Even today, Mahamaham has significance for the people: TOI

டைம்ஸ் ஆப் இந்தியா நாளிதழில் (ஜனவரி 23, 2016, ப.2) வெளியாகியுள்ள மகாமகம் பற்றிய கட்டுரையில் நான் கூறியுள்ள கருத்துகள் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளன. அக்கட்டுரையை முழுமையாக எனது வலைப்பூவில் பகிர்வதில் மகிழ்கிறேன், அவ்விதழுக்கு நன்றியுடன்.

Feel happy to share a write up on Mahamaham in Times of India (Trichy Edition, January 23, 2016, p.2) in which I was quoted, with thanks to TOI.

Even today, 

Mahamaham has significance for the people

Only place where festival is celebrated in a temple tank

M.T.Saju@timesgroup.com

Chennai: Want to have a dip with deities? Here's a chance. The Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam is gearing up for a big festival during February 13 to 22. The Mahamahamam, which takes place once in 12 years, will witness a large number of devotees from across the country taking a holy dip in the tank on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Masi (February-March). Interestingly, the deities of 12 Siva temples and five Vaishnava temples will have a holy dip ('tirttavari') alongwith people on this auspicious day.

"Mahamaham has great significance for people today. We use the festival as a reference point for events in our lives. If some one constructed a house, he would say it was built after (or before) Mahamaham.. The event is widely celebrated in the social life of people here", said B Jambulingam, heritage expert and superintendent of Tamil University, Thanjavur.

Historians say the Mahamaham has been celebrated in the Kumbakonam tank since 1518. Ilaya (small) Mahamaham, a festival celebrated a year before the Mahamaham, was held here in 2015.   A large number of devotees across the country are expected to participate in the festival. "As taking a holy tank on that particular date and time is considered very auspicious, the devotees feel their sins are wiped out. But there is something beyond this. This is a great event where people share their ideas and beliefs," he said. 

Jambulingam said the most interesting fact was that "this is the only place where Mahamaham is celebrated in a temple tank".

During the Ilaya Mahamaham in 2015, temple car festivals were held at various Siva and Vaishnava temples of Kumbakonam; tirttavari was also conducted. During the tirttavari, processional deities of the Siva temples come around the Mahamaham tank and a large number of devotees participated in the event. 

The 12 Siva temples which are connected with  Mahamaham are Kasi Viswanathar temple, Kumbeswarar temple, Nageswarar temple, Someswaqrar temple, Kotiswarar temple, Kalahasteeswarar temple, Gothameswarar temple, Amirthakalasanathar temple, Banapuriswarar temple, Abimkeswarar temple, Kambatta Viswanathar temple and Ekambareswarar temple. Sarangapani temple, Chakrapani temple, Ramasamy temple, Rajagopalasamy temple and Varaharaperumal temple are the five Vishnu temples participating in the Mahamaham.

S.Venkiteshwaran, a retired history professor, said the Mahamaham in Kumbakonam is getting more prominence the days. "This is the only place where the festival is celebrated with the cooperation of devotees of Shiva and Vishnu. This gives a secular feel to the great event", he said.   

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Ilaya Mahamaham (2015) Tirttavari 

Kumbeswarar and His Consort

Ilaya Mahamaham (2015) Car Festival 

Kumbeswarar temple cars

Mahamaham Tank is getting ready (January 2016)  

Mahamaham, said to be the largest congregation of humanity on the banks of a tank known as Mahamaham tank, takes place in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.  During 2016 this festival will be celebrated with much enthusiasm from 13th to 22nd February. Large number of devotees throughout the length and breadth of the country are expected to partake in the memorable event. As taking holy dip in the tank on that particular date and time, during the full moon of Tamil month of Masi (February-March), is considered auspicious people wish to come over here.  By having holy dip in the tank they feel that their sins are wiped out. On the auspicious day the deities have holy dip known as tirttavari, alongwith the people. The deities of the 12 Siva temples have holy dip at Mahamaham while the deities of five Vaishnava temples at Cauvery. Kumbabishegam were performed in many temples of Kumbakonam to mark the occasion. As the Mahamaham is fast approaching, a peep into the past will help to understand about its features.   

Mahamaham through the ages
For more than five centuries Mahamaham is celebrated. So far Mahamams were held during 1518, 1529, 1541, 1553, 1565, 1577, 1589, 1600, 1612, 1624, 1636, 1648, 1660, 1672, 1683, 1695, 1707, 1719, 1731, 1743, 1755, 1767, 1788, 1802, 1814, 1826, 1838, 1850, 1861, 1873, 1885, 1897, 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 and 2004.  During the last century it was held on 6.3.1909, 22.2.1921, 10.3.1933, 26.2.1945, 25.2.1956, 14.2.1968, 1.3.1980 and 18.2.1992. While the first Mahamaham of the 21st century was held on 6.3.2004 and present one is the second of this century. 

Ilaya Mahamaham 2015
The preceding year of the Mahamaham year is known as Younger or Junior Mahamaham, ie. Ilaya Mahamaham (in Tamil). 

Temple car of Kumbeswarar

Tirttavari held during Ilaya Mahamaham 2015 on the banks of Mahamamaham tank

Processional deities of Kasi Viswanathar  and His consort during Tirttavari during Ilaya Mahamaham 2015

During the Ilaya Mahamaham, temple car festivals were held in February 2015 in various Siva and Vishnu temples of Kumbakonam and tirttavari was conducted in 3rd March 2015. During the tirttavari processional deities of the Siva temples came around the Mahamaham tank and large number of devotees participated in the event.  
   

Temples connected with Mahamaham

Siva Temples:
The Siva temples which are connected with Mahamaham are Kasi Viswanathar temple, Kumbeswarar temple, Nageswarar temple, Someswarar temple, Kotiswarar temple, Kalahasteeswarar temple, Gouthameswarar temple, Amirthakalasanathar temple, Banapuriswarar temple, Abimukeswarar temple, Kambatta Viswanathar temple and Ekambeswarar temple. In all these Siva temples, linga is found in the sanctum sanctorum.      

Kasi Viswanathar temple
The temple is situated on the northern banks of Mahamaham tank. The presiding deity of the temple is Kasi Viswanathar. His consort is known as Visalakshi. Gnanasambandar, Sekkizhar and Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai praised the deity of the temple. In this temple navakannis are found. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 9th February 2014.   

Kumbeswarar temple
This temple is situated at the centre of the town. The presiding deity of the temple is Kumbeswarar. His consort is known as Mangalambigai. Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar praised the deity of the temple. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 5th June 2009.   

Nageswarar temple
This temple is situated at the centre of the town. The presiding deity of the temple is Nageswarar. His consort is known as Periyanayagi. Tirunavukkarasar praised the deity of the temple. This temple is famous for the minute sculptures around the sanctum sanctorum and the chariot like mandapa pulled by horses. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 29th November 2015. 

Someswarar temple
This temple is situated near Portamarai tank. The presiding deity of the temple is Someswarar. His consort is known as Somanayagi. Gnanasambandar praised the deity of the temple. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 2nd November 2015. 

Kotiswarar temple

This temple is situated at Kottayur in Kumbakonam-Swamamilai road. The presiding deity of the temple is Kotiswarar. His consort is known as Panthadunayagi. Tirunavukkarasar praised the deity of the temple. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015. 

Kalahasteeswarar temple
This temple is situated at Mutt street on the southern bank of Cauvery. The presiding deity of the temple is Kalahasteeswarar. His consort is known as Gnanambigai. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015. 

Gouthameswarar temple

This temple is situated at the south-west corner of Mahamaham tank. The presiding deity of the temple is Gouthameswarar. His consort is known as Soundaranayagi. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 9th September 2015. 

Amirthakalasanathar temple
This temple is situated at a distance of 3 kms rom Kumbakonam at Sakkottai in Kumbakonam-Valangaiman road. The presiding deity of the temple is Amirthakalasanathar. His consort is known as Amirthavalli. Sundarar praised the deity of the temple. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 22nd October 2015.  

Banapuriswarar temple
This temple is situated at Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of the temple is Banupuriswarar. His consort is known as Somakamalambal. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015. 

Abimukeswarar temple
The temple is situated on the eastern banks of Mahamaham tank. The presiding deity of the temple is Abimukeswarar. His consort is known as Amuthavalli. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015.  

Kambatta Viswanathar temple
The temple is situated on the Kumbakonam-Thanjavur road, at the south-west of Kumbeswarar temple. The presiding deity of the temple is Viswanathar. His consort is known as Ananthanithi. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015.  

Ekambeswarar temple
The temple is situated near Mahamaham tank. The presiding deity of the temple is Ekambareswarar. His consort is known as Kamatchi. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 22nd October 2015.  

Vishnu Temples:
The Vishnu temples which are connected with Mahamaham are Sarngapani temple, Chakrapani temple, Ramasamy temple, Rajagopalasamy temple and Varahaperumal temple.  

Sarngapani temple

The temple is situated at the centre of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of the temple is Sarngapani. His consort is known as Komalavalli. The is one of the temples sung by Alwars. The temple has a chariot-like sanctum sanctorum. This is famous for its majestic rajagopuram.   The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 13th July 2015. 

Chakrapani temple

The temple is situated at the south of Cauvery in Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of the temple is Chakrapani. His consort is known as Vijayavalli. Due to the worship of Sun this place is known as Baskara Kshetram. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 8th November 2015. 

Ramasamy temple

The temple is situated at Kumbakonam. The speciality of the temple is Rama is found in pattabishega posture alongwith His consort Sita, Lakshmanar, Baradhan, Satrukanan and Anjaneya in the sanctum sanctorum. This temple is famous for its beautiful pillar mandapa with sculptures. Around the sanctum sanctorum the Ramayana is found in painting. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 9th September 2015. 

Rajagopalasamy temple
The temple is situated at Big Bazaar street in Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of the temple is Rajagopalasamy. His consort is known as Sengamalavalli. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 19th June 2015. The present rajagopuram at the entrance was built during this Kumbabishegam.

Varahaperumal temple

The temple is situated in Kumbakonam.The presiding deity of the temple is Varahaperumal. His consort is known as Boodevi. As the presiding deity has the face of a pig He was known as Varaham. The Kumbabishegam of the temple took place on 26th October 2015. 

A trip to Kumbakonam will make the visitor to see all these temples and enjoy the art and architectural style found in them. May the Mahamaham of 2016 bring prosperity to one and all. 

Courtesy:

Mahamama Peruvizha 2004, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

Mahamaham Souvenir 1992

Mahamaham Souvenir 2004 

updated on 21st Oct 2016