Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

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Gowthameswarar Temple
Gowtamesvar.jpg
Gowthameswarar Temple before Kumbabishegam
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Thanjavur
Deity Gowthameswarar(Shiva )
Soundara Nayaki(goddess)
Location
Location Kumbakonam
State Tamil Nadu
Country India

Gauthameswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Hindu temple house of worship in Hinduism

A Hindu temple is a symbolic house, seat and body of god. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together, using symbolism to express the ideas and beliefs of Hinduism. The symbolism and structure of a Hindu temple are rooted in Vedic traditions, deploying circles and squares. It also represents recursion and equivalence of the macrocosm and the microcosm by astronomical numbers, and by "specific alignments related to the geography of the place and the presumed linkages of the deity and the patron". A temple incorporates all elements of Hindu cosmos—presenting the good, the evil and the human, as well as the elements of Hindu sense of cyclic time and the essence of life—symbolically presenting dharma, kama, artha, moksa, and karma.

Shiva Hindu god, supreme being of the universe

Shiva also known as Mahadeva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is one of the supreme beings within Shaivism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.

Thanjavur district District in Tamil Nadu, India

Thanjavur District is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur. The district is located in the delta of the Cauvery River and is mostly agrarian. As of 2011, Thanjavur district had a population of 2,405,890 with a sex-ratio of 1,035 females for every 1,000 males.

Contents

Location

This temple is located to the eastern bank of the Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam. [1]

Presiding deity

The moolavar presiding deity, is found in his manifestation as Gauthameswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Soundara Nayaki. The thread around the kumba fell in this place and the linga was formed. It is said that Gowthama muni to get rid of the sin due to killing of a cow worshipped the deity of the temple. [1]

Moolavar Sanskrit word referring to the main deity in a Hindu Temple. Moola means "main", which in turn refers to the primary deity in the temple

Moolavar or Mulavar is a Sanskrit word referring to the main deity in a Hindu Temple. Moola means "main", which in turn refers to the primary deity in the temple.

Parvati Hindu goddess

Parvati or Gauri is the Hindu goddess of fertility, love, beauty, marriage, children, and devotion; as well as of divine strength and power. Known by many other names, she is the gentle and nurturing aspect of the Supreme Hindu goddess Adi Parashakti and one of the central deities of the Goddess-oriented Shakta sect. She is the Mother goddess in Hinduism, and has many attributes and aspects. Each of her aspects is expressed with a different name, giving her over 100 names in regional Hindu stories of India. Along with Lakshmi and Saraswati, she forms the trinity of Hindu goddesses (Tridevi).

Lingam abstract or aniconic representation of Shiva, literally "sign, mark, evidence, representation, male procreative organ"

A lingam, sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu deity Shiva in Shaivism. It is a votary symbol revered in temples, smaller shrines, or as self-manifested natural objects. The lingam is often represented within a lipped, disc-shaped platform. Lingayats wear a lingam inside a necklace, called Ishtalinga.

Specialty

12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are :

Mahamaham' is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham pond located in the South Indian town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. Hindus consider taking a holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the day of Mahamaham as sacred. The last Mahamaham was celebrated on February 22, 2016 with over a million people from various places taking the holy dip in the Mahamaham tank.

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam temple in India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Someswaran Temple

Someswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.

Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam temple in India

Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king and is located in the centre of Kumbakonam.

This temple is one among them. [2]

Kumbabishegam

The Kumbabishegam of the temple was held on 9 September 2015. [3]

Kumbhabhishekham

Kumbhabhishekham, also known as Samprokshanam is a Hindu temple ritual that is believed to homogenize, synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity. Kumbha means the Head and denotes the Shikhara or Crown of the Temple and Abhisekham or Prokshanam is ritual bathing. Kumbhabhishekham is widely celebrated as a festival in South India.

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References

  1. 1 2 Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
  2. ↑ Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004
  3. ↑ குடந்தை கௌதமேஸ்வரர் கோயில் குடமுழுக்கு, Dinamani, Tamil Daily, 10 September 2015

9.9.2015 Kumbabishegam

Coordinates: 10°57′17″N79°22′47″E / 10.954854°N 79.379797°E / 10.954854; 79.379797

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