Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Gowthameswarar Temple
Gowthameswarar Temple before Kumbabishegam
Geography
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thanjavur
Location	Kumbakonam
Culture
Primary deity	Gowthameswarar(Shiva ) Soundara Nayaki(goddess)

Gauthameswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Location

This temple is located to the eastern bank of the Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam.^[1]

Presiding deity

The moolavar presiding deity, is found in his manifestation as Gauthameswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Soundara Nayaki. The thread around the kumba fell in this place and the linga was formed. It is said that Gowthama muni to get rid of the sin due to killing of a cow worshipped the deity of the temple.^[1]

Specialty

12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are :

• Kasi Viswanathar Temple,
• Kumbeswarar Temple,
• Someswarar Temple,
• Nageswara Temple,
• Kahahasteeswarar Temple,
• Gowthameswarar Temple,
• Koteeswarar Temple,
• Amirthakalasanathar Temple,
• Banapuriswarar Temple,
• Abimukeswarar Temple,
• Kambatta Visvanathar Temple and
• Ekambareswarar Temple.

This temple is one among them.^[2]

Kumbabishegam

The Kumbabishegam of the temple was held on 9 September 2015.^[3]

References

1. Gauthameswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
2. Mahamaham Festival 2004 (in Tamil), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, 2004
3. குடந்தை கௌதமேஸ்வரர் கோயில் குடமுழுக்கு, Dinamani, Tamil Daily, 10 September, 2015

External links

Coordinates: 10°57′17″N 79°22′47″E / 10.954854°N 79.379797°E