Mahamaham Temple in Tamilnadu

Mahamaham Temple

KUMBAKONAM is one of the oldest towns of Tamil Nadu. The erstwhile capital of the Chola Dynasty, Kumbakonam is known for the picturesque locations, beautiful architecture and colorful fairs and festivals. Located near the Cauvery and Arasalar Rivers, the town is a popular tourist destination in south India.

The popular temple town of Tamil Nadu, Kumbakonam is situated in the Tanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. One of the main attractions of the town is the Mahamaham Festival that is celebrated near the mahamaham tank every 12 years

MAHAMAHAM FESTIVAL

The town is famous for the Mahamaham festival that is celebrated once in 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of the city.
The famous MAHAMAHAM TANK of Kumbakonam is located near the Head Post Office. This tank covers an area of 6.2 acres and is in a shape of a pot. The tank is Surrounded by 16 small Mandapams and a "Nava Kannika Temple" in the Eastern Side. Govinda Theekshitan, the Chieftain, of Achutha Nayaka of Thanjavur, constructed sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank. Brahmatheerthesar, Mukunthar, Thalesar, Rishakesar, Umaipakesar, Nairuthesar, Brahmeesar, Gangatheerthesar and Seshtra Paleesar, are the names of deities located in these Mandapams.The festival lasts for nine days. During this festival, thousands of Hindu devotees come to Kumbakonam, and take bath in a tank named Mahamaham tank. Some of them instead of taking bath in the tank, sprinkle water from the tank on their bodies. It is believed that taking bath or sprinkling water of the tank on the bodies cleanses all the sins.

The next Mahamaham will be celebrated in the year 2028

The Mahamakham festival which comes once in twelve years like the Kumbha Melas of Prayag and Hardwar is the most celebrated one. Lakhs of pilgrims from all parts of India visit Kumbhakonam to take bath in the holy tank. The last festival took place in 1945. The nine sacred rivers of India, viz., The Ganesh, the Jumna, the Godavari, the Saraswati, the Narmada, the Indus, the Kaveri, the Sarayu and the Payoshni appear on the Maha-makham day in this tank. He who takes a bath in this tank on that day realizes the benefits or merits of a combined pilgrimage to all those nine holy rivers. The following is the legend connected with Maha Makham festival. Brahma prayed to Lord Siva to grant a boon to the suffering humanity. Siva broke with an arrow the pot which was full of divine nectar and was floating on the waters after the deluge when it reached Kumbakonam. The contents fell at Kumbakonum. Hence, the significant name—Kumbakonam from Kumbha (pot). Lord Siva said that the nine rivers would appear in the holy tank and help the people to cleanse their sins.

During this festival it is believed that in Mahamaham tank the famous rivers like the Ganga, the Yamuna, etc... meet together and taking bath in Mahamaham, would wash off all the sins. During the last Mahamaham festival, 40 lakhs people gathered in this town. It is expected that about 50 lakhs of people will gather in this town for the Mahamaham to be celebrated in 2016. (This year Mahamahm celebrated) source:http://www.kumbakonam.tn.gov.

THE OTHER MAIN TEMPLES IN KUMBAKONAM

Kailasanadar temple-Ammankudi

Pasupatheeswarar temple-Avoor

Sornapureeswarar temple-AzhagaPuthur

Airavadeswarar temple-Darasuram

Lord Subramanya temple-Enkan

Lord Vinayaka temple-Ganapathiagragharam

Padaleswaran temple-Haridwaramangalam

Ezhutharinthar temple-Innamboor

Gajendra varadan temple- Kapisthalam

Uma maheswarar temple-KoneriRajapuam

Koteeswarar temple-Koteeswaram

Koneswarar temple-Kudavasal

Mahamaham Temple 

Adhi Kumbeswara Swami tple-Kumbakonam

SWAMIMALAI- 8 Kms from Kumbakonam on Thiruvayyaru Road- SWAMINATHA SWAM

THERAZHUNDOOR 10 Kms from Mayiladuthurai on Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthutrai Road KOSAGAR

THIRUCHERAI- 15 Kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam - Tiruvarur Road SARANATHATPERUMAL

THIRUKKANNAMANGAI- 36 Kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur Road Via Kudavasal BAKTHAVATSALA

THIRUKKARUGAVOOR -7 Kms from Papanasam, which is on the Kumbakonam- Thanjavur Road GARBAPUREESWARAR

THIRUKKODIKKAVAL -Situated in the Kumbakonam-Kadiramangalam Road KOTEESWARAR

THIRUMANANCHERI -8 Kms from Kuttalam, which is 10 kms from Mayiladuthurai on Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai road -KALYANA SUNDARAR

THIRUMANGALAKKUDI- 2 Kms from Aduthurai, which is 15 kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam- Mayiladuthurai Road PRANAVARADESWARAR

THIRUMARUGAL- About 9 Kms from Nannilam on the Road to Nagore MANIKKAVANNAR

THIRUNARAIYOOR On the Kumbakonam- Tiruvarur Road SIDDHANADESWARAR

THIRUNEELAKKUDI- On the Kumbakonam-karaikkal Road near Thirunageswaram -NEELAKANDESWARAR

THIRUPPAMPURAM -2 kms from Karkathi which is on the Kumbakonam- Karaikkal Road -SESHAPUREESWAR

THIRUPANANDAL -19 Kms from Kumbakonam on Madras Road -SADAIYAPPAR

THIRUPURAMBIYAM- 4.5 Kms from Innambar, which is 3 Kms from north from Puliyanchery which is on the Kumbakonam - Swamimalai road. -SATCHINATHAR

THIRUBUVANAM -5 Kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam - Mayiladuthurai Road- KAMBAHARESWARAR

THIRUVAIGAVOOR -4.5 Kms from Thirupurambiyam -VILVAVANESWARAR

THIRUVALANCHUZHI- 6 Kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam - Swami malai Road via Dharasuram -KARPAGANATHESWARAR

THIRUVANCHIYAM

(SRIVANCHIYAM) On the Kumbakonam - Nagoor Road, near Nannilam -VANCHIHINGESWARAR

THIRUVAVADUTHURAI- 2 Kms from Narasingampettai, which is at 16 kms from Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai Road - MASILAMANEESWARAR

THIRUVEEZHIMAZHAI -Near Eravancheri on the Kumbakonam-Peralam Road -NETHARARPARESWARAR.

THIRUVIDAI MARUDOOR 6 Kms from Kumbakonam on Kumbakonam -Mayiladuthurai Road MAHALINGESWARAR

THIRUVISANALOOR -8 kms from Kumbakonam -YAGANANDESWARAR

UPPILIPPAN KOIL- 10 Kms from Kumbakonam-Karaikkal Road -OPPILIYAPAN

VALANGAIMAN- 12 Kms from Kumbakonam on Manargudi Road- MARIAMMAN.

http:http://kumbakonamonline.com/