Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
Encyclopedia
Kasi Viswanathar Temple is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam
, Tamilnadu, India
. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram
and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
tank. This temple with 2 prakarams(outer courtyard)and a 72 ft high Rajagopuram. Images of the 9 river Goddesses (one of which is Kaveri) are seen in this temple along with kshetra Mahalingam.
written by Saint Poet (7th Century AD) Thirugnana Sambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar. This temple is referred back to Ramayanam period when Lord Rama
and Lakshmana are said to have worshipped Shiva here during their search for Sita, and acquired Rudramsam, to enable them to fight Ravana. Legend has it that the nine sacred rivers of India, prayed to Shiva at Banares (Viswanathar)to be absoved of the sins washed away by bathers, and were directed to bathe in the Mahamagam tank and worship Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
. Viswanathar of Kaasi is believed to have manifested himself here at Kumbhakonam at Kudandaikkaronam.
The nine rivers are
worshipped by Lord Rama
is located in the north eastern prakaram
(outer courtyard) of the temple. The lingam is belived to grow with time.
, about 2 kilometres from the town. The nearest airport is in Trichy.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
, Tamilnadu, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram
Thevaram
Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...
and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Architecture
The temple is located near the banks of MahamahamMahamaham
Mahamaham is a Hindu Kumb Mela festival celebrated every 12 years in a town called Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. Hindus consider taking a holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the day of Mahamaham as sacred...
tank. This temple with 2 prakarams(outer courtyard)and a 72 ft high Rajagopuram. Images of the 9 river Goddesses (one of which is Kaveri) are seen in this temple along with kshetra Mahalingam.
Legend
This place has been referred to in thevaramThevaram
Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...
written by Saint Poet (7th Century AD) Thirugnana Sambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar. This temple is referred back to Ramayanam period when Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
and Lakshmana are said to have worshipped Shiva here during their search for Sita, and acquired Rudramsam, to enable them to fight Ravana. Legend has it that the nine sacred rivers of India, prayed to Shiva at Banares (Viswanathar)to be absoved of the sins washed away by bathers, and were directed to bathe in the Mahamagam tank and worship Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at the center of the Tamil Nadu town of Kumbakonam, India. The Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple...
. Viswanathar of Kaasi is believed to have manifested himself here at Kumbhakonam at Kudandaikkaronam.
Navakanniyar
The temple has a nava kanniyar aka nava kannigais(Nine rivers) in the form of deities worshipping Lord Shiva and hence the temple is referred as 'Nava Kanniyar' temple.The nine rivers are
- Ganga
- YamunaYamunaThe Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
- NarmadaNarmadaNarmada may refer to:* Narmada River of central India* Narmada district of Gujarat, India* The Narmada Dam Project, involving the construction of a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi purpose dams on the Narmada River in India...
- Saraswathi
- Cauvery
- Godavari
- KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
- Tungabhadra
- SarayuSarayuThe Sarayu is a river that flows through the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This river is of ancient significance, finding mentions in the Vedas and the Ramayana. The Sarayu forms at the confluence of the Karnali and Mahakali in Bahraich District...
Kshetra Mahalingam
The lingamLingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
worshipped by Lord Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
is located in the north eastern prakaram
Prakaram
A Prakaram, also spelled Pragaram or Pragaaram) in Indian architecture is an outer parth around the Hindu temple sanctum. These may be enclosed or open and are typically enclosed for the inner most prakaram....
(outer courtyard) of the temple. The lingam is belived to grow with time.
Transport
The nearest railway station is in KumbakonamKumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
, about 2 kilometres from the town. The nearest airport is in Trichy.