1.Mahamaham Tank and Adi Kumbeswarar Temple:
According to legend, when Lord Brahma was performing a grand yagna (sacred ritual), Lord Shiva appeared before him as a hunter and disrupted the yagna. In anger, Lord Brahma threw his flower (Kumbam) down, which fell in Kumbakonam and created the Mahamaham Tank. The Adi Kumbeswarar Temple stands near this tank and is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva appeared as the hunter.
2.Sarangapani Temple:
Legend has it that Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a bird (Sarangam) and appeared before Sage Hemarishi to fulfill his wish. The Sarangapani Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is believed to be the place where this divine incident took place.
3.Nageswaran Temple:
The Nageswaran Temple is associated with the story of Lord Shiva and the divine serpent Vasuki. It is believed that Lord Shiva once took the form of a serpent to protect his devotees from a curse. The temple gets its name from the Sanskrit word “Naga,” which means serpent.
4.Ramaswamy Temple:
The Ramaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to mythology, Lord Rama and his wife Sita stayed in Kumbakonam during their exile, and the temple stands at the spot where their temporary dwelling was located.
5.Someswar Temple:
According to mythology, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had a dispute about their superiority. To resolve the conflict, Lord Shiva appeared as a pillar of light (Lingam), known as Jyotirlingam, which is worshipped at the Someswar Temple. The pillar is believed to extend to the heavens and reaches the abode of Lord Brahma.
6.Airavatesvara Temple:
The Airavatesvara Temple is associated with the story of Sage Durvasa and Lord Indra’s elephant, Airavata. According to the legend, Sage Durvasa cursed Airavata, turning it into a grayish-white color. To seek redemption, Airavata came to Kumbakonam and bathed in the temple tank, which is now known as Airavatesvara Temple.
Kasi Viswanathar Temple: It is believed that Lord Shiva granted salvation to a spider and an elephant who worshipped him in Kumbakonam. As a result, the Kasi Viswanathar Temple was built to commemorate this divine incident.
