Someswarar Temple, Kumbakonam - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 2 km from Kumbakonam Junction Railway Station, Someswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the famous temples to visit as part of Kumbakonam Packages.

Someswarar Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of Someswarar, represented by the lingam. His consort, Parvati, is honored as Somasundari. The presiding deity is mentioned in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical text, the Tevaram, composed by the Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars. This temple is recognized as one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams dedicated to Lord Shiva and was constructed during the Chola dynasty.

Someswarar Temple is one of 12 Shiva temples associated with the Mahamaham festival, which occurs once every twelve years in Kumbakonam. According to legend, Lord Brahma combined all his creative energy into nectar, placing it in a pot, or Kumbam, atop the Himalayas prior to a great deluge. During the flood, the Kumbam floated and eventually settled in what is now Kumbakonam. Lord Shiva shot an arrow at the Kumbam, breaking it and releasing the nectar. From the sand soaked in this nectar, Lord Shiva formed a Shivalinga and took the name Adikumbeswarar in Kumbakonam. When the Kumbam was struck, the threads surrounding it unraveled, leading to the emergence of a lingam that was subsequently worshipped by the moon god, resulting in the name Chikkeswar.

Adjacent to the Sarangapani Temple, the Someswarar Temple complex spans approximately two acres and features two gopurams, or gateway towers. The western tower is the tallest, comprising five stories, while the inner gopuram consists of three tiers. The area surrounding the sanctum includes images of Vinayaka, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, and Nataraja. Notably, Lord Murugan has a separate sannidhi within this temple and is particularly revered here.

The Masi Magam festival, celebrated on the day of Magam (February - March), is the temple's most significant festival.

Timings: 6 AM - 12 PM & 4 PM - 8.30 PM

Entry: Free