Legends surrounding the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple of Tamil Nadu

India is a land of temples. Some of them exhibit astounding architectural brilliance that is sure to blow your mind! The Adi Kumbeswarar temple is no different. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, was built by a Chola ruler in the 9th century, making it nearly 2000 years old!  

So, what makes this temple’s architecture unique and special? The temple houses a single stone that depicts 27 stars and 12 zodiac signs! This is only one aspect of the temple’s architectural marvel. Keep reading to find out more fascinating facts and myths about the Adi Kumbeswarar temple.  

The legend of elixir  
The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is considered the home of Shiva and the birthplace of humanity. According to legend, during the great flood, Lord Brahma chose the city of Kumbakonam to keep a pot of elixir and the divine nectar ‘Amrita’. According to folklore, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a hunter and pierced the pot with an arrow. As a result, the nectar began to flow from the pot and spilled to various locations, which later manifested as Shiva lingas. Lord Shiva appeared at all the locations of Linga and to help humanity evolve. The legend of the pot containing Amrita gave Lord Shiva the name Adi Kumbeswar, which means ‘former’ and kumb meaning ‘pot’ in Tamil. You'll be surprised to learn that the Linga of Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is not made of stone, as is usually the case. It's made of sand! This is why pandits avoid performing water-based rituals on the Linga. 

The legends of Potramarai Tank  
The magnificent temple of Adi Kumbeswarar spans over 30,000 square feet and houses intricate and rich carvings, statues as well as murals. The temple has one of the tallest gopurams (entrance tower of a temple) in the world, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet! The front of the temple also has a Potramarai tank where devotees from all over the world flock together to take a dip during the festival of Kumbh mela or Mahamaham which takes place every 12 years. It is believed that dipping in water cleanses them off their sins and connects them to Lord Shiva.  

The Mahamaham Festival 
The Adi Kumbeswarar temple is famous for its celebration of the Mahamaham festival. It is one of the biggest religious celebrations in India observed once every 12 years! This once-in-a-decade gala event takes place between the months of February and March. Huge crowds gather in Kumbakonam, along with saints and philosophers, to take a dip in the tank. On this day, all the rivers of India are believed to meet at the Potramarai tank. A purificatory bath at this tank, on this specific day, is considered equal to a dip in all the holy rivers of India!