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.