Soaked in spiritual, religious traditions

July 13, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:34 am IST

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 11/07/2015: FOR SRI SARANGAPANI TEMPLE SAMPROKSHNAM: Portamarai Kulam at Sri Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam.

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 11/07/2015: FOR SRI SARANGAPANI TEMPLE SAMPROKSHNAM: Portamarai Kulam at Sri Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam.

Kumbakonam is steeped in spiritual, religious, and philosophical history, points out vedic pandit and former MLA Rama Ramanathan.

Various scriptures refer to the town as Thirukudanthai, Bhaskara Kshetram, and Dandakaranya Kshetram. The region is the abode of many celebrated Vishnu and Shiva temples of antiquity, he says.

Some of the important shrines include Sri Chakrapani temple, Sri Ramaswamy temple, Sri Oppiliappan temple, Sri Aadi Kumbeswarar temple, Sri Nageswara Swamy temple, Sri Kasi Viswanatha Swmy temple, Sri Saranatha Perumal temple, Sri Swamimalai Swaminatha Swamy temple, and Sri Naganatha Swamy temple besides the famous Navagraha Kshetras, Sri Ramanathan says.

Incidentally, the Mahasamprokshanam of Sri Sarangapani temple comes ahead of the once-in-12-years Mahamaham slated for February 22, 2016 for which Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had ordered elaborate preparations in terms of improved infrastructure and facilities for the lakhs of devotees expected to converge at the pilgrim centre, Sri Ramanathan says.

Because of the efforts of the Chief Minister, Kumbakonam is getting a facelift and improved infrastructure that spans not just the public utility structures but also spiritual centres such as the Sri Sarangapani temple.

Sixty nine shrines are being renovated for which the State Government has allocated Rs. 12 crore, says Sri Ramanathan and added that bhakti had reached its high point in the current reign of Ms. Jayalalithaa to benefit all sections of society.

L. RENGANATHAN

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