17.Adi Kumbeswarar Temple :

(Paadal Petra Stalam) kumbakonam

Address	centre of Kumbakonam at Big Bazaar Street, near the Head Post Office.kumbakonam.
City	Thanjavur
State	Tamilnadu
Location	South India
Year of Construction	built more than 1300 years old , revoted this oldest temple during 16th Century
Type of Construction	Ancient and historic temple with an AREA---- 30181 Sq ft, Length ---- 750 feet , and Breadth ----- 252 feet
Type of Building	Ancient Dravidian style
Managed By	The Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department
Histroy	A Chola King built the temple and the temple building renovated by the Nayak King. Some of the old images like "Sri Ambal", "Sri Durgaiamman" and "Sri Kirathamoorti" bear the impress of the antiquity about them.
Saint	Appar and Sambandhar who flourished prior to the 7th century AD has sung devotional songs (Thevarams) in praise of the presiding deities of the temple.
Main diety	Lord shiva as Manthrapeeteswari and Godess as Mangalambika
Other Deities	Muruga, Ganapathi
Religion	Hinduism
Famous For	The famous Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple. 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. Brahmatheerthesar temple is located at the Northwestern portion of this tank. This temple is also known as "Thula Mandapam" where a big physical balance is provided for making contribution to the temple
Etymology	kumbakonam - MEANS According the legend that after the Great Floods, Lord Shiva set a 'Kumbam' (Pot) full of amirtham and seeds for creation afloat and proclaimed that the place where the pot touched the ground would be considered as the holiest places in the world. It came to rest at Kumbam, later deformed to 'Kumbakonam'. Lord Shiva appeared as a hunter and broke the pot with his arrow. While the divine nectar from the pot became the famous Mahamaham Tank, Shiva made a ShivaLinga out of the broken pot pieces and entered it. Thus he came to be known as Adi Kumbeswara and is said to be enshrined here in this temple. Unlike other temples, the MahaLinga here is not made up of granite stone.
Significance:	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. 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. There's also a fine collection of silver vahanas, vehicles of the deities, used in festivals, and pancha loham (compound of silver, gold, brass, iron and tin) figures of the 63 Nayanmar poet-saints. Moorka Nayanaar is one of the 63 Nayanars associated with this temple.
Temple (Holy) Tree &threetham	Temple (Holy) Tree (Sthalavirutsha):- tree Sacred Tank (Theertham):- (Mangala theertham ) 19 Holy Theerthams around the tank periphery and another theertham at the centre. 1. Vayu, 2. Ganga, 3. Brahma, 4. Yamuna, 5. Kubera, 6.Gothavarai, 7. Esaniam, 8. Narmadha, 9.Indra, 10.Saraswathi, 11.Akni, 12. Cauvery, 13. Nagam, 14. Niruthi, 15.Palaru, 16.Thevan, 17. Varunan, 18.Saratu 19. Kannia are names of the Theerthams believed to be located inside this tank.
Festival	PIRATHOSAM, The famous Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple. The Mahamaham festival, which takes place once every 12 years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February-March), is the main festival. The Mahamaham festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims from different parts of India. 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. . For More Details (www.mahamaham.net) . Every year in the month of 'Maasi' (February-March) a festival is conducted and the image of Lord Kumbeswara is taken out in a procession. It is celebrated for 10 days during that period. 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 Adikumbeswara and Goddess Mangalambigai is conducted in the month of 'Vaikasi' (May - June). Daily pujas are conducted six times from morning to evening.
Best Time	All seasons
Opening Schedule	5.30 a. m to 1. p.m., 3.p.m. to 10.p.m.
Visit Timings	5.30a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 10.p.m.
Pooja Schedule	7 a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 10.p.m.
special pooja
pooja details
Entry Formalities	Free
Accomodation	Many hotels and restaurant are there in Thanjavur , kumbakonam
Accesibility	THE WAYS OF APPROCH TO THIS TEMPLE Pilgrims coming form Madurai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore Salem etc., have to alight at Thanjavur Bus Stand and form there, they can come to Kumbakonam . Pilgrims form Madras, Neyveli, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur etc., have to alight at Kumbakonam bus stand and form there. Air The nearest airport is Trichy at a distance of about 160 Km.

Significance of 108

Set of mantra counting has 108 beads.

108 has been a sacred number in the Indian Subcontinent for a very long time.

This number is explained in many different ways.

The ancient Indians were excellent mathematicians

and 108 may be t

he product of a precise

mathematical operation

(e.g. 1 ¹ x 2 ² x 3 ³ = 1*1 x 2*2 x 3*3*3 =108)

which was thought to have special numerological significance.

Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math:

1 to 1st power=1;

2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2);

3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3).

1x4x27=108

Sanskrit alphabet:

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet.

Each has masculine and feminine,

shiva and shakti.

54 times 2 is 108.

Sri Yantra:

On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections.

Each intersections has masculine and feminine,

shiva and shakti qualities.

54 x 2 equals 108.

Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.

9 times 12:

Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual significance in many traditions.

9 times 12 is 108.

Also, 1 plus 8 equals 9. That 9 times 12 equals 108.

Heart Chakra:

The chakras are the intersections of energy lines,

and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra.

One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra,

and is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Marmas:

Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called chakras,

except have fewer energy lines converging to form them.

There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

Time:

Some say there are 108 feelings,

with 36 related to the past,

36 related to the present,

and 36 related to the future.

Astrology:

There are 12 constellations,

and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas.

9 times 12 equals 108.

Chandra is moon,

and kalas are the divisions within a whole.

Planets and Houses:

In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets.

12 times 9 equals 108.

Gopis of Krishna:

In the Krishna tradition,

there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.

1, 0, and 8:

1 stands for God or higher Truth,

0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice,

and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.

Sun and Earth:

The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.

Numerical scale:

The 1 of 108,

and the 8 of 108,

when added together equals 9,

which is the number of the numerical scale,

i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc.,

where 0 is not a number.

Smaller divisions:

The number 108 is divided,

such as in half,

third,

quarter,

or twelfth,

so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.

Islam:

The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.

Jain:

In the Jain religion,

108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, i

ncluding 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.

Sikh:

The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.

Chinese:

The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala,

which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads,

so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each.

Stages of the soul:

Atman,

the human soul or center goes

through 108 stages on the journey.

Meru:

This is a larger bead,

not part of the 108.

It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads.

It is the quiding bead,

the one that marks the beginning

and end of the mala.

Dance:

There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.

Pythagorean:

The nine is the limit of all numbers,

others existing and coming from the same.

ie: 0 to 9 is all one needs to make up an infinite amount of numbers.

Rigveda(10):

• 
  
  Aitareya ,


• 
  
  Atmabodha,


• 
  
  Kaushitaki,


• 
  
  Mudgala,


• 
  
  Nirvana,


• 
  
  Nadabindu,


• 
  
  Akshamaya,


• 
  
  Tripura,


• 
  
  Bahvruka,


• 
  
  Saubhagyalakshmi.


• 
  

Yajurveda(50):

• 
  
  Katha,


• 
  
  Taittiriya ,


• 
  
  savasya ,


• 
  
  Brihadaranyaka,


• 
  
  Akshi,


• 
  
  Ekakshara,


• 
  
  Garbha,


• 
  
  Prnagnihotra,


• 
  
  Svetasvatara,


• 
  
  Sariraka,


• 
  
  Sukarahasya,


• 
  
  Skanda,


• 
  
  Sarvasara


• 
  
  Adhyatma,


• 
  
  Niralamba,


• 
  
  Paingala,


• 
  
  Mantrika,


• 
  
  Muktika,


• 
  
  Subala,


• 
  
  Avadhuta,


• 
  
  Katharudra,


• 
  
  Brahma,


• 
  
  Jabala,


• 
  
  Turiyatita,


• 
  
  Paramahamsa,


• 
  
  Bhikshuka,


• 
  
  Yajnavalkya,


• 
  
  Satyayani,


• 
  
  Amrtanada,


• 
  
  Amrtabindu,


• 
  
  Kshurika,


• 
  
  Tejobindu,


• 
  
  Dhyanabindu,


• 
  
  Brahmavidya,


• 
  
  YogakundalinI,


• 
  
  Yogatattva,


• 
  
  Yogasikha,


• 
  
  Varaha,


• 
  
  Advayataraka,


• 
  
  Trisikhibrahmana,


• 
  
  mandalabrahmana,


• 
  
  Hamsa,


• 
  
  Kalisantaraaa,


• 
  
  Narayana,


• 
  
  Tarasara,


• 
  
  Kalagnirudra,


• 
  
  Dakshinamurti,


• 
  
  Pancabrahma,


• 
  
  Rudrahrdaya,


• 
  
  SarasvatIrahasya.

SamaVeda(16):

• 
  
  Kena,


• 
  
  Chandogya,


• 
  
  Mahat,


• 
  
  Maitrayani,


• 
  
  Vajrasuci,


• 
  
  Savitri,


• 
  
  Aruneya,


• 
  
  Kundika,


• 
  
  Maitreyi,


• 
  
  Samnyasa, J


• 
  
  abaladarsana,


• 
  
  Yogacudaman,


• 
  
  Avyakta,


• 
  
  Vasudevai,


• 
  
  Jabali,


• 
  
  Rudrakshajabala.

Atharvaveda(32):

• 
  
  Prasna ,


• 
  
  Mandukya,


• 
  
  Mundaka,


• 
  
  Atma,


• 
  
  Surya,


• 
  
  Narada-Parivrajakas,


• 
  
  Parabrahma,


• 
  
  Paramahamsa-Parivrajakas,


• 
  
  Pasupatha-Brahma,


• 
  
  Mahavakya,


• 
  
  Sandilya,


• 
  
  Krishna,


• 
  
  Garuda,


• 
  
  Gopalatapani,


• 
  
  Tripadavibhuti-mahnarayana,


• 
  
  Dattatreya,


• 
  
  Kaivalya,


• 
  
  NrsimhatapanI,


• 
  
  Ramatapani,


• 
  
  Ramarahasya,


• 
  
  HayagrIva,


• 
  
  Atharvasikha,


• 
  
  Atharvasira,


• 
  
  Ganapati,


• 
  
  Brhajjabala,


• 
  
  Bhasmajabala,


• 
  
  Sarabha,


• 
  
  Annapurna,


• 
  
  TripuratapanI,


• 
  
  Devi,


• 
  
  Bhavana,


• 
  
  SIta.