Kumbhakonam
is considered to
be a very holy town
according to Hindu
religion. It falls
in the Tanjore district.
It used to be once
the capital of the
Chola kings.
Kumbhakonam is home
to a lot of famous
temples. The Sarangapani
temple is very famous.
According to a legend,
Sage Bhrigu was
asked to test the
superiority of Brahma,
Vishnu and Siva.
Sage Bhrigu declared
that it was Lord
Vishnu who was superior
as the Lord did
not retaliate when
he kicked him to
test the lord. Bhrigu
repented for his
action and wanted
to serve Lord in
the next two births.
In the first birth
he was known as
Guha and in the
 next
one, Sage Hema.
He also requested
for three boons
namely that Goddess
Lakhmi become his
daughter. the Lord
his son in law and
that he attains
Sayujya Moksham.
It is believed that
Goddess Lakshmi
was found in a lotus
in this place near
Kumbhakonam. It
is believed that
to fulfill the boons
of him being the
son in law of the
sage, Lord Vishnu
appeared here and
got married to Sage
Hema’s daughter.
This place hence
is also known as
Kalyanapuram. The
temple of Sarangapani
is given the third
place of importance
the first and second
being the Vishnu
temples in Srirangam
and Tirupati respectively.
There are numerous
ornamental figures
here. The temple
tank is considered
to be very holy.
There are many famous
Siva temples in
Kumbhakonam of which
the Adi Kumbheswarar
temple is the most
sacred. It is said
that Lord Siva disguised
himself and aimed
an arrow at the
vessel consisting
of the holy nectar.
When the arrow was
shot the vessel
broke into five
pieces out of which
were born 85 Siva
temples. It is a
practice that these
temples are visited
first before entering
the Adi Kumbheswara
temple. Out of the
pieces of the pot
Siva made a lingam
which is supposed
to have been installed
in the Adi Kumbeshwar
Kshetra. There are
many holy tanks
in Kumbhakonam.
The Mutt of Sri
Sankaracharya of
Sri Kanchi is in
Kumbhakonam.
Kumbhakonam is well
connected by rail,
by the Southern
railway services.
The place can be
approached by bus
as well. |
