Mahaamaham
festival - Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu
Govinda
Dikshitar's contribution
Govinda Dikshitar who was the Minister
of Raja Acchudappa Nayakkar of Tanjavur, served as the Minister to three
Nayaka rulers from 1515 - 1636. Acchudappa Nayakkar is said to have
given gold equal to his weight (Tulaabaaram), which Govinda Dikshitar used
to renovate the Mahaamahm tank, the 16 mandapams and the tank steps.
He constructed the vimanams for the mandapams. He was in charge of
renovating the Aadi Kumbheswarar koil with a new Raja Gopuram and the kudamuzhukku
took place during the reign of Sevappa Nayakkar.
He had done various charities following
the rules laid in the sastras. As a tribute streets in Thiruvidaimarudur,
Thiruvenkaadu, etc. were named mahadhaana streets (great charities).
He had erected pushpa mandapams with a pair of vimanams in Thanjavur, Vennarangarai,
Thiruvalanchuzhi, Kumbakonam, Thiruvidaimarudur. The silver rishaba
vahanam & the silver chariot in Thiruvidaimarudur were his contributions.
He had also formed the Raja Kaavya
Veda Paadasalai in 1542 to teach sishyas the three vedams Rig, Yajur &
Sama in the gurukula system.
There is an idol of Govinda Dikshitar
& his wife Nagammal in the Aadhi Kumbeshwara temple. Dikshitar
was popularly knwon by the Ayyan in those days. Ayyan street, Ayyan
kulam etc known to this by his name are a tribute to the great soul.Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai
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