Someswarar Temple, Kumbakonam

Someswarar Temple is a Shiva temple in Kumbakonam, standing on the southern side of the Sarangapani temple. Shiva is worshipped as Someswarar in the form of a lingam, and the temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, mentioned in Tevaram hymns by Sambandar and Appar in the 7th century. The present masonry dates from the Nayak period in the 16th century, and the temple is counted among those built on the banks of the Kaveri.

The complex covers two acres inside concentric walls, entered through a five-tiered rajagopuram, with a three-tiered inner tower. The east-facing sanctum lies in line with the entrance tower, and the goddess shrine faces the southern entrance on the Thanjavur–Kumbakonam road. The Tevaram verses about the temple are carved here. It was long disputed whether this temple or Kasi Viswanathar was the Kudanthai Karonam of the hymns; a convention in 1958 decided in favour of Someswarar. The temple was consecrated on 2 November 2015.