Sodasa Linga Mandapas, Kumbakonam


Sodasa Linga Mandapas are Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Shiva, the mandapas or temples found around the Mahamaham Tank in Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Sodasa

Sodasa refers to sixteen.

16 Mandapas

These 16 mandapas are devoted to Brammatheerthesvarar, Mukundesvarar, Dhanesvarar, Virushabesvarar, Baanesvarar, Konesvarar, Bhakthikesvarar, Bhairavesvarar, Agasthisvarar, Vyasakesvarar, Umabakevarar, Nirutheesvarar, Brammesvarar, Gangathesvarar, Mukthatheerthesvarar and Shethrabalesvarar. They were represented by the lingam. Govinda Dikshitar, the chieftain of Ragunatha Nayak of Thanjavur, constructed the sixteen Mandapams and stone steps around this tank.
Of the mandapas, in the biggest one, the sculpture of offering of gold by Ragunatha Nayak is found. In other mandapas sculptures pertaining to the respective grants are found.

Directions

Around the Mahamaham tank, these mandapas are found in all directions, except south. Of these shrines and mandapas eight are facing east-west, four are facing south- north, two are facing south-west and north-east and two are in north-east and south-west and south-east and North-east. These mandapas are under the administration of Kasi Visvanathar Temple.
TemplesMandapas
SouthwestNortheast
EastWest
EastWest
EastWest
SouthNorth
NortheastSouthwest
EastWest
EastWest
SoutheastNorthwest
SouthNorth
SouthNorth
SouthNorth
SouthwestNortheast
EastWest
EastWest
EastWest

Kumbhabhishekham

These mandapas are also called as Sodasa Mahalingas. Kumbhabhishekham to these mandapas were held on 29 November 2015.

Sodasa mandapas