Description
Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Shiva. He is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort, Parvati is represented as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets.
History
It is believed that, once the world was facing destruction due to a devastating tsunami, Lord Brahma approached Lord Shiva to know from where he had to restart creation. Lord Shiva suggested that Brahma makes a magic pot with the sand collected from various sacred places and float it in the flood water and also taught the procedure of leaving it on the water. The pot stopped at a place. Lord Shiva shot an arrow on the pot. The nectar spilled and spread in all directions. That nectar mixed with the sand and became a Linga. This Linga is Kumbeswarar.
Importance/Significance
When Lord Shiva announced that the mango brought by Sage Narada would be presented to the one who wins a marathon round of the whole world. Ganesha circumambulated Shiva and Parvati and established the fact that the world to him is his parents. Circling around them fulfilled the condition of competition. He won the mango. Based on this philosophy, the prakara structure of the temple covers both the shrines. In other temples, the prakaras are separate. There is no abishek to the presiding deity. The Linga is broad at the base and sharp at the top as a needlepoint. The stones of the temple have musical tones. There is a lion sculpture in the Navarathri Mandap holding long stones on its head.
Facts/Mythology
The complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft and has four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower. It is 128 feet tall. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex has many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Theerthavari festival is celebrated in the Mahamagam tank between February and March. Sabthasthanam festival between April and May. Tirukalyanam (wedding festival) during May and June, Tirumanjanam during June and July, Aadi Perukku and Aadi Pooram (July-August), Panguni festival (March-April) with special pujas, Butter pot festival on the Aswathi day between February and March, on the 8th day, and the procession of Panchamurthis are the festivals grandly celebrated in the temple. Masimagam is the biggest festival in Tamilnadu.
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