2016 Mahamaham

Anticipating the deluge that would destroy the world, Brahma sought the help of Shiva 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 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. from where nectar dispersed in different directions and emerged as sacred tirtham in Potramarai tank (Sarangapani temple) and Mahamaham tank.[3]

A bath in the holy tank is considered to bring good fortune. This tank has 20 wells named after 20 holy rivers flowing across the country. It is believed that a dip in these wells rids one of a specific sin and confers 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 congregation in Thanjavur district.[4] The festival with its dip-in-the-tank-waters tradition extends over 10 days (Brahmothsavam). The 10-day festivities are also observed with lesser crowds in the Magha month (about February) every year between the 12-year Maha (major) cycle. In the interim years, the event is called the Masi-maham festival.[5] During the festival days devotees were allowed to take bath in the Mahamaham tank from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.[6] The tank had 20 wells named after the holy rivers in the country and the devotees believe who took the dip during this 10-day festival a dip here equals a combined dip in all of rivers.[7]

For more than one year people were expecting this festival. In connection with this festival kumbabishegams 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 ie., on 21 and 22 February 2016 all the temples were opened from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. 22 February 2016 was announced as local holidays for Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.[8] On the festival days the tank had have only two feet of water for safety reasons.[4] Even after the culmination of festival devotees were found taking bath in the temple.[9][10]

Pandakkal muhurttham in Kumbeswarar Temple

On all the temples connected with Mahamaham, on 24 January 2016, Pandakkal muhurttham, an event signifying the start of the festival, was held.[11][12] The merging of holy water in Mahamaham tank[12] k and opening of water in Mahamaham took place on 12 February 2016.[13] In order the avoid the crowd and sudden rush of the devotees, devotees were allowed to take a bath before 6.00 a.m. on 13 February 2016.[14] In 40 days more than 45 lakh devotees participated in the festival and it came to end to the satisfaction of one and all.[15]

In Shiva temples on 13 February 2016,[16] and in Vishnu temples on 14 February 2016 temple flags were hoisted.[16][17] In Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswara Temple, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Abimukeswarar Temple, Kahahasteeswarar Temple and Someswarar Temple the festivities were held for 10 days Brahmotsavam and in Ekambareswarar Temple, Gowthameswarar Temple, , Kambatta Visvanathar Temple, Banapuriswarar Temple, Koteeswarar Temple, and Amirthakalasanathar Temple they were held for one day.[6]

Arrangements were made for the chariot festivals in Abimukeswarar Temple and Nageswarar Temple and on 21 February 2016 and in Kumbeswarar Temple on 22 February 2016[18] After four Mahamahams five temple chariots, at one stretch, of Kumbeswarar Temple run.[19][20] Chariot festivals of Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Abimukeswarar Temple and Nageswara Temple were held on 21 February 2016.[21]

"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 took bath, signaling the fulfillment of the "Theerthavari".[22][23] Tirttavari Trial for Tirttavari was held on 6 February 2016.[24] For Shiva temples it was held on 22 February 2016 between 12.00 noon and 1.30 p.m. in Mahamaham Tank. For five Vishnu temples it was held on the banks of Kaveri. Those five temples are Sarangapani Temple, Chakrapani Temple, Ramaswamy Temple, Rajagopalaswamy Temple, and Varahaperumal Temple.[3][25] During Tirttavari processional deities of 12 Shiva temples were kept on the Nandi vahana and went around the main sreets of the town. Later in the Mahamaham tank special abisegams were held to Astradevars and Tirttavari was held. For five Vishnu temples Tirttavari was held to astradevars at Sarangapani Tirttavari mandapa, which was near to Sakkarai ghat known as Sakkara paditthurai in Tamil.[26]

In connection with Mahamaham exhibitions and cultural programmes were held in five places in Kumbakonam.[27] From 13 February 2016 Government Exhibition was held in the ground of Town Higher Secondary School.[28] Book exhibition was held from 20 February 2016.[29]

Special postcards[30] Mahamaham Special cover[31] and calendars containing photographs of the processional deities of 12 Shiva temples and five Vishnu temples were also released. .[32][33] The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu and Saraswathi Mahal Library released commemoration volumes containing articles on various aspects such religion, arts, temples and Kumbakonam. [34] [35][36]

The Kumbakonam Municipality, in its sesquicentennial year, 2016, has spent more than Rs. 50 crore from improving civic infrastructure for ensuring a hygienic environment to the visiting devotees of Mahamham have a memorable outing. Special arrangements made for improving the facilities such as water supply, street lighting, bio-mining work, town roads and sanitary lanes.[37] Police have made elaborate security arrangements to prevent stampede. A strong team of 25,000 policemen and 3000 home guards was deployed in the town. All vehicles were halted at least one and half kms from the temple and all temples were cordoned off.[4]

The tanks of Kumbakonam got a new lease of life due to Mahamaham. They are Pachaiyappan tank. Sei Kulam, Ayee Kulam, Bairagi Kulam, Pidari Kulam and Banadurai Kulam.[37]

• Mahamaham Stampede
• Mamankam (Tirunavaya, Kerala)
• Mahamaham

• மகாமகம் 2016
• Mahamaham 2016, The Hindu
• Naga Sadhus visit Mahamaham for first time, India.com