first=Dr. Manohar |title=Encyclopedia of tourism resources in India, Volume 2 |year=2001|publisher=Kalpaz Publications | location  =Delhi |isbn=81-7835-014-9|ref=Sajnani}}
* {{cite book | title=Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway (Incorporated in England): Including the Tanjore District Board, Pondicherry, Peralam-Karaikkal, Travancore State, Cochin State, Coimbatore District Board, Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur, and the Nilgiri Railways|page=57| year=1926| publisher=South Indian Railway Company| location  =Madras|isbn=9788120618893|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzWvq8EYBwUC&q=sarangapani+temple&pg=PP19|ref=South}}
* {{Cite book |last=Middle East and Africa |title=Middle East and Africa |year=2009|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers | location  =USA|isbn=978-1-884964-05-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWLRxJEU49EC&q=kumbakonam&pg=PA503|ref=Middle}}
* {{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Sarina |author2=Lindsay Brown|author3=Mark Elliott|author4=Paul Harding|author5=Abigail Hole|author6= Patrick Horton |title=Lonely Planet India |year=2009|publisher=Lonely Planet | location  =Australia |id=ABN 36-0005-607-983|page=432}}
* {{cite book|title=The Chronology of the Early Tamils – Based on the Synchronistic Tables of Their Kings, Chieftains and Poets Appearing in the Sangam Literature|page=88|first= Sivaraja K.N.|last= Pillai|ref=Pillai}}
* {{cite book|page=710|title=The Catholic encyclopedia: an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church, Volume 8|first=Charles George|last=Herbermann|ref=Herbermann|author2=Edward Aloysius Pace |author3=Condé Bénoist Pallen |author4=Thomas Joseph Shahan |author5=John Joseph Wynne |publisher=The Catholic Encyclopedia Inc.|year=1934}}
{{refend}}


==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160216101907/http://mahamaham2016.in/athikumbeswarar_temple_eng.html Adi Kumbeswarar Pooja schedule for Mahamaham 2016]
{{commons category|Kumbeswarar Temple}}
{{Hindu temples in Thanjavur District}}
{{Famous Shiva temples}}

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam| ]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kumbakonam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]