A
Traditional Feature
According to the tradition once a
sage named Bhrugu, piqued by the fact that Lord Vishnu,
whom he went to see when He was in the company of the
Goddess, ignored him awhile, kicked him in the chest.
The Lord merely asked whether his feet were paining
him. But the Goddess resented the Lord's indifference
to the insult and came down to the earth. After some
time she realised that she was in the wrong. To regain
Her place by the Lord She began severe penance on a
thousand-petalled lotus in a tank named "Pottamarai",
in Kumbakonam.
Bhrugu was born in his
next birth as Guha, the boatman who helped Srirama,
and subsequently as a sage named Hema. He remembered
that he had caused a separation between the Lord and
the Goddess and to expiate his sin he began severe austerities.
Pleased with him, the
Lord asked what boon he wished for. He said that Goddess
Laxmi should be born as his daughter and that the Lord
should marry Her. The Lord granted the request. The
sage came to Kumbakonam and adopted the Goddess as his
daughter, giving Her the name of "Komalavalli".
Subsequently the Lord, entering a chariot, named the
"Vaidika Vimana", believed to be an offshoot
of the "Pranava Vimana" of Srirangam and a
replica of the one presented to Vibhishna at Sri Rama's
coronation, came to the Pottamarai tank in Kumbakonam.
Subsequently He married Komalavalli. There are two entrances
to the Ratha (chariot) shrine, both from the sides.
Each is kept open for half the year.
On the first tier of the
entrance Gopura there are labelled sculptures depicting
the poses prescribed in Bharatha's text on the dance.
Some scholars believe that they were brought here from
another temple.
Sri Nageshwara
Temple
Possibly the oldest in Kumbakonam,
the Nageshwara temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja is
one of the finest early Chola temples, noted for the
quality of its sculpture. This temple is believed to
have been completed during the reign of Parantaka I
(907-c.940). Though the temple is small but it is known
for its marvelous architecture that exceeds many of
the other Chola temples.
The Nataraja shrine here
is shaped in the form of a chariot, and the shrine dedicated
to the Sun God is of great sculptural significance.
Sri Chakrapani
Temple
The Sri Chakrapani temple enshrines
a legend according to which the Sun God engaged in a
competition with the Chakra, or the discuss, which Lord
Vishnu carries, as to who shone brighter. The discus
triumphed. The Lord allowed the Sun God to regain his
brightness by retracting somewhat of His discus' splendour.
The Lord is called "Chakrapani". The Goddess
is "Vijayavalli Thayar".
Sri Ramaswami
Temple
Raghunatha, the Nayak of Thanjavur,
who ruled from 1600 to 1635, built the Sri Ramaswami
temple. It is said that the Nayak obtained the images
of Sri Rama and Sita when a tank was being dug. To enshrine
them he built this splendid temple about 1625. The Lord
in the sanctum is in His coronation ensemble, not in
the customary standing Kodandarama one.
In the Mahamandapa there
are several pillars on which are sculptures depicting
the "Ramayana". The carvings are sharp, and
at the same time, they exude devotion. On the walls
around the Prakara the "Ramayana" is again
told, this time in murals. These have been often restored
and renovated.
Festivals Celebrated
In The Adikumbeshwara Temple
The Great Mahamaham
festival celebrated in honour of Lord attracts lakhs
of people from far and wide and it takes place once
in 12 years. It is celebrated on the conjunction of
the moon with the Mahanakshatra and Jupiter crosses
one Rashi or sign in about one year. It comes to Simha
Rashi or Leo every 13th year and it is considered especially
sacred. It is believed that on this auspicious day the
tank receives supplies of water from the Ganges and
eight other holy rivers and all the deities are said
to remain present here on that occasion.
The Lord has a number of festivals round
the year. Every year in the month of Maasi (February-March)
a festival is conducted and the image of Lord Kumbeshwara
is taken out in a procession. It is celebrated for 10
days during that period.
Others include, Theppam festival during
Panguni (March - April), Sapthathanam during Chitirai
month (April - May). During this festival Lord's idol
will be carried in a palanquin to the nearby villages.
Marriage festival for Lord Adikumbeshwara and Goddess
Mangalambigai is conducted in the month of Vaikasi (May
- June). Daily pujas are conducted six times from morning
to evening.
Festival Celebrated In The Nageshwara
Temple
The annual Bhramotsavam in the Nageshwara
Temple is observed in the Tamil month of Pankuni. |
