Kumbakonam

Arulmigu Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple :

Arulmigu Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is located in Swamimalai, a town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, and is known for its beautiful architecture and its unique location atop a hill. The temple was built in the 7th century by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, and was later expanded by the Cholas and the Pandyas. The temple complex is spread over a large area, and includes a number of shrines, halls, and courtyards. The main shrine houses the idol of Lord Murugan, which is made of gold and silver. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site, and is visited by millions of devotees every year. The most important festival celebrated at the temple is the Vaikasi Vishakam festival, which takes place in the month of May or June. The festival lasts for 10 days, and includes a number of religious rituals and processions. It is well-maintained and is a popular tourist destination. The temple complex is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, and there is a nominal fee for entry.

Dharasuram Temple:

Dharasuram Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three Great Living Chola Temples, along with the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The temple was built by the Chola king Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE. It is a popular pilgrimage site, and is visited by millions of devotees every year. The most important festival celebrated at the temple is the Brahmotsavam, which takes place in the month of October. The festival lasts for 10 days, and includes a number of religious rituals and processions.The Dharasuram Temple is a beautiful and historic temple that is a must-visit for anyone interested in Hindu culture and architecture. It is a place of peace and tranquility, and is a great place to relax and connect with your inner spirit.

Sarangapani Temple :

The Sarangapani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alvars. This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams. The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram where the goddess Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of Maharishi Bhrigu. The other four temples of the Pancha Kshethram are Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem, Oppiliappan temple, Nachiyar Koil and Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala.

The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a huge granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines and the water bodies of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m). The Potramarai tank, the temple tank, is located opposite to the western entrance of the temple.

Mottai Gopura Vasal Athi Kumbeswarar Temple :

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical, greatest work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The temple complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2) and houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet (39 m) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagara period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone.

Nageswaran Temple :

Nageswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, the holy abodes of Shiva revered by the 63 Nayanmars, or Tamil poet-saints. The temple is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River. The temple is believed to have been built in the 9th century CE by the Chola king Aditya Chola I. It was later expanded by the Cholas, Vijayanagara Empire, and Madurai Nayaks. The temple complex is spread over a large area and includes a number of shrines, halls, and courtyards. The Nageswaran Temple is home to a number of festivals throughout the year. The most important festival celebrated at the temple is the Brahmotsavam, which takes place in the month of April. The festival lasts for 10 days and includes a number of religious rituals and processions.

Shir Brahma Temple :

Kumbakonam Brahma Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is dedicated mainly to Vishnu, as the moolavar presiding deity, and He is known as Vedanarayanaperumal over here. His consort, Lakshmi, is known as Vedavalli. At the right side of the sanctum sanctorum Brahma is found in a separate shrine. He is flanked by Saraswati and Gayatri. At the left, Yoganarasimha is found with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Though the presiding deity is called as Vedanarayanaperumal, this temple is generally known as Brahma Temple.

Also, it is not the only temple dedicated to Brahma in the world, the other temple being the Brahma Temple, Pushkar, in Pushkar, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Arulmigu Kampahareswar Thirukovil :

The Kampaheswarar Temple or kampa-hara-ishvarar ( kampa-hareswarar ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva. It is situated in Thirubuvanam, a village in Thanjavur district in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu, on the Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam road. Shiva is worshiped as “Kampahareswarar” as he removed the quaking (Skt. Kampa) of a king who was being haunted by a Brahmarakshasa. It was built by Kulothunga Chola III and is considered the last of the four masterpieces built during the Medieval Chola era.

The temple has a shrine for Sharabha, a depiction of Shiva, a part-lion and part-bird beast in Hindu mythology, who, according to Sanskrit literature, is eight-legged and more powerful than a lion or an elephant, possessing the ability to clear a valley in one jump. The temple is considered in the line of Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, with the trio forming the Great Living Chola Temples. As per Hindu legend, Shiva is believed to have relieved Kampa (quaking) of a king haunted by evil spirits on account of the king killing a Brahmin by mistake. This led to the name of Kampahareshvara. As per another legend, Shiva is believed to have assumed the form to quench the fury of Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu. It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Appar.