Chakrapani Temple - Kumbakonam (3 Eye God)

Chakrapani Temple is situated on the southern bank of Cauvery river in Kumbakonam. The temple is one of the finest examples of south Indian temple architecture. According to Hindu Mythology, Sri Chakra (also called Sudarshana) is the most powerful weapon of lord Vishnu. The God once aimed the weapon to kill the demon king ‘Jalandasura’. The divine Chakra on killing the asura, settled on the banks of river Cauvery, which was supposed to come back to him. Lord Brahma established the Sri Chakra in this place and began offering worship to it. Since the Chakra glowed relatively brighter than the Sun, the Sun God became jealous of the Sri Chakra. Without knowing what it was, the Sun increased his brightness to the Chakra.

The divine Sri chakra drew the sun’s brightness to itself to teach him a lesson, making the Sun lose all his power. It is said that Chakrapani Swamy (lord Vishnu) came out of the Sri Chakra and gave his darshan to the Sun God. The Sun God built a temple for this lord here. The images of Chakrapani with eight arms and his consort with a gracious visage are inspiring. Like Shiva, lord Chakrapani here has a third eye on his forehead. Brahma, Surya and Agni are depicted as worshipping the lord. Sun God surrendered to the lord at this holy place. The mightiest of all the planets, the Sun itself surrendered here, those who face ill effects of the planets come here to worship the lord. The temple was constructed by the Nayaks of the 16th Century.