Kasiviswanathar temple, TiruKudanthai Kaaronam
Location: TiruKudanthai Kaaronam (Kumbakonam)
Deity known as: Kasiviswanathar
Female Deity: Visalakshi, Thenaar Mozhiyal
Pathikam: Sambandar - 1
Point of Views
First View - Kasi Viswanathar Temple
One opinion identifies the Kasi Viswanathar Temple, situated on the northern bank of the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam, as Thirukkudanthai Karonam in the Thevaram hymns.
Second View - Somanathar Temple
Another view associates the Somanathar (Someswarar) Temple, located on the southern bank of the Pottramarai tank near the Kumbeswarar Temple, which some believe to be the Thirukkudanthai Karonam praised in the hymns.
Note: Priests from both temples maintain that their respective temple is the one venerated in the Thevaram verses.
Gallery - TiruKudanthai Kaaronam
How to Reach
This sacred Shiva temple is situated in the heart of Kumbakonam. The Kasi Viswanathar Temple stands on the northern bank of the Mahamaham tank, while the Someswarar Temple lies on the southern bank of the Pottramarai tank, close to the renowned Kumbeswarar Temple.
Temple Address
Tirukkudanthai Kaaronam
Kumbakonam
Thanjai district
PIN - 612001
Temple Hours
Morning: 6:00 - 12:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Origin of the Name "Karonam"
Rama's Worship
At this sacred site, it is believed that Rama worshipped Shiva, seeking the Rudra amsha — the divine essence of Rudra — before vanquishing Ravana. As Rama is said to have absorbed this Rudra energy (Rudra amsha arokkanam) into his own being here, the place came to be known as Karonam, derived from the words Kaya (body) and Arokanam (attainment of Rudra’s grace).
The Great Deluge
It is believed that during the time of the Great Deluge (Mahapralaya), Shiva united all souls with Himself at this very spot. Hence, the place came to be known as Karonam, signifying the union of all beings with the Divine.
Shivashakti
It is also believed that at this Someswarar Temple, the Goddess (Ambikai) merged her divine essence with that of Shiva, symbolizing their eternal oneness. Hence, this sacred place came to be known as Karonam.
Kasi Viswanathar Temple Structure
Worship by the Nava Kannikas
This temple is venerated as the sacred site where the nine divine maidens (Nava Kannikas) once worshipped God Shiva. These maidens, who represent the holy rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, Saraswati, Kaveri, Tungabhadra, Krishna, and Sarayu — are believed to have approached the deity, expressing their sorrow that people cleanse their sins in their waters, leaving those impurities with them. Moved by their plea, Shiva comforted them and directed them to bathe in the holy Mahamaham tank at Kumbakonam, where all their impurities would be purified. Shiva then manifested on the northern bank of the Mahamaham tank as Kasi Viswanathar, accompanied by His consort Visalatchi.
Temple Layout
Above the entrance of the five-tiered Rajagopuram (main tower) are beautiful stucco sculptures depicting God Shiva guiding the nine maidens to bathe in the Mahamaham tank. Upon entering through this gopuram, one encounters the sannidhis of Kodimara Vinayaka and the flagstaff in the outer courtyard. The adjoining hall houses the Bali Peetha (sacrificial altar) and the divine Nandi, gracefully facing the sanctum.
Special sannidhis
In the next courtyard, the idols of the nine maidens (Nava Kannikas) are ensannidhisd, symbolizing the sacred rivers. The temple also houses a sannidhis dedicated to the Sapta Matrikas (the seven mother goddesses). It is believed that Rama, before embarking on his journey to Lanka, installed a Shiva Linga here and offered worship to the deity. This Maha Linga, consecrated by Rama, is located in the northeastern corner of the temple. Known for its towering form, it is said to be ever-growing, embodying the deity’s boundless energy.
Other sannidhis
Within the temple premises, there are sannidhis dedicated to Bhairava, Surya, and Chandra, along with a sanctum for the Navagrahas (nine planetary deities). Dakshinamurthy blesses devotees from a separate sannidhis situated in a niche (Goshta) along the outer wall surrounding the sanctum.
Someswarar Temple Structure
Sthala Puranam (Temple Legend)
As the time of the Great Deluge (Pralaya) approached, Lord Brahma safeguarded the essence of creation — the divine nectar of immortality — within a sacred pot (Kumbha) and placed it atop Mount Himalaya. When the deluge began and the waters rose to engulf even the Himalayan peaks, the pot drifted southward upon the cosmic flood. As the waters gradually receded, the pot came to rest at a sacred spot, which came to be known as Kumbakonam, the holy Kudamooku. This hallowed place is venerated as one of the revered 'Paadal Petra' temples.
Origin of the Shiva Lingam
God Shiva released an arrow toward the sacred pot (Kumbha) that had come to rest upon the earth, shattering it open. The divine nectar within spilled out, and from the sand sanctified by that nectar, He fashioned a Lingam and infused His own presence into it. Thus, He came to be worshipped here as Adikumbeswarar. When the pot was struck, its binding thread (uri) snapped and fell upon another spot, from which a second Lingam emerged. This Lingam was worshipped by the Moon God (Chandra), and hence the presiding deity of that temple is known as Someswarar — the One worshipped by Soma (the Moon).
Temple Layout
The temple features three entrances and a single prakaram (outer courtyard). Entering through the eastern Rajagopuram, devotees first offer worship to Maalisar and Goddess Mangalanayaki. As MahaVishnu is believed to have worshipped the deity here, He is known by the name Maal-Eesar. Proceeding through the Kattai Gopuram, devotees can have darshan of Somanathar and Thenaar Mozhi Ambikai. The northern entrance too leads directly to the sanctum of Someswarar and Somasundari.
Murugan sannidhi
In this temple, Muruga is depicted seated gracefully upon His peacock mount, with one foot adorned by a sandal (patharaksha) — a unique and distinctive form seen only in the Someswarar Temple of Kumbakonam.
Tirugyana Sambandar's Pathigam Pathigam
The hymn composed by Thirugnana Sambandar in praise of the deity of this temple appears in the First Thirumurai. In the seventh verse of this Pathigam, Sambandar reverently mentions about Thenaar Mozhiyal, the divine consort of Someswarar. From this, it may be inferred that the Someswarar Temple is the Paadal Petra Sthalam referred to in this hymn.
Gallery - TiruKudanthai Kaaronam
