
2016 Mahamaham (2016 மகாமகம்)
[ :ta:2016 மகாமகம்] is a recurring festival most recently celebrated at
Kumbakonam in
Thanjavur district
Thanjavur District is one of the 38 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur. The district is located in the delta of the Cauvery River and is mostly agrarian. As of 2011, Thanjavur district ...
of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...
, India from 13 February 2016 to 22 February 2016.
Mahamaham
''Mahamaham'', also known as ''Mahamagham'' or ''Mamangam'', is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the city of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu in the south of India. This 20-acre square tank surrounded by S ...
, also known as ''Mahamagham'' or ''Mamangam'', is a
Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the
Mahamaham tank
Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. The Masimaham festival held in the tank has 100,000 visitors and the once-in-1 ...
in Kumbakonam.
Background
Anticipating a deluge that would destroy the world, the creator
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp ...
sought the help of the lord
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hin ...
, who created a pot containing nectar and the seeds of creation. Brahma decorated the pot with coconut, darbha, mango leaves, sacred thread, vastram and vilvam and performed worshipful puja, placing the pot atop the Meru Hill. When the deluge struck, the pot came to rest in Kumbakonam. Shiva, as a hunter, appeared and opened the pot, and nectar dispersed from it in different directions, emerging as sacred theertham water in the holy Potramarai tank
(Sarangapani temple) and
Mahamaham tank
Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. The Masimaham festival held in the tank has 100,000 visitors and the once-in-1 ...
.
[The 12 year wait for a dip, The Hindu, 18 February 2016]
/ref>
Bath in holy tank
To bathe in the holy tank is said to bring good fortune. The tank has 20 wells named after 20 holy rivers flowing across the country. Belief holds that a dip in these wells rids one of a specific sin and confers a specific blessing to the devotee. Thousands of devotees took a dip in the Mahamaham tank on the opening day of the once-in-12 years gathering in the Thanjavur district.
/ref> The festival, with its tank bathing tradition, extends over 10 days (''Brahmothsavam''). The festivities are also observed with smaller crowds in the Magha month (about February) every year between the 12-year ''Maha'' (major) cycle. In interim years, the event is called the ''Masi-maham'' festival. During festival days, devotees were permitted to bathe in the Mahamaham tank
Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil Nadu. The Masimaham festival held in the tank has 100,000 visitors and the once-in-1 ...
from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Because the tank's 20 wells are named after the country's holy rivers, devotees believe that to take a dip here during the festival is equivalent to bathing in all of these rivers.
People anticipated the 2016 festival for over a year. In connection with it kumbabishegams rituals were held in many temples in Kumbakonam. On the auspicious first day, pandakkal muhurtham was held in many temples followed by hoisting of temples, float festival and tirttavari. On the last two days, (i.e., on 21 and 22 February 2016) all temples were opened from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The 22nd of February 2016 was proclaimed a local holiday in the Thanjavur
Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the ...
, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam (''nākappaṭṭinam'', previously spelt Nagapatnam or Negapatam) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. The town came to prominence during the period of Medieva ...
and Tiruvarur
Thiruvarur () also spelt as Tiruvarur is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Thiruvarur district and Thiruvarur taluk. The temple chariot of the Thyagaraja temple, weighing and m ...
districts. On festival days the tank held only two feet of water for safety reasons.[ Even after the culmination of festival, devotees were found taking bath in the temple.
]
Pandakkal muhurttham
In all temples connected with Mahamaham, on 24 January 2016, Pandakkal muhurttham was held, an event signifying the start of the festival. The merging of holy water in the Mahamaham tank[மகாமக விழா: கொடியேற்றத்துடன் இன்று தொடங்குகிறது, தினமணி, 13 பிப்ரவரி 2016](_blank)
/ref> k and opening of water in Mahamaham took place on 12 February 2016. To avoid a crowd and sudden rush, devotees were allowed to bathe before 6:00 a.m. on 13 February 2016. In 40 days over 45 lakh (4.5 million) devotees participated in the festival, and it concluded to the satisfaction of one and all.
Hoisting of temple flag
In Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hin ...
temples on 13 February 2016,[கொடியேற்றத்துடன் தொடங்கியது மகாமகப் பெருவிழா! பக்தர்கள் புனித நீராடினர், தினமணி, 14 பிப்ரவரி 2016](_blank)
/ref> and in Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within ...
temples on 14 February 2016 temple flags were hoisted.
In Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswara Temple, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Abimukeswarar Temple, Kahahasteeswarar Temple and Someswarar Temple festivities were held for 10 days. In Brahmotsavam and in Ekambareswarar Temple, Gowthameswarar Temple, Kambatta Visvanathar Temple, Banapuriswarar Temple
Banapuriswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, the site was the place from where Shiva took his aim at a pot of ''amrita'' with ...
, Koteeswarar Temple, and Amirthakalasanathar Temple they were held for one day.[நாளை மகாமகப் பெருவிழா கொடியேற்றம்: பக்தர்கள் புனித நீராட அனுமதி, தினமணி, 12 பிப்ரவரி 2016](_blank)
/ref>
Chariot festival
Arrangements were made for chariot festivals at the Abimukeswarar Temple and the Nageswarar Temple, and on 21 February 2016 at the Kumbeswarar Temple on 22 February 2016 After four Mahamaham
''Mahamaham'', also known as ''Mahamagham'' or ''Mamangam'', is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the city of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu in the south of India. This 20-acre square tank surrounded by S ...
s, five temple chariots run at one stretch, at Kumbeswarar Temple. Chariot festivals of Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Abimukeswarar Temple and Nageswara Temple were held on 21 February 2016.
Tirttavari
"Asthira Devar" — (‘Trishul’ with images of the respective Gods) of each temple were brought and ‘abishekams’ were performed. At the auspicious time, priests took the ‘Asthira Devars’ and immersed them in the tank and bathed, signaling the fulfillment of the "Theerthavari".
The Tirttavari Trial for Tirttavari was held on 6 February 2016. For Shiva temples it was held on 22 February 2016 between 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. in the Mahamaham Tank. For five Vishnu temples it was held on the banks of Kaveri
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicized name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu di ...
. Those five temples are Sarangapani Temple
Sarangapani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.
It is one of the '' Divya Desams'', the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars. This ...
, Chakrapani Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and Varahaperumal Temple.[விழா: குடந்தையில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் சார்பில் வைஃபை, ஹாட் ஸ்பாட் வசதி அறிமுகம், தினமணி, 10 பிப்ரவரி 2016](_blank)
/ref> During Tirttavari, processional deities of 12 Shiva temples were kept on the Nandi
Nandi may refer to:
People
* Nandy (surname), Indian surname
* Nandi (mother of Shaka) (1760–1827), daughter of Bhebe of the Langeni tribe
* Onandi Lowe (born 1974), Jamaican footballer nicknamed Nandi
* Nandi Bushell (born 2010), South Afr ...
vahana
''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindus, Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana ...
and went around the town's main streets. Later, in the Mahamaham tank, special abisegam sprinkling rituals were held to Astra
Astra may refer to:
People
* Astra (name)
Places
* Astra, Chubut, a village in Argentina
* Astra (Isauria), a town of ancient Isauria, now in Turkey
* Astra, one suggested name for a hypothetical fifth planet that became the asteroid belt
Ent ...
devars, and Tirttavari was held. For five Vishnu temples, Tirttavari was held to astradevars at Sarangapani Tirttavari mandapa, near to Sakkarai ghat, known as Sakkara paditthurai in Tamil.
Cultural programmes
In connection with Mahamaham, exhibitions and cultural programmes were held in five places in Kumbakonam. From 13 February 2016 Government Exhibition was held in the ground of Town Higher Secondary School
Town Higher Secondary School is a school in Kumbakonam, a town in the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
History
This school was founded as a primary school on 14 April 1864 by Martin, a retired English head constable at ...
. A book exhibition was held from 20 February 2016.
Commemoration volumes
Special postcards Mahamaham Special cover and calendars with photographs of the processional deities of 12 Shiva temples and five Vishnu temples were also released. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu manages and controls the temple administration within the state. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959 controls 36,425 ...
of the Government of Tamil Nadu
Government of Tamil Nadu is the subnational government for the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at Fort St George, Chennai. The legislature of Tamil Nadu was bicameral until 1986, when it was replaced by a unicameral legislature, lik ...
and Saraswathi Mahal Library
Saraswathi Mahal Library, also called Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Saraswathi Mahal Library is a library located in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the oldest libraries in Asia established during 16th century by Nayakar kin ...
released commemorative volumes with articles about various aspects such religion, the arts, temples and Kumbakonam.
மகாமக சிறப்பு மலர் வெளியீடு, தினமணி, 20 பிப்ரவரி 2016
/ref>
Arrangements
The Kumbakonam Municipality, in its sesquicentennial year, 2016, has spent over Rs. 50 crore ($6.8 million US) to improve civic infrastructure to ensure a hygienic and memorable environment for visiting devotees of Mahamham; this investment included special arrangements to improve facilities such as water supply, street lighting, bio-mining work, town roads and sanitary lines.[Kumbakonam Municipality turns 150, The Hindu, 16 February 2016]
/ref> Police also made elaborate security arrangements to prevent stampedes. A team of 25,000 policemen and 3,000 home guards was deployed throughout the town. All vehicles were halted at least one and half km from the temple, and all temples were cordoned off.[
]
Other Tanks
The tanks of Kumbakonam got a new lease of life thanks to Mahamaham. They are the Pachaiyappan tank, Sei Kulam, Ayee Kulam, Bairagi Kulam, Pidari Kulam and Banadurai Kulam.[
]
Photogallery
On Tirttavari day
File: Mahamaham tank on tirttavari11.jpg, Sunrise near Mahamaham tank
File: Mahamaham tank on tirttavari2.jpg, Devotees in Mahamaham Tank
File: Mahamaham tank on tirttavari5.jpg, Devotees in Mahamaham Tank
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari portamarai tank7.jpg, Devotees going to Portamarai Tank
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari portamarai tank4.jpg, Devotees taking bath Portamarai Tank
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari cauvery river5.jpg, Devotees in Kavery
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari cauvery river2.jpg, Devotees taking bath in Kavery
Shiva and Vishnu Temples
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari abimukeswarar temple 4.jpg, Chariot of Abimukeswarar Temple
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari abimukeswarar temple 1.jpg, Abimukeswarar Temple
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari kumbeswarar temple1.jpg, Five chariots of Kumbeswarar Temple
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari ramaswamy temple3.jpg, Processional deity of Ramasamy Temple
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari ramaswamy temple4.jpg, Ramasamy Temple
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari chakrapani temple4.jpg, Chakrapani Temple chariot
File: Mahamaham on tirttavari sarngapany temple4.jpg, Sarangapani Temple and chariot
See also
* Mahamaham Stampede
* Mamankam (Tirunavaya, Kerala)
*Mahamaham
''Mahamaham'', also known as ''Mahamagham'' or ''Mamangam'', is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the city of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu in the south of India. This 20-acre square tank surrounded by S ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
மகாமகம் 2016
Mahamaham 2016, The Hindu
Naga Sadhus visit Mahamaham for first time, India.com
Temple tanks in Tamil Nadu
Buildings and structures in Tamil Nadu
Tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
Kumbakonam