Follow on

Mahaamaham festival - Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu

Mahaamaham festival is celebrated in Kumbakonam, when Guru Bhagavan is in Simha Raasi, when Pournami or full moon day in the Tamil month of Maasi coincide with Maha natchathiram (star).


It is beleived that the nine sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, Saraswati, Cauvery, Kumari, Paalaaaru, Sarayu, the theerthams of the eight directions, Brahma Theertham & the Naaga Theertham flow from the nineteen wells in the Mahaamaham tank and the 66 crore theerthams of the world into the central Kanniyaa Theertham on this day.

Hence a dip in the Mahaamaha Theertham on this day, rids devotees of all sins. There is also a belief that all the theerthams reach the Mahaamaham tank in order to rid themselves of the sins which the devotees have washed off in their waters.

The story of the formation of Kumbakonam

The tank structure, 20 theerthams, the 16 mandapams & 16 Siva Lingams

Govinda Dikshitar's contribution

The theerthavaari & holy dip in the Mahaamaham tank on 6 March, 2004

Snippets
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai