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2025-02-14T04:27:09Z

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{{other uses|Kashi Vishwanath Temple (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kasi Viswanathar Temple
| image = Kasiviswanathar1.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|57|23.86|N|79|22|55.92|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = Kudanthai Karonam
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tanjore]]
| location = [[Kumbakonam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Kasi Viswanathar<br>([[Shiva]])
Visalakshi ([[Parvathi]]),<br>Nava Kannigas
| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = [[Mahamaham tank]]
| tower =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to Lord [[Shiva]], located in [[Kumbakonam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar, and 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]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1961, Volume 7|year=1961|publisher=Director of Census publication}}</ref>

The temple complex covers two acres and is located close to the [[Mahamaham tank]]. It houses two gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''. The tallest is the western tower, with seven stories and a height of {{convert|72|ft|m|0}}. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Navakanniyar being the most prominent.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The ''Masi Magam'' festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February–March) is the most prominent festival.

The present masonry structure was built during the [[Thanjavur Nayak|Nayak]] during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:9 Indian rivers sangam, Mahamaham tank, Kumbh tirtha site, Kumbhakonam Tamil Nadu.jpg|200px|thumb|left|[[Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam|Mahamaham tank]]]]
This place has been referred to in [[Tevaram]] written by Saint Poet (7th century CE) [[Thirugnana Sambanthar]] and [[Appar|Thirunavukkarasar]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url= http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0162.pdf
|title=Campantar Tevaram -2
|work=projectmadurai.org
|accessdate=16 July 2011
|year=2011
}}</ref> This temple is referred back to [[Ramayana]] period when Lord [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]] are said to have worshipped Shiva here during their search for [[Sita]], and acquired Rudramsam, to enable them to fight [[Ravana]]. Legend has it that the nine sacred rivers of India, prayed to Shiva at Banares (Viswanathar) to be absolved of the sins washed away by bathers, and were directed to bathe in the Mahamagam tank and worship [[Adi Kumbeswarar Temple]]. Viswanathar of Kaasi is believed to have manifested himself here at Kumbhakonam at Kudandaikkaronam. As per another legend, the holy pot from Shiva's arrow split into twelve places where Shiva temples were built and the temple is counted as one of them.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Architecture==
The temple is located near the banks of [[Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam|Mahamaham tank]]. This temple has two ''[[prakarams]]'' (outer courtyard) and a 72 ft high Rajagopuram. The temple has a nava kanniyar, aka nava kannigais (nine rivers), in the form of deities worshiping Shiva, and hence the temple is referred as 'Nava Kanniyar' temple. The nine river deities depicted are [[Ganges]], [[Yamuna]], [[Narmada]], [[Saraswati]], [[Cauvery]], [[Godavari]], [[Krishna River|Krishna]], [[Tungabhadra]] and [[Sarayu]]. The [[lingam]] worshipped by [[Rama]] is located in the north eastern ''[[prakaram]]'' (outer courtyard) of the temple. As per local legend, he lingam is believed to grow with time.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|title=Mahamkhaam history|work=The Hindu|last=V.|first=Sriram|date=12 February 2016}}</ref><ref name=Saiva5>{{cite book|title=Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 5 - Temples in Tamil Nadu (Later period)|editor-last=Dr. R.|editor-first=Selvaganapathy|publisher=Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust|location=Chennai, India|year=2013|pages=145–6}}</ref> In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|page=216|access-date=30 August 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Worship and religious practices==
[[File:Kasi Viswanathar - masi magam.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Image of festival deity of the temple]]
The temple priests perform ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 6:00 a.m., ''Irandam Kalm'' at 9:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandam Kalm'' at 7:30 p.m., and ''Arthajamam'' at 9:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Viswanathar and Visalakshi. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'', and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Masi Maham during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Maasi'' (February–March), Shivaratri in February- March and Panguni Uthiram during ''Panguni'' are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Kasi Viswanathar temple temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=1728|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

== Specialty ==
12 Shiva temples are connected with [[Mahamaham]] festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are:
*Kasi Viswanathar Temple,
*[[Adi Kumbeswarar Temple]],
*[[Someswarar Temple]],
*[[Nageswaraswamy Temple]],
*[[Kalahasteeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Kalahasteeswarar Temple]],
*[[Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Gowthameswarar Temple]],
*[[Kodeeswarar Temple]],
*[[Amirthakadeswarar Temple]],
*[[Banapuriswarar Temple]],
*[[Abimukeswarar Temple]],
*[[Kambatta Viswanathar Temple]] and
*[[Ekambeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam|Ekambareswarar Temple]].
This temple is one among them.<ref>Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004</ref>

The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of [[River Kaveri]].<ref name=Ka>{{cite book|title=River cauvery the most battl(r)ed|last=Ka. Vi.|first=Kannan|page=32|publisher=Notion Press|year=2019|isbn=9781684666041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CGFDwAAQBAJ&q=thiruvavaduthurai}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Photogallery==
<gallery>
File: Kasivisvanathar4.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanatharnew1.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanathar5.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanathar6.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanathar3.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanatharnew2.jpg|
File: Kasivisvanathar7.jpg|
</gallery>

{{Commons category|Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam}}
{{Hindu temples in Thanjavur District}}
{{Famous Shiva temples}}

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kumbakonam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam - Revision history

BradyGregg4996: done.