Kumbakonam Mahamaham Festival

Kumbakonam Mahamaham Festival 2016

Masimaham is an annual event that occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March) in the star of Magam. Once in twelve years, when the planet Guru (Jupiter) enters the sign Siṃha (Leo), the Kumbh mela festival of South India is celebrated in Kumbakonam Mahamaham tank.

The mahamaham tank has 20 wells which are named after 20 holy rivers flowing across India. People get themselves drained in these wells. These wells are also called as “Theertham” (Holy water).There are 20 theerthams (wells) in the tank & bathing in the waters of each theertham rids of a specific sin & bestows a specific blessing. After a dip in the Mahamaham tank, devotees should take a dip in the Potraamarai kulam & the Cauvery river to complete the ritual. The procedure is to have holy dip in all the 20 wells in Mahamaham tank , then take a holy dip in Portramarai Kulam and finally River Kaveri.

1.       Agni Theertham

2.      Bayoshini Theertham

3.      Brahma Theertham

4.      Cauvery Theertham

5.      Deva Theertham

6.      Eshana Theertham

7.      Ganga Theertham

8.      Godavari Theertham

9.      Indira Theertham

10.   Kanya Theertham

11.    Kubera Theertham

12.   Kumari Theertham

13.   Narmada Theertham

14.   Niruthi Theertham

15.   Saraswathi   Theertham    

16.   Sarayu Theertham

17.   Varunai Theertham

18.   Vayu Theertham

19.   Yama Theertham

20.  Yamuna Theertham

All the rivers of India are believed to meet at the tank on the Mahamagam Festival day and a purificatory bath at this tank on this day is considered equal to the combined dips in all the holy rivers of India.

The Mahamaham Festival is a bathing ceremony by which all sins and evils doings are washed away. By bathing in the Mahamaham Tank one can be purified. The ten day celebration during the Mahamaham Festival is commenced with the hoisting of a flag in the Vaishnavite Temple and other temples in Kumbakonam.

Bhagavatha Padithurai Ghat: Pagavatha Padithurai Ghat (Palakkarai), a holy bath that is said to wash off all the sins of a person, is situated in Kaveri River. Thousands of devotees visit this sacred place during the Mahamaham fair to make his body, mind and soul pure.

Shiva Temples Associated with Mahamaham :  It is believed that twelve Shiva temples are connected with this festival. They are

1.       Abimukeswarar Temple

2.      Amirthakalasanathar Temple

3.      Banapuriswarar Temple

4.      Ekambareswarar Temple

5.      Gowthameswarar Temple

6.      Kalahasteeswarar Temple

7.      Kambatta Visvanathar Temple

8.      Kasi Viswanathar Temple  (Navakanniyar Temple)

9.      Koteeswarar Temple

10.   Kumbeswarar Temple

11.    Nageswara Temple  and

12.   Someswarar Temple

Of them 10 temples are in Kumbakonam. The processional deities of these temples come to this tank during festival days.

Vishnu Temples Associated with Mahamaham : Five Vishnu temples are connected with this festival. They are

1.          Chakrapani Temple

2.         Rajagopalaswamy Temple 

3.         Ramaswamy Temple

4.         Sarangapani Temple and

5.         Varahaperumal Temple

All these temples are in Kumbakonam. The processional deities of these temples come to Cauvery during festival days.

Festival deities from all the temples in Kumbakonam will arrive to the tank and at noon, all the deities bathe along with the devotees - it is called Theerthavari.

Check this below article for Must see temples around Kumbakonam 

Temples around Kumbakonam Town