Image title: Figure 64. Sri Padaivetti Mariamman with many hands

Interview of the Temple Acaryas

1. Sendil Kumar–First generation in the temple. Studied in Kumbakonam in the Vedapathasala for 10 years.

2. Chandrashekhar–Father was an Acarya in another temple and he is working as a priest in Nagesvarar Kovil. Studied in Agama Pathasala for 7 years. Studied Grantham in Lipi and Sanskrit.

1. How did Nagesvarar Kovil come into existence?

A. During Pralaya, Brahma went to Siva in Kailasa and asked him if everything is destroyed during Pralaya then how can creation occur again. Isvara asked Brahma to take a Kalasa, mix Amrtam and mud in it and keep it in the banks of Kaveri river. Brahma did as he was told. As he kept the Kalasam on the banks of Kaveri, Pralaya occured.The Kalasam floated and lodged itself in a place as the Pralaya ended. It lodged itself at an angle. Siva appeared as Kiratamurti and broke it. The area where the Kalasam lodged is the Adi Kumbesvarar t emple. The Bilva leaf

floated and lodged itself in another place which came to be known as Nagesvarar Kovil. Since he is supposed to have transformed from the Bilva leaf he is known as Vilvavanesvarar.

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.