77. THIRIBHUVANAM

KAMBAHARAESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 6kms from Kumbakonam.

Shiva: Kambaharaeswarar

Amman: Dharmasamvarthini

Sthala Viruksham: Vilva Tree

Theertham: Sarabha Theertham, apart from this Deva Theertham, Gnana Theertham, Vyasa theertham, Brihu Theertham and Sitha Theertham are also present.

Speciality:

Kambaharaeswarar is a Suyambhu Linga. 

The Sarabaeswarar of this temple is a special feature of this temple which is 7ft tall. People call this temple as Sarabaeswarar temple rather than Sarabaeswarar temple. People pray to Sarabaeswarar to get relieved from illness, worries, enemies, ill effects of planets and adverse situations in their lifetime. 

Situated in the southern banks of River Cauvery.

7 Tiered Rajagopuram.

2 Praharas.

The temple faces east.

Entirely built of stone.

The Vimanam of this temple is Sachidhanandha Vimanam.

This place was called as Thiribhuvana Veerapuram and Thiripuravanam in ancient days.

In the Somaskandha Mandapa the different poses in Baratanatya have been carved.

Arunagirinadhar has sung Thirupugazh on lord Muruga of this temple.

There are 7 inscriptions in this temple.

The name of the Lord has been mentioned as Thiribhuvanamudaiyar and Thiribhuvanaeswaramudaiyamahadevar in the inscriptions.

The Brahmotsavam festival of the temple takes place in the month of Panguni on Panguni Uthiram day.

The Sarabha Utsavam is a special ritual of the temple. It is performed on the Sunday following the Brahmosavam. The Eka Dina Laksharchnai is conducted throughout that night and Sarabaeswarar is taken out for Veedi ula in a Silver Chariot.

Kambaharaeswarar is also called as Nadukkam Theertham Nayagar and Amman Dhramasamvarthini is also called Aramvalarthanayaki meaning Goddess upholding Dharma.

This temple was worshipped by Mahavishnu, Brahma, Pragaladhan, Ashvagreevan, Virushubhagreevan, Viyazhagreevan, Lakshmi, Varunan, Brahmadhidhevas, Chithradhan, Mandhadhar, Sukoshan, Naradhar, Agni, Mandhadhan, Suriyan, Chandran, Rajaraja Chola and Varagunapandiyan.

People pray to Kambaharaeswarar to get relieved from all ailments especially nerve problems.

History:

The Sarabaeswarar has the Powers of Shiva, Vishnu, Prathyankiradevi and Soolini Durga. After Lord Narasimha tore the stomach of Hiranya Kasibhu and killed him the blood of Hiranya Kasibhu stayed on Narasimhar's hands. Every drop of blood which falls in the ground will arise as undesirable souls nd become indestructable. So all the Devas approached Lord Shiva to put an end to this situation. Shiva immediately took a strange form to control the anger of Narasimha and not to let the blood fall onto the ground. He took the form of a strange animal with the face of a Yaali (an animal which existed in those period), body of a man, 8 legs, 4 hands and 2 wings. He chased Narasimhar who was moving angrily due to the effect of the wicked blood and pressed Narasimhar's hands with his nails to bring out the blood and drank it. After the blood was removed from Narasimhar's hands and Sarabaeswarar hugged Narasimhar tightly he became calm. Since the blood was with Sarabeswarar he became fierce. Amman took the form of an Angry Prathyankira with Lion face and Santha Durga. Prathyankira was fierce and Durga was calm. They pacified the anger of Sarabaeswarar. There is a Prathyankira Devi temple in a place called Ayyavadi about 5 kms from Thirubhuvanam. 

Varagunapandiyan was riding fast on his horse during war time. A brahmin was crossing the road was hurt and killed by Varagunapandiyan as Varagunapandiyan could not reduce the speed of the horse. Since he killed the Brahmin he was attained Brahmahathi Dhosham. He went to Thiruvidaimarudhur Mahalingaeswarar temple to get rid of his Dhosham through the eastern entrance. Since the Brahmahathi could not enter the temple it stuck onto the walls of the eastern entrance and was waiting for the King to come out so that it could catch him. Lord Mahalingaeswarar of Thiruvidaimarudhur indicated to Varagunapandiyan that he should leave the temple through the other entrance so that he could escape from the Brahmahathi. The King left the temple through the other entrance and came to this temple (Kambaharaeswarar temple) which is very close to Thiruvidaimarudhur trembling with fear for being caught by the Brahmahathi again. He entered into the Kambaharaeswarar Shrine trembling from top to bottom. The Lord relieved his fear and consoled him and thereby his body stopped trembling. Therefore the Lord is called as Nadukkam Theertha Nayakkar. The King contributed Lands to the temple and renovated the temple. It is still believed that the Brahmahathi is on top of the eastern entrance of the Thiruvidaimarudhur temple waiting for the King to come back to catch him. So, even now the devotees who enter through this entrance or any other eentrance do not return through the eastern entrance because they fear that the Brahmahathi would misunderstand them to be Varagunapandiyan.


Ashvagreevan, Virishubhagreevan and Viyazhagreevan were 3 Asuras. They worshipped Kambaharaeswarar and attained the fort of Gold, Silver and Iron respectively.