Chennai: The ancient temple town of Kumbakonam, about 278 km from here, which is gearing up for the mega event happening once in 12 years – the Masimaham or Mahamaham, is bracing to receive about 45 lakh pilgrims during this mammoth congregation of pilgrims from February 13 – 22. The numbers of visitors are likely to swell on the Mahamaham day (February 22).
The State Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department is all set for the Mahamaham festival and is prepared to receive the devotees who are expected to take a dip in the tanks.
Appropriate measures are in place to provide only protected and treated water to the pilgrims during the Mahamaham and steps are also on to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases in the region during the festival, as it is the dip in the holy Mahamaham tank that matters most during this historic event.
The purificatory bath at the tank is considered auspicious. The Mahamaham tank has 20 wells named after 20 holy rivers flowing across India and these wells are also called as “Theertham” (Holy water). A dip in these Theerthams rids one of a specific sin and confers specific blessing to the devotee.
The Indra Theertham, for instance, provides moksham, the Yama Theertham banishes the fear of death, Varuna Theertham provides long life, Vaayu Theertham eases one from diseases, the Gubera Theertham ensures prosperity. There are other Theertham that confer various other blessings. After a dip in the Mahamaham tank, devotees complete the ritual by taking a dip in the Potraamarai kulam and the Cauvery river.
