The Temple
The temple is in existence from Chola times of 7th century and has been widely expanded by Nayaks during the 15-17th century. The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed rajagopuram(gateway tower) 125 ft tall It is spread over 4 acres in the centre of the town. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along an east-west axis has triple set of gopurams.
Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and sand. Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is his consort and her shrine is present parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine. The temple has a colonnaded hall and a good collection of silver vahanas (sacred vehicles used to carry deities during festival processions). Beyond the flagstaff, a hallway whose columns feature painted brackets representing yali (a mythological creature) leads to the gopuram..The Navarathiri Mandapam (Hall of Navrathricelebration) has 27 stars and 12 rasis (constellations) carved in a single block.The idol of Subramanya having six hands instead of 12, stone nagaswarams (pipe insrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the temple.
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