Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
Shiva (as Kasi Viswanathar), with Goddess Visalakshi and the Nava Kannikas temple · Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Kasi Viswanathar Temple is a Shiva temple on the north bank of the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped here as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort as Visalakshi, the same names as the deities of Varanasi (Kashi). The temple is also known by its old name Kudanthai Karonam.
Its most distinctive feature is a shrine to the Nava Kannikas, the nine sacred rivers of India in the form of goddesses, which has given the temple its popular name, the Nava Kanniyar temple. It is one of the twelve Shiva temples connected with the Mahamaham festival, and it is maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
The temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam: Wikipedia records that it is revered in the Tevaram hymns of the 7th-century Nayanmars Thirugnanasambandar and Appar.
The Nava Kannika legend is central to the Mahamaham festival. According to the HR&CE's account, the nine holy rivers complained to Shiva that they were burdened by the sins washed off by bathers, and Shiva told them to bathe in the Mahamaham tank at Kumbakonam on Mahamaham day. After bathing they came to the nearby abode of Kasi Viswanathar, where they are believed to reside and bless devotees. Dinamalar names the nine as Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Tungabhadra, Krishna, Sarayu and Cauvery, and says large images of them stand in the temple. The legend adds that Shiva came from Kashi to this spot at their request, which is why he is worshipped here as Kasi Viswanathar.
A second tradition links the temple with the Ramayana. According to Dinamalar, the sage Agastya advised Rama to stay at Kumbakonam and worship Kasi Viswanathar to acquire the fierce strength needed to fight Ravana; the old name Karonam is explained by this story. Wikipedia notes that a linga believed to have been worshipped by Rama stands in the north-eastern prakaram. Dinamalar also notes an unusual Kshetra Linga installed under a neem tree.
Heritage
History of Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
According to Wikipedia, the present masonry structure was built during the Nayak period in the 16th century, though the shrine itself is much older, since it is mentioned in the 7th-century Tevaram. No dated inscriptions are cited in the sources consulted.
The temple has a close administrative link with the Mahamaham tank. The HR&CE's Mahamaham 2016 website states that the sixteen small shrines around the tank, each housing a Shiva linga and together called the Shodasa Mahalinga Swamy temple, are an associate temple of the Kasi Viswanathar temple. For the 2016 Mahamaham, the HR&CE published a festival programme for the temple that included flag hoisting, nightly processions and the theerthavari (holy bath of the deity) at the tank on Mahamaham day.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a complex of about two acres with two prakarams (enclosures) and two gopurams; the taller western tower has seven tiers and is about 72 feet high. Besides the shrines of Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and the Nava Kannikas, Dinamalar lists shrines for the Saptamatrikas, Bhairava, Surya, Chandra, Jyeshta Devi, Lingodbhava, Anjaneya, Mahishasura Mardini and Dakshinamurthy, and notes that the Durga image faces Chandikeswara.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is an active place of worship with six daily pujas. The area around the Mahamaham tank becomes extremely crowded during Masi Magam and especially during the twelve-yearly Mahamaham. Dress modestly, follow the instructions of temple staff, and confirm current darshan timings and festival dates with the temple office of the HR&CE Department before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
Masi Magam
The temple's main festival; Dinamalar describes a ten-day festival following Masi Magam with a float festival on the tenth day.
Mahamaham
The Nava Kannikas legend makes this temple central to the festival; the festival deity is taken to the Mahamaham tank for the theerthavari.
Maha Shivaratri
Listed by Wikipedia among the temple's major festivals.
Panguni Uthiram
Listed by Wikipedia among the temple's major festivals.
Location
How to Reach Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
The temple stands on the north bank of the Mahamaham tank in the centre of Kumbakonam, according to Dinamalar, so it is easily combined with a visit to the tank and the other temples of the town, such as Adi Kumbeswarar.
Location: Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva (as Kasi Viswanathar), with Goddess Visalakshi and the Nava Kannikas temples · Temples in Kumbakonam Taluk · Temples in Thanjavur District
Questions
Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam: Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Nava Kannikas at Kasi Viswanathar Temple?
They are the nine sacred rivers in the form of goddesses: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Tungabhadra, Krishna, Sarayu and Cauvery. According to legend they bathed in the Mahamaham tank to be freed of the sins left by bathers and then came to reside at this temple.
Why is Shiva called Kasi Viswanathar in Kumbakonam?
According to the temple tradition, Shiva came here from Kashi (Varanasi) at the request of the Nava Kannikas, so he is worshipped with the Varanasi names Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi.
Where is the temple located?
It stands on the north bank of the Mahamaham tank in the centre of Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district.
Is the temple connected with the Mahamaham festival?
Yes. It is one of the twelve Shiva temples connected with the Mahamaham, and the HR&CE describes the sixteen shrines around the tank as an associate temple of Kasi Viswanathar.
Is Kasi Viswanathar Temple a Paadal Petra Sthalam?
Yes. Wikipedia records that it is praised in the Tevaram hymns of Thirugnanasambandar and Appar.
What is the Rama legend of this temple?
According to tradition, the sage Agastya advised Rama to worship Kasi Viswanathar at Kumbakonam to gain the strength to fight Ravana. A linga believed to have been worshipped by Rama is in the north-eastern prakaram.
Sources and attribution
- HR&CE Department, Government of Tamil Nadu (Mahamaham 2016 official website, archived) — The Big Festival of Mahamaham
- HR&CE Department, Government of Tamil Nadu (Mahamaham 2016 official website, archived) — Arulmigu Kasi Viswanathar Temple - Mahamaham 2016 festival programme (Tamil, PDF)
- Dinamalar — Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam - Temple details
- Wikipedia — Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam
Further reading: Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Write to info@hindutone.com — see our editorial policy.
