Maha maham - Kumbakonam - Kumbha Mela of TamilNadu

Mahamaham At Kumbakonam :

Mahamaham is a Hindu Kumba Mela festival celebrated every 12 years in a temple-town called Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. The festival takes place at a particular time as determined by astrological position: during the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (February-March) when the conjunction of the moon with the lunar asterism (Maha Nakshatra) and when Jupiter is in the constellation of Leo.

Lord Brahma said

People are washing their sins on the holy rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River, Pavoshnl and Kaveri River. These rivers wanted to get rid of their sins and approached Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma advised these rivers if you meet together and take bath in Mahamaham would wash off all the sins. Hence, during the time of Mahamaham festival, it is also believed that taking bath in the holy stream of water from the famous rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari River, Mahanadi River, Narmada River, Pavoshnl and Kaveri River, which are mixed together in Mahamaham tank, would get rid of sins according to Hindu religion.

Kumbakonam Holy Bath
Kumbakonam Holy Bath


Mahamaham day worship

On the Mahamaham day, devotes first visit to 12 Siva temples, followed by holly dips in the 20 wells, visit to Kumbeswarar Temple, dip in the holy tank and finally in Kaveri river ( MelaKaveri - Temple for Goddess Kaveri, Kumbakonam ) to complete the process. metal idols of the deities of the main temples of Kumbakonam is carried on palanquins or chariots and taken around the different streets of the town.
Crowd in Mahamaham Kumbakonam

During this festival, thousands of Hindu devotees come to Kumbakonam, and take bath in a tank named Mahamaham tank. The tank is surrounded by 16 small Mandapams and a "Nava Kannika temple" in the Eastern Side, Sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank.
There are 20 theerthams in the tank and bathing in the waters of each theertham rids of a specific sin & bestows a specific blessing.

Kumbakonam Mahamaham Tank
Kumbakonam Mahamaham Tank

The 20 theerthams in the Mahaamaham tank 

1.  Indra Theertham - provides moksham  
2.  Agni Theertham - rids Brahmahatthi dosham  
3.  Yama Theertham - rids fear of death  
4.  Nruthi Theertham - rids from fear of evil spirits  
5.  Varuna Theertham - provides long life  
6.  Vaayu Theertham - rids diseases  
7.  Gubera Theertham - provides prosperity  
8.  Isaana Theertham - moksham (to reach Lord Siva's feet)  
9.  Brahma Theertham - pacifies ancestors  
10. Gangai Theertham - provides Kailasa padavi  
11. Yamuna Theertham - provides wealth  
12. Godavari Theertham - fulfills wishes  
13. Narmada Theertham - provides physical strength  
14. Saraswathi Theertham - provides Gnaanam (enlightenment)  
15. Cauveri Theertham - provides knowledge  
16. Kumari Theertham - blessings to pets  
17. Payodini Theertham - provides joy  
18. Sarayu Theertham - removes mental strain  
19. Arubathaaru(66)kodi Theertham - removes grief & provides hapiness  
20. Deva Theertham / Naaga Theertham - rids of all sins and provides Devendra's post /   
rids of Kaala Sarpa dosham

After a dip in the Mahamaham tank, devotees should take a dip in the Potraamarai kulam and the Cauvery river to complete the ritual.

16 Gopuram Tower :

1.Brammatheertheshwarar 2.Mukundeshwarar 3.Dhaneshwarar 4.Virushabeshwarar 5.Baaneshwarar 6.Koneshwarar 7.Bhakthikeshwarar 8.Bhairaveshwarar 9.Agasthyeshwarar 10.Vyaneshwarar 11.Umaibakeshwarar 12.Nairutheeshwarar 13.Brammeshwarar 14.Gangatheshwarar 15.Mukthatheertheshwarar 16. Shethrabaleshwarar

Mahamaham Connected Shiva Temples :

12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival, 10 temples are in Kumbakonam(Sacred Temples of Lord Shiva in Kumbakonam). Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswara Temple, Someswarar Temple, Koteeswarar Temple, Kahahasteeswarar Temple, Gowthameswarar Temple, Amirthakalasanathar Temple, Banapuriswarar Temple, Abimukeswarar Temple, Kambatta Visvanathar Temple and Ekambareswarar Temple.

Mahamaham Connected Vishnu Temples

5 Vishnu temples are connected with Mahamaham festival, all temples are in Kumbakonam. Sarangapani Temple, Chakrapani Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and Varahaperumal Temple.

one of the temple Ramaswamy Temple
One of the temple Ramaswamy Temple

Temples in and around Kumbakonam :

Seven Sacred Temples of Lord Shiva in Kumbakonam
भगवान शिव के ७ पावन मंदिर - कुम्बकोणम
Mouna Swamigal of Kumbakonam, TamilNadu
मौन स्वामिगल , कुम्बकोनम, तमिल नाडु
Temple for Cancer Moon Sign - Karkata Eswara Shiva Temple
कर्क राशि से सम्बंधित मंदिर - कर्कटेश्वर शिव मंदिर
Darasuram Shiva Temple - UNESCO Heritage temple
दरासुरम शिव मंदिर - कुम्बकोनम
Lord Ganesh with Human Face at Kootanur Shiva Temple, Kumbakonam
MelaKaveri - Temple for Goddess Kaveri, Kumbakonam
Architectural Delight - Rama Temple, Kumbakonam
वास्तु कला का नमूना - राम मंदिर , कुम्बकोनम
तिरुवायुर शिवा मंदिर, अट्कोंडर मंदिर एवं आदि शंकर यज्ञ
Thirunedunkalam Shiva Temple, Trichy
थिरुनेदुनकालम शिव मंदिर , त्रिची
Swarna Akarshana Bhairava - One who attracts wealth
स्वर्ण आकर्षण भैरव - धन दौलत आकर्षित करने वाले
Srivanchiyam Shivan and Yama Temple, TamilNadu
यम और शिव एक साथ - स्रिवंचियन , तमिल नाडु
Pinnavasal Swamigal and Aandavan Pichai
पिन्नावसाल स्वामिगल और आन्दवन पिचई
Hanuman Temple inside a Dam - Kumbhakonam
हनुमान मंदिर जो एक बांध में स्थित है -कुम्बकोणम
श्री गणेश जिनका शीश मनुष्य का है - कूटनूर शिव मंदिर , कुम्बकोणम
श्रीरंगम मंदिर और श्री रामानुज का देह
Rudra Padam (Feet of Lord Shiva) at Tiruvengadu, TamilNadu
Bhaskararayar and Bhaskara Rajapuram Siva Temple
भसकररयर और भास्कर राजपुरम शिव मंदिर
तिरुविडैमरुधुर शिव मंदिर कुम्बकोनम
Tiruvidaimarudhur Shiva Temple for Brahma Hatya Dosha Nivarthi at Kumbakonam
Food Abhishekam in Shiva Temples - Gangai Konda Cholapuram
शिव मंदिरो के भोजन (खाद्य) अभिषेक


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