This temple is an ancient and placed its name in Indian history . The presiding Deity of this temple is Lord KUMBESWARA and the presiding Goddess is Sri MANGALAMBIGAI.
Tradition goes to say that during the Mahapralaya ( Great Floods ) after DWABARAYUGA, a KUMBAM ( Pot ) full of amirtham and seeds for creation was set afloat by Siva . It was proclaimed by Shiva Himself that the place where the pot touched the ground and had its rest would be considered as the holiest places in the world .
Since the said Kumbam , as announced by the creator of the world , had its rest in this place , this ancient place is named as Kumbakonam after that Kumbam . Immediately after its rest Lord Shiva appeared in the guise of a hunter and broke the said Kumbam full of Amirtham with his arrow. The spilt amirtham pooled together in a place now known as MAHAMAHAM TANK where in millions of pilgrims have their Holy Bath during Mahamaham. Then Lord Shiva gathered the stand, spread the remaining Amirtham in that place and shaped it into the present ” MAHALINGAM ” which is known as “SRI ADHIKUMBESWARA”. It is to be noted that this Mahalingam unlike other Lingams found in almost other temples, is not made of granite stone and as such Abishekams cannot be performed with watery substances lest it should dissolve the shape of the Lingam.
Since the said Kumbam , as announced by the creator of the world , had its rest in this place , this ancient place is named as Kumbakonam after that Kumbam . Immediately after its rest Lord Shiva appeared in the guise of a hunter and broke the said Kumbam full of Amirtham with his arrow. The spilt amirtham pooled together in a place now known as MAHAMAHAM TANK where in millions of pilgrims have their Holy Bath during Mahamaham. Then Lord Shiva gathered the stand, spread the remaining Amirtham in that place and shaped it into the present ” MAHALINGAM ” which is known as “SRI ADHIKUMBESWARA”. It is to be noted that this Mahalingam unlike other Lingams found in almost other temples, is not made of granite stone and as such Abishekams cannot be performed with watery substances lest it should dissolve the shape of the Lingam.
The idol Kirathamoorthi is a special feature in the temple and it is a standing monument to commemorate the incidence that , Lord Shiva HIMSELF has created the present Mahalingam.The Saivaite Saints, Appar and Sambandhar who flourished prior to 7 th century A. D. have sung devotional songs ( THEVARAMS ) in praise of the Presiding Deities of the temple . The temple was built by a Chola King and the temple building itself would seem to have been renovated by the Nayak King. Some of the old images like Sri Ambal , Sri Durgaiamman and Sri Kirathamoorthi bear the impress of the antiquity about them.
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