Mahamaham Tank is the integral part of the grandeur religious festival Kumbha Mela festival celebrated once in every 12 years in the temple town of Kumbakonam. The devotees consider the holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the Mahamaham festival day as sacred, which purifies the mind and body.
Mahamaham Tank is believed to be the place where all holy rivers in India Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati River, Sarayu, Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pavoshnl and Kaveri meet together. Mahamaham tank has 20 holy wells (theerthams), which are named after 20 holy rivers in Indian continent. The twenty theerthams are
1. Vayu
2. Ganga
3. Brahma
4. Yamuna
5. Kubera
6. Godavari
7. Eshana
8. Narmada
9. Saraswati
10. Indira
11. Agni
12. Cauvery
13. Yama
14. Kumari
15. Niruthi
16. Bayoshni
17. Deva
18. Varunai
19. Sarayu
20. Kanya
There are four streets on the banks of the Mahamaham Tank. There are 16 gopurams around the sides and corners of the tank. Each of the gopuram towers are believed to be the various forms of Lord Shiva.
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