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Sri Uma Maheswarar or Sri Swayambhu Natarajar Temple, Konerirajapuram, Near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple or Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple is also known as Sri Swayambhu Natarajar Temple and it is located in Konerirajapuram which was in earlier times known as Thirunallam and this is located close to the Temple Town of Kumbakonam. The full name of the Temple is Sri Angavalanayagai Samedha Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple. This Temple is devoid of any conventional Rajagopuram. This is a West facing Temple and the West facing entrance has a plain Gopuram with its name board but without any Idols. As Devotees enter through this West facing entrance there is a Sub Shrine on the right which is East facing and it pertains to Sri Maha Ganapathy. There are two Dwara Baalaka Idols who stand guard. To the left of the Temple's entrance is another East facing Sub Shrine which is that of Sri Shanmuga Subramaniyar. In this Sub Shrine Sri Shanmuga Subramaniyar is seen flanked by His Consort Valli and Devasena.

Then there is a West facing multi pillared Mandapam and the Gopuram of this Mandapam has the Idols of Sri Shivan, Sri Parvathy, Sri Ganapathy and Sri Baladhandayudhapani. There is a Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram at the base of which is a West facing Idol of Sri Kodimarathu Vinayagar. Next is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam mounted on a Podium and looking East towards the Moolasthanam. At the entrance of the Moolasthana Mandapam there are two coloured Dwara Baalaka Idols standing guard on either side of it. Close to the left Dwara Baalaka Idol are the West facing Idols of Sri Saneeswara Bhagwan, Sri Bhairavar, Sri Durgai Amman and Sri Surya Bhagwan. There are two small Nandhi Vaahanam one behind the other looking towards the Moolasthanam and to its rear is a mirror through which the Presiding Deity views the entire world. At the threshold of the Moolasthanam are two West facing black Dwara Baalaka Idols. Close to the right Dwara Baalaka Idol is a small West facing Idol of Sri Vinayagar. In the Sanctum Sanctorum of this Temple the Presiding of Sri Uma Maheswarar is seen West facing and in the form of a Shiva Lingam. He looks resplendent and amazing when seen in the backdrop of naturally lit oil lamps and He is supposed to be Omnipotent and very benevolent to all His Devotees. The Moolasthana Koshtam has the following Idols of Sri Arthanareeswarar, Sri Mahisarasura Mardhini, Sri Pitchandavar, Sri Durgai Amman, Sri Brahmma, Sri Chandikeshwarar, Sri Sundaraguhambikai, Lingothbhavar with Sri Maha Rishis, Sri Dhaksinamoorthy with Maharishis, Sri Natarajar with Sri Sivagami Ambal, Sri Manickavasagar, Sri Agasthiyar and Sri Narthana Ganapathy. Close to the Idol of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy is the Idol of Queen Chembiyan Maadevi who is seen ordering to the sculptor. All the aforesaid Idols are beautifully embossed on the outer walls of the Koshtam.

Leading to the Ambal's Sannadhi is an East facing Rajagopuram comprising of two tiers. The Ambal or the Consort of this Temple is known as Sri Angavala Nayagi and She has an East facing Shrine in which Sri Angavala Nayagi is seen in a Kalyana Kolam in a standing posture. There are two Dwara Baalaki Idols standing guard on either side of Her Shrine. Close to the left Dwara Baalaki Idol is an East facing Idol of Sri Vinayagar. Facing the Ambal's Shrine is a bigger Neivedhya Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam. There is a small Nandhi Vaahanam and a Neivedhya Peedam overlooking Her Sannadhi. The Moolasthana Mandapam has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Brahmma Lingam who is in the form of a Shiva Lingam. The next East facing Sub Shrine is that of Sri Subamaniyar who is flanked by His Consorts Valli and Devasena. The next Sub Shrine after this is also East facing and Sri Mahalakshmi is seen there in it.

Then comes the all important South facing Shrine of Sri Swayambhu Natarajar who is seen along with His Consort Sri Sivagami Ambal. Sri Vyakarabadhar and Sri Pathanjali's Idols are seen on either side of this Sannadhi. The story behind this Swayambhu Natarajar is that the Chola Queen Sembiyam Maadevi ordered a particular sculptor to make a Natarajar Idol fixing a time limit. Despite repeated reminders from the Queen the sculptor could not make the Idol as thought of by the Queen. Finally disgusted with the behaviour of the sculptor the Queen fixed a final day for the sculptor to hand over the Nataraja Idol failing which he would be beheaded in public. The already stressed sculptor could not make this Natarajar Idol despite repeated attempts and knew that his doomsday was round the corner. Sitting in the corner of the Temple he wept bitterly for his inability to make out the Idol. That time God Shiva and Goddess Parvathy came to the sculptor disguised as beggars and sought alms from him. Furiated with this the sculptor frowned to the Beggar Couple that he had only molten metal meant for making the Nataraja Idol. The Beggar Couple kept their cool and asked for the molten metal and drank it. The moment the Beggar dranks the molten metal He was transformed into a lively Natarajar Idol which look realistic with its Hairs, Nails, Nerves, Moles, Scars etc. Knowing this the sculptor knew that the Beggar Couple were none other than God Shiva and Goddess Parvathy themselves. The Queen too was delighted to see the Natarajar Idol and accepted it with glee. Next to the Swayamabhu Natarajar's South facing Shrine is the Shrine of Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar. Here God Shiva is the Mappilai Swamy and Goddess Parvathy as the Bride. Along with them Sri Maha Vishnu is also seen. This Kalyana Sundareswarar Sannadhi is often referred as Sri Mappilai Swamy Sannadhi.

There is a pillared corridor in the Temple which comprises three East facing Shva Lingams and close to them is the South facing Idol of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy. Facing these three Shiva Lingams is a West facing Idol of Sri Bhairavar. This corridor also has several other Shiva Lingams and other Divien Idols close to them. A few of the Shiva Lingams here have a Nandhi Vaahanam facing them. The Temple's outer peripheral has an East facing Alankara Mandapam. The Temple also has a Vinayagar Sabhai comprising of 6 Vinayagar Idols. There is also South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Naalvars and near this is the Navagraha Sannadhi.

The Temple's another important Shrine is that of Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy who is seen in the form of a West facing Shiva Lingam and He is believed to cure all the ailments of His Devotees.Standing guard before this Sannadhi are the two Dwara Baalaka paintings. Close to the Temple's Dwajasthambam all the Temple Vaahanams are safely secured and seen in a South facing multi pillared corridor. The Temple has a Madapalli or Temple Kitchen and a Ghoshala or Pasu Madam. The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple is Vilva Maram and Arasa Maram. The Pushkarani which is located opposite to the Temple is known as Bhoomi Theertham. The Pushkarani is kept neat and is clean. It could be reached by climbing down a few steps. Close to this Pushkarani is a Sub Shrine of Sri Ganapathy who is seen East facing and to the rear of this Sub Shrine is a Arasa Maram and a Veppa Maram which are intertwined. A cemented podium is built around these two Divine Trees. There are few Naga Devatha Idols which are kept circularly on the podium. The entrance to this Sub Shrine can be accessed by a small North facing gate and there are two Vinayagar Idols kept atop this enrance. Konerirajapuram Sri Umamaheswarar Temple is a landmark Temple of this District. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner.

Contact Details: Sadasiva Gurukkal 84893 91675, Jaya Prakash Gurukkal 63816 13168, 94865 10515, 0435 2449830, 0435 2449800

Temple Timing: 7 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Kumbakonam to Konerirajapuram is 19 Kms

Distance from Sundaraperumal Kovil to Konerirajapuram is 32 Kms

Distance from Patteswaram to Konerirajapuram is 28 Kms

Distance from Papanasam to Konerirajapuram is 36 Kms

Distance from Dharasuram or Darasuram to Konerirajapuram is 28 Kms

Distance from Nannilam to Konerirajapuram is 23 Kms

Distance from Alangudi to Konerirajapuram is 34 Kms

Distance from Nandhipura Vinnagaram or Nathan Kovil to Konerirajapuram is 25 Kms

Distance from Swamimalai to Konerirajapuram is 27 Kms

Distance from Valangaimaan to Konerirajapuram is 26 Kms