Shri Aadikampatta Vishwanathar temple

This is the ninth of twelve Shiva temples associated with Mahamagam festival. This is the place where the flowers from the kalash fell during the pralay and formed a Shiva linga. This temple is located in Kumbakonam city in TamilNadu on the western side of Aadikumbeshwarar temple. During the Chola period, minting of Gold and Silver coin was being carried out at this place. And hence this place got the name Kampatta. Shaiva saint Moorka-nayanar was associated with this temple, as he used to gamble around this place.

Mulavar: Shri Aadikampatta Vishawanathar, Shri Aadikampatta Vishweshwar

Devi: Shri Anantnidhi, Shri Nidhiammai

Sacred teertha: Dhumaketu teertha, Balavi teertha

Kshetra vruksha: Jasmine creeper (Malathy van)

This is an East facing temple with an arch at entrance. At the entrance itself, we come across a garden (Nandan van). The Shiva linga is a swayambhoo linga formed after the pralaya. A unique feature of the temple is that we come across Nandi, Balipeeth and Dhwajastambha just before the Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram is 3 tiered. There is a mandap after the Rajagopuram. At the entrance of the sanctum we find an idol of Shri Dhumaketu. We come across the koshtamoorthis - Shri Ganesha, Shri Dakshinamoorthy, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Brahma and Shri Chandikeshwar in their usual position. Devi is housed in a separate shrine facing south. We come across the idols of Naalvar and Mangairkarasi (one of the 63 Nayanmars). She was the queen of Pandya king and daughter of Chola king. 

On the western side in a mandap, we find idols of Shri Vinayaka, Shri Muruga and Devi Mahalakshmi. In small shrine under the bilva tree we come across Shri Ganesha. Not much details are available about this temple. 

Kshetra Purana: This temple is associated with the formation of Mahamagam tank and the pralay. This is the place where flowers from the kalash fell and formed a Shiva linga.

Dhumaketu teertha: In older days this place was abundant with Malathy (Jasmine creepers). Hence Malathy flowers were used for worship of Lord Ganesha. In a nearby village named Udayagiri, there lived a sage named Nirasara with his son Dhumaketu. Dhumaketu was a great scholar in art and scriptures. He was always surrounded by flocks of students aspiring to learn and gain knowledge. He used to take his students to various Shiva temples and other divine places. He used to explain and educate them about their importance. During one such visit, he came to the Kampatta Vishawanath temple and worshipped the Lord. Pleased with his devotion to teach, educate the students and his righteousness, Shri Shiva along with Devi Parvati gave him darshan at this place. Dhumaketu named Shiva as Shri Aadikampatta Vishwanath and Devi Parvati as Shri Anantnidhi. Lord in appreciation of Dhumaketu’s work, named the teertha as Dhumaketu teertha.

Festivals: 

Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti 

Masi (Feb-Mar) - Mahashivaratri, 10 days of Mahamagam festival

Chitrai (April-May) - Brahmotsav

Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi, 

Purattasi (Sept-Oct) - Navaratri 

Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival 

Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam

Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Thiruvathira, Arudra Darshan

Panguni (Mar-April) Uttara nakshatra festival

The day on which Lord along with the Goddess visit the Mahamagam tank, is celebrated on a large scale. 

Prayers: Students pray for success and excellence in examinations. Gold smiths pray for success and prosperity. 

Timings – 6.30 am to noon; 4.30 to 8pm

Courtesy: various blogs and websites