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
|
