Serene Temples in Kumbakonam for a Perfect Religious Short Trip

Located in the Thanjavur district of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Brahma Temple is a Hindu Temple mainly dedicated to Lord Vishnu colloquially known as Vedanarayanaperumal. His consort- Goddess Lakshmi enshrines the chamber next to the presiding deity, and she is known as Vedavalli. Lord Brahma occupies the shrine adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum on the right. The temple is popularly known as Brahma Temple as this is one of the only two temples dedicated to Brahma in the world.

Believed to have been constructed in the 7th century A.D by the Cholas, Adi Kumbeshwara Temple is one of the grandest and the oldest Shiva temple in the town. The temple has a magnificent architecture with the trademark style of the Cholas. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses a unique Shiva lingam.

Constructed as a chariot, the Nageswaran temple is an important Shaivite temple. A piece of genius Chola architecture, it is an important Shaivite temple. The temple is a marvelous example of the Chola's architectural prowess as the constructed the temple in a way so that it will only let in sunlight during the month of March-April.

Sarangapani Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located in the town of Kumbakonam in the South-Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The beautiful temple is located on the banks of River Kaveri and is frequented by devotees of Lord Vishnu from all over the world. Along with being a sacred place of worship, the temple is a work of art in itself, with several tiers of intricately carved and colourfully decorated mythological sculptures and images.

Located in the town of Darasuram near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Airavatesvara Temple is a revered Hindu temple and a UNESCO world heritage site. Part of the popular trio known as the Great Living Chola Temple along with Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Airavatesvara Temple was built by the Chola King Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE.

Kashi Viswanath Temple is an important temple and is linked with the origins of the Mahamaham Festival. The temple another beautiful representation of Chola architecture is known to house the deities of all the river goddesses in Hindu mythology.

Perched atop a hill in the Swamimalai district of Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Swaminathaswamy Temple is enshrined by Murugan, son of the Hindu God Lord Shiva who is also known as Swaminathaswamy. The shrine is only of the six holy temples of Murugan called Arupadaiveedu. The temple complex also houses shrines of Murugan’s mother- Parvathy and his father Shiva; although, those are located at the base of the hill. Sixty steps lead to the main shrine at the top which are named after sixty Tamilian years.

Located in the village of Thirunageswaram, near Kozhikode, Uppiliappan Temple is a revered Hindu temple. Also known as Thiruvinnagar of Venkatachalapathy Temple, the temple enshrines Lord Vishnu and is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. Glorified in the popular Tamil work- Divya Prabandha, the shrine is counted as the 60th amidst the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped as Lord Uppiliappan and his spouse Lakshmi is worshipped as Bhumi Dev.

Located in the holy village of Patteeswaram in Kumbakonam, Thenupuriswarar Temple is a revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Believed to have been built during the reign of the Cholas, the current standing structure was completed by the Nayaks in the 16th century. The magnificent temple is presided by the lingam of Thenupuriswarar (Lord Shiva) and has an additional shrine for his consort- Goddess Parvati (colloquially known as Nyanambikai).

Located in the tiny village of Suryanar Koil near the town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Suryanar Koil Temple (also known as Sri Suryanar Temple) is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God. Presided by Suriyanar, the Sun and its consorts- Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi, the temple also houses the planetary deities. The shrine is one of the nine revered Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu and is the only one of its kind to have separate shrines for all the planetary deities.

Located in the district of Tiruvidaimaruthur in Tamil Nadu, Mahalingeswarar Temple (also known as Thiruvidaimarudur Temple) is a highly revered temple by the Hindu sect of Savism. Enshrined by the Hindu God Shiva colloquially known as Mahalingeswararswamy, the presiding deity is represented by his lingam known and the venerated idol is known as Jothimayalingam. The shrine is one of the seven major Shiva temples and this particular lingum is the focal point of the seven consorts of Shiva.

Located in the town of Thirubuvanam, 9 kms from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Kampaheswarar Temple (also known as Sarabeswarar Temple) is an age-old Shaivite temple flocked by devotees from all across the world all through the year. The temple is enshrined by Lord Shiva, worshipped in the form of a Shiva Linga. It is believed that Lord Shiva once relieved a king of quaking (kampa) as he was haunted by an evil spirit (Brahmarakshas) of a Brahmin who he killed accidentally.

Located in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kms from the city of Kumbakonam, Kanjanur Sukran Temple (also known as Agneeswarar Temple) is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Sukra (celestial deity- Venus). However, the presiding deity of the shrine is Lord Shiva in the form of Agniswarar. The temple has been established with the common belief that Lord Shiva is all- pervading and that Venus (Sukra deity) is located within the stomach of Lord Shiva.

Chakrapani Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu (locally known as Chakrapani) located in the Kumbakonam city of Tamil Nadu. One of the most prominent temples in the area, the shrine has a magnificent idol of Lord Vishnu with his chakra (discus) to bring down the pride of Surya- the Sun God, who subsequently became his devotee. Boasting of striking architectural finesse, the temple also houses a statue of King Sarfoji II who is also worshipping Lord Vishnu.

Located in Nallur (also called Thirunallur) on the outskirts of Kumbakonam city, Kalyanasundaresar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The lingam of Lord Shiva enshrines the temple and is known as Kalyanasundaresar and his consort Goddess Parvathy is portrayed as Girisundari. Like the other Saivite temples in the area, this is also revered in the Tamil canonical work- Tevaram. The history of the temple is associated with sages Agastaya and Amaraneethi Nayanar, both of who were Tamil Saiva saints.

Located at a distance of 6 kms away from the town of Kumbakonam, Someswarar Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also known as Pazhayarai Someswarar Temple or Keezh Pazhayarai Vadathali, the temple is believed to have been built during the Chola Period sometime between the 8th and the 9th century. Lord Shiva presides the temple and is worshipped in the form of his shivalinga which is known as Someswarar.

Situated in the village of Thirunageswaram, on the outskirts of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Thirunageswaram Temple (also known as Rahu Temple) is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Revered by the Shiva bhakts, the temple is also associated with the nine planets- Navagraha Sthalam especially Rahu. The temple is enshrines by shivalinga which is worshipped as Naganathar, and Lord Shiva’s consort Goddess Parvathy, who is worshipped as Pirasoodi. Like the other Shiva temples in the area, this one is also revered in the Tamil canonical work Tevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Located at Thanjavur district in Kumbakonam, Varahaperumal Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to God Vishnu. Situated just behind the Chakrapani temple, the shrine dates back to the Varaha Avatar period and hence is called Varahaperumal. The consort of Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Bhoodevi Thayyar and is believed to answer prayers related to land and property problems. Besides the presiding deities, there are other shrines for Sri Vishwaksenar and Acharya Nikamanda Maha Desika.

Constructed in Govindapuram on the Kumbakonam- Aduthurai highway, Sri Vittal Rukmini Samsthan is (formerly known as Sri Panduranga Bhajanashram) is a massive temple located on the highway amidst rural atmosphere. Established in 1998 by Brahmashri Vittaldas Jayakrishna Deekshithar, the shrine resonates with peace and tranquility.

Located in Kumbakonam (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu), Ramaswamy Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to one of Vishnu's ten avatars, Lord Rama. The temple is enshrined by Lord Rama where he sits in the sanctum in the coronation posture with his consort Sita Devi at his side, flanked by the idols of his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha, Chatruguna (in standing position) and Hanuman (in worshipping position).

Located 6 kms from Kumbakonam, in the village of Ayyavadi, the famous Pratyangira Devi Temple is enshrined by Goddess Pratyangira - an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Believed to be at least a 1000 years old, the shrine is related to the times of the Mahabharata. The idol of the presiding deity Pratyangira is flanked by those of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Situated at a distance of 500 metres from the Uppiliappan Temple, the shrine is highly revered by the Hindus and is a popular pilgrimage spot.

The Banapuriswarar Temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. The Mahamaham festival that occurs every 12 years, and is celebrated in 12 temples in this region, is celebrated here. It is believed that it was here that Shiva aimed at the pot of 'Amrita' or Divine Nectar with his bow and arrow. Upon breaking the pot, the nectar is said to have spread over a span of 10 miles touching the five famous shrines of Shiva around the region - now called the Pancha Krosa Sthalas.