Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is a mid-size city and temple town in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu state of southern India.

Kumbakonam is primarily a market city for the agricultural villages surrounding it. Kumbakonam is sometimes called temple city because of the large number of temples within the city and in nearby areas. The festival of Mahamaham is celebrated every 12 years in Kumbakonam; the next Mahamaham is in 2016.

The great Indian mathematician Ramanujan and the 'silver-tongued orator' Srinivasa Sastry (who has the distinction of having corrected Sir Winston Churchill's English) are two well-known people from this town.

The town is surrounded by small villages of great historical importance. The agricultural region around the town was famous for its betelnuts and betel leaves. In the pre-independence era, it was a market town where people from all over the Cauvery delta region came and sold their goods.

Location

Kumbakonam is located about 313 kilometres away from Chennai on the south, about 90 km from Tiruchirappalli on the east, and about 40 km from Thanjavur on the northeast. The town is bounded by two rivers, the Cauvery River on the north and Arasalar River on the south. It has a gentle slope towards south from north.

History

Kumbakonam is at present a Selection Grade Municipality, and it is the headquarters of Kumbakonam Taluk. It is stated by Mr. Wilks that the town was once the Capital of Cholas in the 7th century, and Dr. Burnell also confirmed it. The British Government also recognised the importance and stationed a New Zilla Judge here from 1806 till 1863.

One of many temples, most striking is the Lord Sarangapany, a Vaishanavite temple. This was probably built up by the Nayak Kings during 15th Century. It consists of the twelve storied and 147 feet height.The Ramasamy temple which depicts the paintings of Ramayanam is another important Vaishanavite temple.

Somessar temple is situated in the southern portion of Sri Sarangapani temple. This temple is facing the northern side with a small Gopuram at the eastern portion near the entrance. The architectural style and element of this temple resembles the Dravidian Architecture of 13th century of the Chola period. Arumugam and Thenar Mozhi Ammal are the other deities located in this temple complex.

Kumbeswara temple is an important Saivaite temple situated almost in the central part of the town. The important festival of the town is the Mahamaham festival. This takes place once every 12 years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February/March), with lakhs of pilgrin from various parts of India visiting Kumbakonam and taking a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is situated in the heart of the town.

Nageswaran temple otherwise known as "Koothandavar Kovil", is located near the old bus stand area. Adithya Cholan of the Chola dynasty constructed this temple during 12th century. It stands as a great marvel of Chola's architecture, building technology and astronomy. The design and orientation are structured in such a way that it allows sunlight inside the temple only during the month of Chithirai, therefore, it bears another name called "Soorya Kottam " or "Keel Kottam ". The Karuvarai of Nageswaran temple is similar to that of Sarangapani temple, as it is made in the form of a Chariot. The temple consists of two Gopurams in the eastern and western directions.

The temple at Thirunageswarar (Oppliyappan Sannadhi) is a temple to the Lord Siva and is located 8 kilometres east of Kumbakonam. An important feature to mention in this temple is that of "Raaghu" bhagawan sannathi where milk "abhishekham" is performed daily during "Raagukaalam".At this time,the milk that is poured on the statue turns blue when it passes over the body and once again to white after it reaches the floor.This wonder is watched by many daily during the raagu kaalam. Sri Thirupureeswarar temple at Pateeswaram, 5 km south-east of Kumbakonam, was constructed during the 16th century by Govinda Dikshithar, a Minister of Naik King Acchathappa. Another famous temple is Swamimalai which is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. Swamimalai is situated 8 km west of Kumbakonam. Many Nayanmars have sung in praise of this temple.

The Government Arts College at Kumbakonam, known as "The Cambridge of South India", is one of the oldest colleges in the Tamil Nadu State. That College's Porter Hall was built in the memory of a former principal of the college in 1885. In 1853, a Protestant Church was erected in the town.

External links

• Temples in Kumbakonam (http://www.kumbakonamonline.com/abouttemp.html)