Someswarar Temple

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. Lord Someswarar is also mentioned and revered in the Tamil Saiva canonical work - Tevaram, of the 7th century and the temple has been classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Other than Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvathy, the temple has other deities occupying different shrines of the temple - Murugan with his consorts, Nalvar, Bairavar, Saneeswarar, Navagraham and Suryan occupy the corridor, Natarajar with Sivakami and Somaskandhar are installed in the hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum, and Saint Thirugnanasambanthar has a separate chamber adjacent to Goddess Parvathy. There are also other idols of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, Durgai and Chandikeswarar etc. installed in the premises. The temple follows a six daily rituals routine. The most prominent festival celebrated at the Someswarar Temple is the Maasi Maham Brahmahotsavam celebrated in the Tamil month of Maasi.