Mahāmaham

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple

अन्य क्षेत्रे कृतं पापं पुण्य क्षेत्रे विनश्यति

पुण्य क्षेत्रे कृतं पापं वारानास्यां विनश्यति

वारानास्यां कृतं पापं कुम्बकोने विनश्यति

कुम्बकोने कृतं पापं कुम्बकोने विनश्यति

Transliteration:

anya-kshetrE krtam pApam punya-kshetrE vinasyati 

punya-kshtetrE krtam pApam VaranAsyam vinasyati 

VAranAsyAm krtam pApam KumbakOnE vinasyati 

KumbakOne krtam pApam kumbakOnE vinasyati

Meaning:

You can sin anywhere and wash it away in a holy spot 

You can sin in a holy spot and wash it away in Varanasi 

You can sin in Varanasi and wash it away in Kumbakonam 

But if you sin in Kumbakonam, You can wash it away only in Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is located along the banks of the Kaveri and Arasalar rivers in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. Kumbakonam is steeped in antiquity, dating to the Sangam era and ruled by every dynasty from the early Cholas to the Vijaynagara kings, the Nayaks, and the Marathas. Kumbakonam’s lanes are studded with big and small temples, and the air often resounds with the sound of Vedic chants. 

Kumbakonam Veda Patashala

According to legend, when Brahma’s pot (kumbha), containing the seeds of life, was destroyed at the end of an epoch, its nectar flowed into this tank giving the town its name of Kumbakonam (the corner where the kumbha fell). Once in 12 years, the massive Mahamaham festival takes place here, when millions of devotees gather to take a ritual dip in the tank. It is often described as the Kumbh Mela of the South.

Mahamaham occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March) in the star of Magam. The festival takes place during the full moon of the Tamil month of Maasi (February-March) when the conjunction of the moon with the lunar asterism (Magha Nakshatra) and when Jupiter is in the constellation of Leo. This once in a 12 year gala event falls on February 13-22, 2016. Vast crowds gather at Kumbakonam to have a dip in the tank, along with saints and philosophers. 

Theerthavari at Mahamaham Tank

12 Shiva Temples that participate in the Theerthavari at Mahamaham Tank:

1. Kasi Viswanathar Temple
2. Kumbeswarar Temple
3. Nageswara Temple
4. Someswarar Temple
5. Koteeswarar Temple
6. Kalahasteeswarar Temple
7. Gowthameswarar Temple
8. Amirthakalasanathar Temple
9. Banapuriswarar Temple
10. Abimukeswarar Temple
11. AdhiKambatta Visvanathar Temple
12. Ekambareswarar Temple, Of them 10 temples are in Kumbakonam.

Shrines of Mahamaham Tank

The 16 Lingas

There are 16 Mandapams (Shrines) around the corners and sides of the tank.These towers are considered to be forms of Lord Shiva.

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 Tank

The giant water tank located in the heart of Kumbakonam town is the physical and cultural nucleus of Kumbakonam. covers an area of 6.2 acres and is trapezoidal in shape. The tank is surrounded by 16 small Mandapams (Shrines) and has 21 wells inside the tank. The names of the wells carry the name of Lord Shiva or that of Rivers of India. Govinda Dikshitar, the chieftain of Ragunatha Nayak of Thanjavur, constructed the sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank.

The 20 theerthams in the Mahamaham 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 Shiva'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 & provides Devendra's post /rids of Kaala Sarpa dosham

Mahamaham bathing festival is concentrated on a single day, the concourse of pilgrims being all the more. All the rivers of India are believed to meet at the tank on this day and a purificatory bath at this tank on this day is considered equal to the combined dips in all the holy rivers of India. Festival deities from all the temples in Kumbakonam arrive at the tank at noon, the devotees bathe along with the deities   - it is called "Theerthavari". After a dip in the Mahamaham tank, devotees should take a dip in the Potraamarai kulam & the Cauvery river to complete the ritual."

History of Mahamaham

That the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam is an ancient one is undoubted. But it cannot be denied that there are large gaps in the event’s history. For instance while the Puranas record that Rama bathed in the waters of the tank, there is nothing much after that till the 15th century CE.

Mahamaham Theerthavari

The annual Masi Maham was an important celebration for the Cholas. Tirugnanasambandar mentions it in Poompavai Pathigam composed at Mylapore. But he is silent about Mahamaham in his verses on Kudanthai – the Tamil name for Kumbakonam. It is generally agreed that what Sambandar refers to as Tirukudanthaikaronam is the Kasi Viswanatha Swami temple at Kumbakonam. This is the shrine that stands on the banks of the famed Mahamaham tank. And yet his verses on the deity beginning with the lines ‘Vaaraar Kongai Maadorbaga’ do not mention the event. When did the legend of the waters of the Ganga entering the tank once in 12 years become popular? We have no idea.

It appears that the Mahamaham was an event of local significance till the time Kumbakonam came under the Vijayanagar Empire.

An inscription at Nagalapuram has it that Krishnadevar Raya made donations to the temple there en route to attending the Mahamaham at Kumbakonam in 1,445 Saka era that corresponds to 1,523 CE. It is therefore clear that by then it was important enough for the emperor himself to bathe in the waters and make a powerful statement.

Govinda Dikshitar

It is however only under the Thanjavur Nayaks that the Mahamaham really came into its own. It owed its ascendancy to the status of a mega event to Govinda Dikshitar, minister to three of the Nayaks between the 16th and 17th centuries, and a great scholar in his own right.

During the Vijayanagara rule, between the 16th to the 17th century Thanjavur, Madurai and Senji and other regions were ruled by Nayaks who acted as provincial governors for the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided the Tamil country into three territories - Madurai, Thanjavur and Senji. The Nayaks ended the Muslim rule in Madurai during their time. The Nayaks, whose mother tongue was Telugu, were efficient rulers and patrons of arts, music and literature. The Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu saw vast improvements during their successful reign. Temples at Madurai, Srirangam, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, etc underwent major repair and renovation work.

Among the Nayak rulers of Thanjavur, Raghunatha Nayak (1600–1634), son of Acuthappa Nayak (1560–1614) is considered as the greatest in the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty. He is quite well-known for his support of scholarly research and was an ardent patron of music and art, never failing to keep up the legacy of his forefathers, in particular his father. One of his wives, Ramabhadramba equally evinced keen interest in arts and literature and she was a gifted poet. He was ably assisted by his minister and confidant Sri Govinda Dikshitar.

This important mega Hindu festival has close association with the Nayak ruler of Thanjavur Ragunatha Nayak and his wise council and minister Govinda Dikshitar. It will be quite appropriate to remember the Nayak ruler and his minister at this juncture, because they were the ones who popularized Mahamaham festival and since their time this ''once in 12 year event'' has gained prominence and religious significance. 

Govinda Dikshitar was a distinguished minister of three successive Nayaks of Thanjavur in the the 16th and 17th centuries CE. Not only was he a man of great sclorlarship and erudition, but also was a patron of music and arts. Being a Kannadiga Brahmin, belonging to the Hoysala Karnataka Brahmin community, he was a pious Hindu and directed the Nayak rulers in the right direction. Under his able administration and effective guidance the Nayak rulers undertook renovation of innumerable Saivite and Vaishnavite temples in some parts of Tamil Nadu, including Thiruvannamalai and Rameswaram. Earlier Govida Dikshitar  worked in the Vijayanagara kingdom. It were the Nayak rulers who brought Dikshitar and other Brahmins to the fertile Cauvery delta of Thanjavur to take care of palace administration, maintenance of temples, poojas, etc to keep up their tradition and culture. In later years, it is believed, that Dikshitar lived in a palatial palace in Patteswaram (famous for Durga temple), near Kumbakonam. There is an idol of Govinda Dikshitar on the temple premises of Patteswaram. The Ramaswamy Temple, built in 1620 and the commercial corridor at the Chakrapani temple in Kumbakonam were the contributions of Ragunatha and Dikshitar.

Govinda Dikshitar and Ragunatha Nayak built the sixteen Dhana Mandapams, stone steps in the ghats and shrines of Shiva around the Mahamaham tank for the comforts of visiting pilgrims. Besides, Dikshitar donated gold equal to his weight during the construction of the Mandapams. The Brahmatherthewara temple at Kumbakonam was yet another contribution of the Nayak ruler. Because the Nayak ruler had deep faith and trust in Govinda Dikshitar, who had an humble beginning, he enjoyed more or less royal patronage in the Nayak kingdom 

The people of Tamil Nadu owe a debt of gratitude to these two great personalities of by-gone era whose religious and cultural contributions to the Tamil region were immense.

The Nayak rulers had highest respect for Govinda Dikshitar for his wisdom and expertise in running their kingdom and used to address him as (a mark of respect) "Ayyan" (in Tamil meaning honorable and respected).

The Nayak rulers named several places after him. The Ayyan Kulam (water tank) on West Main street and Ayyankadai street ( a bazaar street) in Thanjavur, Ayyan (m) pettai town near Thanjavur, Govindapuram (famous for Sri Bhodhendral Athistanam) and Govindakudi village near Kumbakonam bear his name in recognition of his contribution to the Nayak kingdom under three consecutive rulers.

Temple records point out that Acchudappa Nayak is said to have given gold equal to his weight (Tulaabaaram). Govinda Dikshitar generously used it to renovate the Mahamahm tank, the 16 mandapams and the tank steps along with Ragunatha Nayak. Dikshitar's main contributions are vimanams for the mandapams. 

Dikshitar  was in charge of renovating the Adi Kumbeswarar Koil at Kumbakonam with a new main tower - Raja Gopuram and the kudamuzhukku took place during the reign of Sevappa Nayakkar. 

The silver Rishaba (bull) vahanam & the silver chariot in Thiruvidaimarudur Shiva temple were his contributions.

There is an idol of Govinda Dikshta and his wife Nagamma in Adi Kumbeswarar temple as well. 

Sri Dikshitar was a man of charitable disposition. As a tribute to his munificence, streets in Thiruvidaimarudur, Thiruvenkaadu, etc. were named Mahadhaana streets (great charities).

Collated from: http://mahamahamfestival.in, http://www.natgeotraveller.in, http://navrangindia.blogspot.in