Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

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Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple to Shiva in the town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is mentioned in the 7th-century-CE Tamil Saiva canonical work the Tevaram and it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2) and houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet (39 m) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagara period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone. The masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed...

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