107-648: Patteeswaram is a village, eight kilometres from Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu in India . The village was named after Patti (also called Nandini), the calf of Kamadhenu, the divine cow in Hindu mythology. It is the suburban region of Kumbakonam city in Thanjavur district . It has the Famous temples like Thenupuriswarar Temple of Lord Shiva and Durga and Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Patteeswaram . This village
214-465: A devastating fire accident in the Sri Krishna school killed 94 children. Kumbakonam is located at 10°58′N 79°25′E / 10.97°N 79.42°E / 10.97; 79.42 . It is situated 273 km (170 mi) south of Chennai , 96 km (60 mi) east of Tiruchirappalli , and about 40 km (25 mi) north-east of Thanjavur . It lies in the region called
321-472: A diadem (crown). Two of his hands should be in refuge granting and gift giving mudra , while he should be shown with kundika (water pot), akshamala (rosary), a small shruka and a large shruka (two ladles used in yajna ceremonies). The text details the different proportions of the murti , describes the ornaments, and suggests that the idol wear chira (bark strip) as a lower garment, and either be alone or be accompanied with goddess Sarasvati . Brahma
428-604: A Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head. The legislative powers are vested in a body of 48 members, one each from each of the 48 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected chairperson who is assisted by a deputy chairperson. Kumbakonam is a part of the Kumbakonam Legislative Assembly constituency and elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years. Despite being
535-885: A Raghavendra matha in Kumbakonam. There is also a branch of the Vaishnava Ahobila mutt in Kumbakonam, who administers Thirupulamboothangudi and Aadanur ,having influence in Thirunaraiyur, Thirukudanthai, and Thiruvinnagar. The Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram , the Oppiliappan Kovil and the Swamimalai Murugan temple are located in the vicinity of Kumbakonam. The Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram locality of Kumbakonam built by Rajaraja Chola II (1146–73) during 12th century
642-479: A Superintendent of Police (SP). Suburban localities are under the jurisdiction of Swamimalai, Patteswarm, Nachiyarkovil, Tiruvidamarudhur, Thiruneelakudi police stations. Recently, the government has established one police station at Cholapuram by reorganizing Kumbakonam Taluk, Swamimalai and Thirupanandal Police station. The important products of Kumbakonam include brass, bronze, copper and pewter vessels, silk and cotton cloths, sugar, indigo and pottery. Kumbakonam
749-454: A blend of coffee prepared using undiluted pure milk. In recent times, Kumbakonam has emerged as an important manufacturer of fertilizers. Apart from manufacturing, tourism is also a major source of income for the town. Many lodges and resorts from budget to high-end categories are functioning in Kumbakonam. The Hindu temples and colonial-era buildings have been recognised for their tourism potential. The 12th-century Airavatesvara Temple in
856-527: A commercial street in the town. Pilgrims from all parts of India take a holy dip once every 12 years during the Mahamaham festival in the Mahamaham tank . Over 40 lakh pilgrims participated in the festival during the 2016 event which is also known as the Southern Kumbha mela. Govinda Dikshitar constructed the sixteen mandapams (shrines) and stone steps around this tank. Kumbakonam is one of
963-700: A hub of militant Communism in the 1950s, Kumbakonam voted for the Indian National Congress in the first five state elections held between 1952 and 1977. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won the elections in 1977 and between 1977 and 1989, the seat was alternatively held by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or the Indian National Congress. Since 1989, barring an interregnum of five years between 1991 and 1996,
1070-403: A lotus rooted in the navel of Vishnu, along with Shiva, who emerged inside a fire rooted in the forehead of the god Vishnu. This Purana states that both Brahma and Shiva are drowsy, err, are temporarily incompetent as they put together the universe. They then become aware of their confusion and drowsiness, meditates as two ascetics, then realizes Vishnu in their bodies, see the beginning and end of
1177-650: A low-lying area. Kumbakonam comes under the Cauvery River Delta Area (CRDA) of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's state-owned telecom and internet services provider. Apart from telecom, BSNL also provides broadband internet service. Kumbakonam hosts the district headquarters hospital, Thanjavur District at Kumbakonam and Coronation Municipal Hospital, Melakaveri Urban Primary Health Centre, 34 private hospitals & clinics and numerous medical shops catering to
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#17327838159291284-626: A population of 140,156 with a sex-ratio of 1,021 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 12,791 were under the age of six, constituting 6,495 males and 6,296 females. The average literacy of the town was 83.21%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. There were a total of 9,519 workers, comprising 32 cultivators, 83 main agricultural labourers, 1,206 in household industries, 7,169 other workers, 1,029 marginal workers, 24 marginal cultivators, 45 marginal agricultural labourers, 212 marginal workers in household industries and 0 other marginal workers. Kumbakonam has
1391-675: A satellite campus based in Kumbakonam where disciplines of Engineering(electronics and communication Engineering & computer science Engineering), arts and sciences are taught. The Native High School, founded in 1876, and the Town Higher Secondary School , one of whose students was Srinivasa Ramanujan, were some of the oldest schools in the Madras Presidency. At present, there a total of 36 government and private schools in Kumbakonam. Brahma Brahma ( Sanskrit : ब्रह्मा , IAST : Brahmā )
1498-632: A shrine belonging to the fifth century, in the small and remote village of Carambolim , Sattari Taluka in the northeast region of the state is found. A famous icon of Brahma exists at Mangalwedha , 52 km from the Solapur district of Maharashtra and in Sopara near Mumbai . Temples exist in Khokhan , Annamputhur and Hosur . A shrine of Brahma can be found in Cambodia's Angkor Wat . One of
1605-494: A strong Hindu majority, but it also has sizeable Muslim and Christian populations. Among Hindus, Vanniyars , Kallars , Brahmins and Dalits are the numerically dominant Tamil-speaking groups. Brahmins are more numerous and affluent in Kumbakonam than in other parts of Tamil Nadu. There are also large populations of Moopanars , Konars and Nadars . Amongst Muslims, the Tamil Muslims are dominant. Most of
1712-467: Is brahma ( ब्रह्म ); and the masculine noun brahmán , whose nominative singular form is brahmā ( ब्रह्मा ). The former, the neuter form, has a generalized and abstract meaning while the latter, the masculine form, is used as the proper name of the deity Brahma. However, Brahman was sometimes used as a synonym for Brahma's name during the time the Mahabharata was written. One of
1819-779: Is 311.04 trillion solar years, and humanity is in the 28th Kali Yuga of the 51st year of the current Brahma's life. Very few temples in India are primarily dedicated to Brahma and his worship. The most prominent Hindu temple for Brahma is the Brahma Temple, Pushkar . Others include: Brahma is also worshipped in temple complexes dedicated to the Trimurti . Some of these are: Thanumalayan Temple , Sri Purushothaman Temple , Ponmeri Shiva Temple , Thripaya Trimurti Temple , Mithrananthapuram Trimurti Temple , Kodumudi Magudeswarar Temple , Brahmapureeswarar Temple In Tamil Nadu, there
1926-1045: Is 91 km (57 mi) from Kumbakonam. The nearest seaport is located at Nagapattinam which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. The town has around 141 km (88 mi) of roads, 544 municipal roads making up 122.29 km (75.99 mi). There are also around 18.71 km (11.63 mi) of state highways running through Kumbakonam. Over 87% of the municipal roads are paved. There are regular government and private bus services to Chennai , Thanjavur , Mannargudi , Tiruchirapalli , Chidambaram , Thiruvarur , Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam , Coimbatore , Tiruppur , Palani , Thoothukudi, Rameswaram , Tiruchendur , Salem, Edapaddi, Vellore, Kumuli, Cumbum, Karaikudi , Pudukkottai , Neyveli, Madurai , Sivagangai , Thiruthuraipoondi , Pattukkottai , Muthupet , Puducherry , and Tirunelveli . The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu)(SETC) operates daily services from Bengaluru and mysuru to Kumbakonam. On 1 March 1972,
2033-467: Is Andakasa Temple dedicated to Brahma. In the past, although not as popular as Vishnu and Shiva, the name Brahma appeared on several occasions. In the legend that developed in East Java about Ken Arok, for example, Brahma is believed to be the biological father of Ken Arok . It is said that Brahma was fascinated by the beauty of Ken Arok's mother, Ken Endok and made her a lover. From this relationship
2140-621: Is a Hindu god , referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti , the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva . He is associated with creation, knowledge, and the Vedas . Brahma is prominently mentioned in creation legends . In some Puranas , he created himself in a golden embryo known as the Hiranyagarbha . Brahma is the Vedic god Prajapati . During
2247-657: Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram that are collectively referred as the Great Living Chola Temples. Kumbakonam is connected by road and rail. The National highway NH-36 connects Vikravandi - Manamadurai , passes through this town. The nearest international airport is at Tiruchirapalli , which
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#17327838159292354-423: Is a day of Brahmā, and one day of Brahmā consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas , or ages: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahmā, and the same number comprise one night. Brahmā lives one hundred of such "years" and then dies. These "hundred years" total 311 trillion 40 billion (311,040,000,000,000) earth years. Brahma's lifespan
2461-550: Is affiliated to the Bharathidasan University . Other colleges in Kumbakonam include Idhya Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Annai College of Arts and Science , Annai Engineering College, Mass College, Sankara Arts college, PRIST University Kumbakonam Campus, Government College Of Fine Arts and Arasu Engineering College , KSK Engineering college, As Slam Engineering college at nearby Thirumanglakudi. The Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy has
2568-560: Is also a shrine for Brahma in Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple in a rare posture along with his consort Goddess Sarasvati . There is a temple dedicated to Brahma in the temple town of Srikalahasti near Tirupati , Andhra Pradesh . There is a Chaturmukha Brahma temple in Chebrolu , Andhra Pradesh, and a seven feet height of Chatrumukha (Four Faces) Brahma temple at Bangalore , Karnataka . In the coastal state of Goa ,
2675-624: Is also known as Baskarashetram and Kumbam from time immemorial and as Kudanthai in ancient times. Kumbakonam is also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the Tamil name of Kudamukku. Kumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam age settlement of Kudavayil. The region around Kumbakonam was inhabited as early as the Sangam Age (third century BC to third century AD). The present-day Kumbakonam
2782-451: Is always changing ( empirical ), and that all observed reality of the latter is in an endlessly repeating cycle of existence, that cosmos and life we experience is continually created, evolved, dissolved and then re-created. The primary creator is extensively discussed in Vedic cosmogonies with Brahman or Purusha or Prakrti among the terms used for the primary creator, In contrast
2889-494: Is an important silk-weaving centre and more than 5,000 families were employed either directly or indirectly in silk weaving. Silk weaved in Kumbakonam is regarded as one of the finest in the subcontinent. They are largely used in the manufacture of Thirubuvanam silk sarees. Kumbakonam was also an important salt-manufacturing area during British rule. The town lends its name to the Kumbakonam Degree Coffee ,
2996-521: Is associated largely with the Vedic culture of yajna and knowledge. In some Vedic yajna , Brahma is summoned in the ritual to reside and supervise the ritual in the form of Prajapati . Brahma's wife is the goddess Sarasvati. She is the embodiment of his power, the instrument of creation and the energy that drives his actions. Brahma, despite being believed to be the creator, is considered mortal according to scriptures. The Age of Brahma, according to Hindu cosmology , spans vast epochs of time. A kalpa
3103-628: Is believed to be the site of the ancient town of Kudavayil where the Early Chola king Karikala held his court. Some scholars identify Kumbakonam as the site of the fabled prison of Kudavayir-kottam where the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumporai was imprisoned by the Early Chola king Kocengannan . Kumbakonam is identified with the town of Malaikūrram which had served as the Chola capital as early as
3210-640: Is bounded by two rivers, the Cauvery River on the north and Arasalar River on the south. Although the Cauvery delta is usually hot, the climate of Kumbakonam and other surrounding towns is generally healthy and moderate. Kumbakonam is cooler than Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. The maximum temperature in summer is about 40 °C (104 °F) while the minimum temperature is about 20 °C (68 °F). Kumbakonam receives an annual rainfall of 114.78 cm (45.19 in) every year. The region
3317-457: Is considered to be the chief commercial centre for the Thanjavur region. In 1991, around 30% of the population was engaged in economic activity. Rice production is an important activity in Kumbakonam. Of 194 industrial units in Kumbakonam, 57 are rice and flour mills. Kumbakonam is also a leading producer of betel leaves and nuts ; the betel leaves produced in Kumbakonam are ranked amongst
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3424-542: Is covered with mainly alluvial or black soil which is conducive for rice cultivation . Other crops grown in Kumbakonam include mulberry , cereals and sugarcane . The town of Kumbakonam is surrounded by extensive paddy fields. Methods of irrigation were considerably improved following the opening of the Mettur Dam in 1934. The fauna of the Cauvery Delta is limited to cattle and goats . The town
3531-881: Is located just opposite the Arignar Anna Bus Stand where the long-distance buses are stationed. There are occasional ferries that transport people and goods across the Cauvery. Till the beginning of the 20th century, students of the Government Arts College used to cross the Cauvery on coracle ferries to attend college. Since the construction of a bridge in 1944, the practice of transporting men and goods by coracles has greatly diminished. The Raja Veda Padasala , established by Govinda Dikshitar during 1542 in Kumbakonam, teaches Sanskrit vedic scriptures in specialised fields of Rig Veda , Yajur Veda , Sama Veda , Agamas and Sastras . Kumbakonam emerged as an important centre of education in
3638-584: Is often depicted with a white beard, implying his sage-like experience. He sits on lotus, dressed in white (or red and pink), with his vehicle ( vahana ) – hamsa , a swan – nearby. Chapter 51 of the Manasara , an ancient design manual in Sanskrit for making murtis and temples, states that a Brahma statue should be gold in color. The text recommends that the statue have four faces and four arms, have jata-mukuta-mandita (matted hair of an ascetic), and wear
3745-455: Is one of the many masculine gods in Hindu tradition. The spiritual concept of brahman is quite old and some scholars suggest that the god Brahma may have emerged as a god and visible icon of the impersonal universal principle of brahman . The existence of a distinct god named Brahma is evidenced in late Vedic texts. Grammatically, the nominal stem Brahma- has two distinct forms: the neuter noun bráhman , whose nominative singular form
3852-463: Is predominantly Tamil-speaking. The commonly used dialects is the Central Tamil dialect . There are significant minorities speaking Thanjavur Marathi , Telugu , Kannada and Saurashtra as their mother tongue. Residential areas make up 32.09% of the town's total area while commercial enterprises and industrial units make up 2.75% and 1.21%, respectively. The non-urban portion of
3959-424: Is provided by the Kumbakonam municipality from Cauvery river and Coleroon river; the distribution is managed through head works located at Valayapettai and Kudithangi, supplying 3,265 kl (863,000 US gal) of water to the town. About 18 t (40,000 lb) of solid waste is collected from the town everyday; 53% domestic wastes and 32% commercial wastes. The collected wastes are dumped in yards outside
4066-642: Is regarded as one of the Twenty Devas ( 二十諸天 Èrshí Zhūtiān ) or the Twenty-Four Devas ( 二十四諸天 Èrshísì zhūtiān ), a group of protective dharmapalas . Hindus in Indonesia still have a high regard for Brahma ( Indonesian and Javanese : Batara Brahma and Sanghyang Brahma ). In Prambanan there is a special temple made for Brahma, side by side with Vishnu and Shiva, and in Bali there
4173-718: Is situated at the western flank of the Kumbakonam- Shiyali ridge which runs along the Kollidam river basin separating the Ariyalur - Puducherry depression from the Nagapattinam depression . This granular ridge projects further eastwards penetrating the Puducherry depression and forms a hard layer of cretaceous rock underneath the sedimentary topsoil . According to 2011 census , Kumbakonam had
4280-589: Is the Atman (Soul, Self) within and without – yea, within and without! While the Maitrayaniya Upanishad maps Brahma with one of the elements of the guṇas theory of Hinduism, the text does not depict him as one of the trifunctional elements of the Hindu Trimurti idea found in later Puranic literature. During the post-Vedic period, Brahma was a prominent god and his sect existed during
4387-464: Is the biggest municipality in Thanjavur district. The town was upgraded to a Municipal Corporation on 24 August 2021, with an administration authority area of 42.9 km (16.6 sq mi). The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: General, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, Town planning and the Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of
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4494-461: Is the second largest city in the district after Thanjavur . The city is bounded by two rivers, the Kaveri River to the north and Arasalar River to the south. Kumbakonam is known as a "Temple town" due to the prevalence of a number of temples here and is noted for its Mahamaham festival , which happens once in 12 years, attracting people from all over the country. Kumbakonam dates back to
4601-399: Is this Shiva. That part of him which belongs to rajas , that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Brahma . That part of him which belongs to sattva , that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Vishnu. Verily, that One became threefold, became eightfold, elevenfold, twelvefold, into infinite fold. This Being (neuter) entered all beings, he became the overlord of all beings. That
4708-431: Is under progress, which upon completion will greatly reduce to time of travel to Thanjavur and Chennai. The traditional modes of transportation are bullock carts . It is recorded that as late as the 1950s, landlords and rich farmers travelled mostly by bullock carts except for rare long journeys which they undertook by buses or motor vehicles. Kumbakonam has an efficient local bus transportation system. The town bus stand
4815-457: Is within each living being. It equates the atman (Soul, Self) within to be Brahma and various alternate manifestations of Brahman, as follows, "Thou art Brahma, thou art Vishnu, thou art Shiva, thou art Agni , Varuna , Vayu , Indra , thou art All." In verse (5,2), Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva are mapped into the theory of Guṇas , that is qualities, psyche and innate tendencies the text describes can be found in all living beings. This chapter of
4922-492: The Maitrayaniya Upanishad asserts that the universe emerged from darkness ( tamas ), first as passion characterized by innate quality ( rajas ), which then refined and differentiated into purity and goodness ( sattva ). Of these three qualities, rajas are then mapped to Brahma , as follows: Now then, that part of him which belongs to tamas , that, O students of sacred knowledge ( Brahmacharins ),
5029-493: The Shiva Purana , where Brahma and Vishnu argued about who was the greatest among them. While they debated, they saw a huge column of fire piercing through the sky which was Shiva as Lingodbhava . They decided to locate the beginning and end of this column of fire which is Shiva. Vishnu assumed the form of a boar as Varaha and journeyed towards the earth and Brahma assumed the form of a swan as Hamsa and journeyed towards
5136-552: The British Raj when it was a prominent centre of European education and Hindu culture; and it acquired the cultural name, the " Cambridge of South India ". In 1866, Kumbakonam was officially constituted as a municipality, which today comprises 48 wards, making it the second largest local civil body in Thanjavur district. It became a municipal corporation on 24 August 2021. The name "Kumbakonam", roughly translated in English as
5243-481: The Cholas said that Brahma and Shiva as their direct biological ancestors and Vishnu as their creator and the creator of this entire universe . Cilappatikaram also has several mentions of Brahma as the creator god. Brahma is traditionally depicted with four faces and four arms. Each face of his points to a cardinal direction. His hands hold no weapons, rather symbols of knowledge and creation. In one hand, he holds
5350-1099: The Government House of Thailand houses a statue of Phra Phrom (Thai representation of Brahma). An early 18th-century CE painting at Wat Yai Suwannaram in Phetchaburi city of Thailand depicts Brahma. The name of the country Burma is derived from Brahma. In medieval texts, it is referred to as Brahma-desa . Brahma in Buddhism is known in Chinese as Simianshen ( 四面神 , "Four-Faced God"), Simianfo ( 四面佛 , "Four-Faced Buddha") or Fantian ( 梵天 ), Tshangs pa ( ཚངས་པ ) in Tibetan, Phạm Thiên ( 梵天 ) in Vietnamese, Bonten ( 梵天 ) in Japanese, and Beomcheon ( 범천,梵天 ) in Korean. In Chinese Buddhism , he
5457-609: The Madras Presidency . The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 fostered trade contacts with the United Kingdom. In 1877, railway lines were completed linking Kumbakonam with the ports of Madras , Tuticorin and Nagapattinam . The Tanjore district court was established in Kumbakonam in 1806 and functioned from 1806 to 1863. Kumbakonam continued to grow even after India's independence though it fell behind
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#17327838159295564-466: The Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam . The temple is associated with the legend of Sambandar to whose view Nandi moved to have a direct view of the presiding deity. Muthupandal festival celebrated in the temple in associated with the legend. During this Muthupandal festival Sambandar Visits Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Patteeswaram and gets a divine Silk Shall from the temple which shows
5671-674: The Sangam period and was ruled by the Early Cholas , Pallavas , Mutharaiyar dynasty , Medieval Cholas , Later Cholas , Pandyas , the Vijayanagara Empire , Madurai Nayaks , Thanjavur Nayaks and the Thanjavur Marathas . It rose to be a prominent town between the seventh and ninth centuries AD, when it served as a capital of the Medieval Cholas. The city reached the zenith of its prosperity during
5778-772: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation . The corporation runs a reconditioning unit and a tyre re-threading unit in Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam is connected by rail with towns and cities in South India. The Mysore–Mayiladuthurai Express connects Kumbakonam with Mysuru and Bengaluru. There are regular express trains that connect Kumbakonam with major cities in the state like Chennai , Coimbatore , Madurai and Tiruchirapalli . There are passenger trains that connect Kumbakonam with Thanjavur , Tiruchirapalli , Chidambaram and Mayiladuthurai . The upgrading of NH 36 from two-lane to four-line
5885-524: The Thai Buddhist community. The origins of the term brahmā are uncertain, partly because several related words are found in the Vedic literature, such as Brahman for the 'Ultimate Reality' and Brāhmaṇa for 'priest'. A distinction between the spiritual concept of brahman and the god Brahmā is that the former is a genderless abstract metaphysical concept in Hinduism, while the latter
5992-464: The Tridevi created Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and these texts then state that Brahma is a secondary creator of the world working respectively on their behalf. Brahma creates all the forms in the universe, but not the primordial universe itself. Thus in most Puranic texts, Brahma's creative activity depends on the presence and power of a higher god or higher goddess. Further, the medieval era texts of these major theistic traditions of Hinduism assert that
6099-437: The Vedas as books of Hinduism and used it to perform Yajnas . Several Tamil Hindu kings and queens have performed Vedic sacrifices and worshipped various gods and goddesses of Hinduism . Several Sangam texts mention that Brahma as a creator god born from the navel of Vishnu along with Shiva as a destroyer god born from his forehead while he was the preserver god. As he is a direct biological ancestor of all royal families,
6206-427: The saguna (representation with face and attributes) Brahma is Vishnu, Shiva, or Tridevi, respectively. In the post-Vedic Puranic literature, Brahma creates but neither preserves nor destroys anything. He is envisioned in some Hindu texts to have emerged from the metaphysical Brahman along with Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer), all other deities, matter and other beings. In theistic schools of Hinduism where
6313-426: The "Old delta " which comprises the north-western taluks of Thanjavur district that have been naturally irrigated by the waters of the Cauvery and its tributaries for centuries in contrast to the "New Delta" comprising the southern taluks that were brought under irrigation by the construction of the Grand Anicut canal and the Vadavar canal in 1934. It has an average elevation of 26 metres (85 ft). The town
6420-435: The "Pot's Corner", is believed to be an allusion to the mythical pot ( kumbha ) of the Hindu god Brahma that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The kumbha is believed to have been displaced by a pralaya (dissolution of the universe) and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of Kumbakonam now stands. This event is now commemorated in the Mahamaham festival held every 12 years. Kumbakonam
6527-412: The 12 Alvar saint-poets. The Ramaswamy temple , which has scenes from the Hindu epic Ramayana depicted on its walls, was constructed by Govinda Dikshitar , the minister of successive Nayak rulers, Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614) and Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34). He added a commercial corridor between the temple and the older Chakrapani temple , which in modern times is called Chinna Kadai Veethi,
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#17327838159296634-445: The 2nd century CE to 6th century CE. Early texts like the Brahmanda Purana describe that there was nothing but an eternal ocean. From this, a golden egg called Hiranyagarbha , emerged. The egg broke open and Brahma, who had created himself within it, came into existence (gaining the name Svayambhu ). Then, he created the universe, the earth, and other things. He also created people to populate and live on his creation. However, by
6741-550: The 7th century CE, Brahma lost his importance. Historians believe that some of the major reasons for Brahma's downfall were the rise of Shaivism and Vaishnavism , their replacement of him with Tridevi in the Smarta tradition , and the frequent attacks by Buddhists , Jains , Hindus who worship Indra and all the other Hindu gods . Various Puranic legends mention various reasons for his decline in worship now. There are primarily two prominent versions of why Brahma lost his ground in worship popularly. The first version refers to
6848-487: The Cholan Roadways Corporation was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu with its headquarters in Kumbakonam in order to improve transportation facilities in the districts of central Tamil Nadu. The organisation acquired the fleets of buses earlier owned by private operators – Sri Ramavilas Service, Raman and Raman Limited and Sathi Vilas. On 1 July 1997, the organization was renamed Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Kumbakonam and presently forms division no. 1 of
6955-420: The Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920) who studied from 1904 until 1906 when he dropped out and V. S. Srinivasa Sastri (1869–1946), an Indian politician and administrator, are its notable alumni. The Government Arts College for Women was started in 1963 and had a total strength of 2,597 pupils in February 2006. The college offers various undergraduate courses and one post-graduate course and
7062-458: The Muslims are Rowthers . The majority of Muslims in Kumbakonam are involved in commerce or maritime trade. Kumbakonam also has a large population of Protestant Christians largely due to the efforts of the German missionary Christian Friedrich Schwarz . The Catholics in Kumbakonam are mainly affiliated to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kumbakonam which was separated from the Archdiocese of Pondicherry in 1899. The population of Kumbakonam
7169-538: The Puranic and Tantric literature. However, these texts state that his wife Sarasvati has Sattva (quality of balance, harmony, goodness, purity, holistic, constructive, creative, positive, peaceful, virtuous), thus complementing Brahma's Rajas (quality of passion, activity, neither good nor bad and sometimes either, action qua action, individualizing, driven, dynamic) with her Sattva qualities . The Sangam literature mentions all Hindu gods and goddesses and Vedic practices in Tamilakam . Tamilians considered
7276-402: The Thanjavur subdivision of the Tamil Nadu Police headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). There are four police stations in the town, one of them being an all-women police station. There are special units like prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and special branch that operate at the district level police division headed by
7383-424: The Tridevi are called the "mothers of the universe", and they are credited with creating Brahma, all the complete other gods including Vishnu, Shiva, the three worlds, the entire universe. They are the ones, states Skanda Purana, who combined the three Gunas - Sattva, Rajas, Tamas - into matter ( Prakrti ) to create the empirically observed world. The Vedic discussion of Brahma as a Rajas -quality god expands in
7490-429: The Trimurti. Brahma is revered in the ancient texts, yet rarely worshipped as a primary deity in India, owing to the absence of any significant sect dedicated to his reverence. Few temples dedicated to him exist in India, the most famous being the Brahma Temple, Pushkar in Rajasthan. Some Brahma temples are found outside India, such as at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok , which in turn has found immense popularity within
7597-430: The Vedic and post-Vedic texts name different gods and goddesses as secondary creators (often Brahma in post-Vedic texts), and in some cases a different god or goddess is the secondary creator at the start of each cosmic cycle ( kalpa , that is an aeon). Brahma is a "secondary creator" as described in the Mahabharata and Puranas , and among the most studied and described. Vishnu-focused Puranas describe that Brahma
7704-445: The best in the world in terms of quality. The A. R. R. Agencies, a leading manufacturer of arecanut slices has its factory in Kumbakonam. The main administrative offices of T. S. R. & Co., a cosmetic company, are also based in Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam is also famous for its metal works. The Tamil Nadu Handicraft Development Corporation had been established in the nearby town of Swamimalai in order to train bronze artisans. Kumbakonam
7811-402: The college was William Archer Porter , a Cambridge Wrangler , who, along with T. Gopala Rao , was instrumental in its elevation to a government college. He is also credited with framing the college's acclaimed educational policy. In 1881, it became a full-fledged college and high school courses ceased to be taught. Notable faculty members included U. V. Swaminatha Iyer (1855–1942) while
7918-514: The deity Brahma is described as part of its cosmology, he is a mortal god like all deities and dissolves into the abstract immortal Brahman when the universe ends, and then a new cosmic cycle (kalpa) restarts and all of them are recreated. In the Bhagavata Purana , Brahma is portrayed several times as the one who rises from the " Ocean of Causes ". Brahma, states this Purana, emerges at the moment when time and universe are born, inside
8025-556: The diversity between Shaivism and Vaishnavism in this village. Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum ), or Kudanthai , is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It is located 40 km (25 mi) from Thanjavur and 282 km (175 mi) from Chennai and is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam taluk of Thanjavur district. It
8132-550: The earliest mentions of Brahma with Vishnu and Shiva is in the fifth Prapathaka (lesson) of the Maitrayaniya Upanishad , probably composed around the late 1st millennium BCE. Brahma is first discussed in verse 5,1, also called the Kutsayana Hymn , and then expounded in verse 5,2. In the pantheistic Kutsayana Hymn , the Upanishad asserts that one's Soul is Brahman, and this Ultimate Reality, Cosmic Universal or God
8239-573: The economy collapsed. Kumbakonam did not recover from the calamity until the beginning of the 19th century. Kumbakonam was eventually ceded to the British East India Company in 1799 by the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Serfoji II (1777–1832) and reached the zenith of its prosperity in the late 19th and early 20th century when it emerged as an important center of Brahminism , Hindu religion and European education in
8346-735: The emperor of Vijayanagara visited the town in 1524 and is believed to have bathed in the famous Mahamaham tank during the Mahamaham festival. Kumbakonam was ruled by the Madurai Nayaks and the Thanjavur Nayaks from 1535 to 1673 when it fell to the Marathas . Each of these dynasties had a considerable impact on the demographics and culture of the region. When the Vijayanagar Empire fell in 1565, there
8453-531: The few places in India that still predominantly follow the Vadakalai tradition, in Vishnu temples in and around Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam also has a number of matha s. The Sri Sankara matha of Kanchipuram was moved to Kumbakonam during the reign of Pratap Singh (1739–63) and remained in Kumbakonam until the 1960s. There are also two Vellalar mathas in the nearby towns of Dharmapuram and Thiruppanandal and
8560-418: The four Vedas and are pointed to the four cardinal directions. He is seated on a lotus and his vahana (mount) is a hamsa (swan). According to the scriptures, Brahma and Sarasvati created their children from their minds and thus, they are referred to as Manasaputras . In contemporary Hinduism, Brahma does not enjoy popular worship and has substantially less importance than the other two members of
8667-555: The god Shiva ) shrine in the town, believed to be constructed by the Cholas in the seventh century. The Nageswaraswamy Temple has a separate shrine for the Sun god Surya who is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place. Adi Kumbeswarar temple, Nageswaraswamy temple and Kasi Viswanathar temple are Shiva temples in the town revered in the Tevaram , a Tamil Shaiva canonical work of
8774-455: The good and the evil, the material and the spiritual, a beginning and an end. The Puranas describe Brahma as the god creating time. They correlate human time to Brahma's time, such as a mahākalpa being a large cosmic period, correlating to one day and one night in Brahma's existence. The stories about Brahma in various Puranas are diverse and inconsistent. In Skanda Purana , for example,
8881-404: The healthcare need of the town. Kumbakonam is known for its temples and matha s (monasteries). There are around 188 Hindu temples within the municipal limits of Kumbakonam. Apart from these, there several thousand temples around the town thereby giving the town the sobriquets "Temple Town" and "City of temples". Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is considered to be the oldest Shaiva (the sect of
8988-471: The ketaki flower as an ornament on his head then and fused that head into him then. The second version refers to the Vishnu Purana , where Vishnu created Brahma and Shiva from his navel and forehead respectively, thus making Brahma along with Shiva both as inferior to Vishnu, who created them both as the supreme god above them in all aspects of power in this universe and after that, when the creation of
9095-470: The late 19th century and was known as the "Cambridge of South India". The Government Arts College, established in Kumbakonam in 1867, is one of the oldest educational institutions in the Madras Presidency. It began as a provincial school on 19 October 1854, before being upgraded to a government college in 1867. It was affiliated to the Madras University in 1877. One of the early principals of
9202-483: The nearby town of Thanjavur in terms of population and administrative importance. The population growth rate began to fall sharply after 1981. This decline has been attributed to limited land area and lack of industrial potential. However the peripheral areas of Kumbakonam population increased as evident from the successive census data. During the Mahamaham festival of 1992, there was a major stampede in which 48 people were killed and 74 were injured. On 16 July 2004,
9309-702: The ninth century to the twelfth century. The town of Pazhaiyaarai , 8 km (5.0 mi) from Kumbakonam was the capital of the Chola Empire in the ninth century. Following the decline of the Chola kingdom, Kumbakonam was conquered by the Pandyas in 1290. Following the demise of the Pandya kingdom in the 14th century, Kumbakonam was conquered by the Vijayanagar Empire . Krishnadevaraya (1509–29),
9416-416: The post-Vedic period, Brahma was a prominent deity and his sect existed; however, by the 7th century CE, he had lost his significance. He was also overshadowed by other major deities like Vishnu , Shiva , Tridevi and demoted to the role of a secondary creator, who was created by the major deities. Brahma is commonly depicted as a red complexioned man with four heads and hands. His four heads represent
9523-402: The sacred texts of Vedas , in the other hand, he holds a mala , symbolizing the time to create the universe, in the another hand, he holds a shruka, — a ladle symbolizing the means to feed sacrificial fire, and in the even another hand, a kamandalu – a utensil with water symbolizing the means from where all creation emits. His four mouths are credited with creating the four Vedas. He
9630-566: The seat has been held by Ko. Si. Mani of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Kumbakonam was a part of the Kumbakonam Lok Sabha constituency from 1952 until 1977, when the constituency was disbanded. The assembly segments in the erstwhile Kumbakonam Lok Sabha constituency were included in the Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha constituency and have remained so ever since. Law and order in Kumbakonam in maintained by
9737-605: The seventh century and with the town of Solamaligai which had also served as a Chola capital. According to the Sinnamanur plates, Kumbakonam was the site of a battle between the Pallava king Sri Vallabha and the then Pandya king in 859 and between the Pandya king Srimara Pandya and a confederacy of the Cholas and Gangas . Kumbakonam came into the limelight during the rule of the Medieval Cholas who ruled from
9844-410: The seventh to the eighth century. Kumbakonam has one of the few temples dedicated to the god Brahma . Sarangapani temple is the largest Vaishnava (the sect of the god Vishnu ) shrine present in Kumbakonam. The present structure of the temple having a twelve-storey high tower was constructed by Nayak kings in the 15th century. It is one of the " Divya Desams ", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by
9951-445: The sky. Vishnu found about his defeat, revealing that he had been unable to locate the end, which was at the end of the universe and he got tired before he reached that so he was defeated in it there. However, Brahma had recruited the ketaki flower which fell from Shiva's head by his powers to end the debate here now, which was at the beginning of the universe with his beginning at there now and he got tired before he reached that so he
10058-619: The three largest temples in the 9th-century CE Prambanan temples complex in Yogyakarta, central Java (Indonesia) is dedicated to Brahma, the other two to Shiva (largest of three) and Vishnu respectively. The temple dedicated to Brahma is on the southern side of Shiva temple and Vishnu temple. A statue of Brahma is present at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok , Thailand and continues to be revered in modern times. The golden dome of
10165-408: The town and segregated to produce organic manure. Kumbakonam municipality has partial underground drainage connectivity and the municipality is implementing the underground drainage to the uncovered areas. The major sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks and public conveniences. Roadside drains carry untreated sewage out of the town to let out raw into the sea or accumulate in
10272-412: The town constitutes about 44.72% of the total area. Kumbakonam has a total of 45 slums with a population of 49,117. As per the religious census of 2011, Kumbakonam had 86.07% Hindus , 9.57% Muslims , 3.99% Christians , 0.% Sikhs , 0.% Buddhists , 0.23% Jains , 0.13% following other religions and 0.% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference. The Kumbakonam municipality
10379-656: The town of Darasuram near Kumbakonam is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kumbakonam is also frequented by art collectors interested in handloom cloth and other curios. Banks such as the Axis Bank , Bank of Baroda , IDBI Bank , State Bank of India , Tamilnad Mercantile Bank , Canara Bank , Indian Bank , Indian Overseas Bank , Bank of India , Union Bank of India , Corporation Bank , Lakshmi Vilas Bank , ICICI Bank , ING Vysya Bank , Karur Vysya Bank , Punjab National Bank , Syndicate Bank and Vijaya Bank have their branches in Kumbakonam. The City Union Bank
10486-470: The universe was always happening and he was the supreme god of this universe. The post-Vedic texts of Hinduism offer multiple theories of cosmogony , many involving Brahma. These include Sarga (primary creation of the universe) and Visarga (secondary creation), ideas related to the Indian thought that there are two levels of reality, one primary that is unchanging ( metaphysical ) and other secondary that
10593-402: The universe was completed, Brahma lost all of his importance after his role as creator of the universe ended and was removed from worship by everyone in the world, while Shiva was always worshipped as the destroyer of the universe after his role of the destruction of the universe was always happening and Vishnu was always worshipped as he was the preserver of the universe and his preserving role in
10700-491: The universe, and then their creative powers are revived. Brahma and Shiva, states the Bhagavata Purana, thereafter combine Prakriti (nature, matter) and Purusha (spirit, soul) to create a dazzling variety of living creatures, and a tempest of causal nexus. The Bhagavata Purana thus attributes the creation of Maya to Brahma and Shiva, wherein they creates for the sake of creation, imbuing everything with both
10807-495: Was a mass influx of poets, musicians and cultural artists from the kingdom. According to the chronicles of the Hindu monastic institution, the Kanchi matha , the matha was temporarily transferred to Kumbakonam in the 1780s following an invasion of Kanchipuram by Hyder Ali of Mysore . When Tipu Sultan invaded the east coast of South India in 1784, Kumbakonam bore the brunt of his invasion. The produce fell sharply and
10914-605: Was born Ken Arok. The name Brahma is also used as the name of a mountain in the Tengger Mountains range, namely Mount Bromo . Mount Bromo is believed to be derived from the word Brahma and there was once a sect that believed that Brahmaloka – the universe where Brahma resided – was connected to Mount Bromo. In the Javanese version of wayang (shadow puppet play), Brahma has a very different role from his initial role. When Hindu society began to disappear from Java and
11021-545: Was born from a lotus emerging from the navel of the god Vishnu and Shiva was born from a fire emerging from the forehead of the god Vishnu . In contrast, the Shiva -focused Puranas describe Brahma and Vishnu to be born from Shiva's right and left sides of his waist; and in other Puranas , Shiva and Vishnu were born from Brahma's right and left sides of his waist or Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma creating each other cyclically in different aeons ( kalpas ). Yet others describe that
11128-476: Was defeated in it there and this came to him and he took him as a false witness to support his lie that he had located the beginning. Shiva then took his true form and cut off one of Brahma's five heads for his dishonesty, proclaiming that he would no longer receive an active following to his worship and would get a low status of popularity. Pleased with Vishnu's honesty, he offered him a high status of popularity and an active following dedicated to his worship and took
11235-517: Was founded in Kumbakonam in 1904 as the Kumbakonam Bank Limited and it is headquartered in the town. Electricity supply to Kumbakonam is regulated and distributed by the Kumbakonam circle of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). Power Substations are existing viz. Kumabakonam Urban 33/11 kV SS at Rajan Thottam, Kumbakonam Township (Nagariyam) 110 kV at Needamangalm Road, 110 kV SS at Sakottai and Patteswaram 230/110 kV. Water supply
11342-486: Was officially constituted in the year 1866. Initially, the municipality exercised its jurisdiction over an area of 7.68 km (2.97 sq mi) and its affairs were administered by a town-level committee or municipal committee. Later it was constituted special-grade municipality and currently, exercises its authority over an area of 12.58 km (4.86 sq mi) out of the town's total area of 64.02 km (24.72 sq mi). It comprises 48 wards and
11449-470: Was very important time in history as so many kings had built these temples in various periods of History. The village is famous for two temples Thenupuriswarar Temple and Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Patteeswaram . Both the temples are historically and religiously important. Thenupuriswarar Temple is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram , written by Tamil saint poets known as
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