Kumbakonam

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple 

Kumbeswarar temple is a famous Hindu temple with presiding deity of Kumbakonam and the Lord’s consort Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika. The famous Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple. This temple was built more than 1300 years old with an area of 30181 Sq ft, a length and breadth of 750 feet and 252 feet respectively.

It contains a lingam said to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed the nectar of immortality with sand. A Unique feature here is the depiction of 27 stars and the 12 Zodiac signs carved on a large block of stone in the Navarathri Mandapa. It also has a superb collection of silver Vahanas(Vehicles) which are used during festivals to carry the temple deities.

This temple comprises of three Praharas and three Gopurams in the eastern, northern and western directions. The East Gopuram consists of 9 stories with a height of 128 ft.It is believed that Govinda Theeksithan, the Chieftain of Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur, revoted this oldest temple during 16th Century. Mangalatheertham and Mangalambigai are other major constituents of this temple.