Chakrapani Temple

The temple is one of the prominent Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam. In 1620, when Govinda Dikshitar, divan-administrator for the Nayaks, constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam, he added a commercial corridor between the new temple and the older Chakrapani temple. The temple has granite walls enclosing all the shrines and is pierced by a five-tiered Rajagopuram, the gateway tower. The temple is noted for its exquisite pillars. The presiding deity, Chakrapani is sported with eight arms, each having a weapon and is housed in the central shrine in an elevated structure.

Chakrapani is spotted with a third eye on his forehead. The Eastern and Western entrances of this temple are known as “Thatchinaya Vayil” and “Utharavana Vayil” respectively and the outer Prakara of this temple is made in the form of a balcony. There is a bronze image of King Serfoji II worshiping the lord as he is said to have cured an illness by the grace of this God. A Panchamukha (five-faced) Hanuman is erected in the prakaram (outer precincts of the temple). Agampara Vinayakar, Panchamuga Aancheneyar and Vijayavalli are the important idols located in this temple.