Abimukeswarar Temple
Abimukeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of 12 Shiva temples connected with the Mahamaham festival, which takes place in Kumbakonam every 12 years.
Location
This temple is located on the eastern bank of the Mahamaham tank, Kumbakonam. The temple is 500-1000 years old.Presiding deity
The moolavar presiding deity, is found in his manifestation as Abimukeswarar. Shiva turned around, while nava kanniyar river goddess came there, enabling them to give darshan to them, so he is known as Abimukeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Amirthavalli. The sacred tree of this temple is Gooseberry.Sani Bhagwan of this temple is taller than the other 8 planets in the Navagraga shrine.
Mahamaham festival
12 Shiva temples are connected with Mahamaham festival which happens once in 12 years in Kumbakonam. They are:- Kasi Visanathar Temple,
- Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,
- Someswarar Temple,
- Nageswaraswamy Temple,
- Kalahasteeswarar Temple,
- Gowthameswarar Temple,
- Kodeeswarar Temple,
- Amirthakadeswarar Temple,
- Banapuriswarar Temple,
- Abimukeswarar Temple,
- Kambatta Viswanathar Temple and
- Ekambareswarar Temple.