Kumbakonam gets its name from kumbha (pot) in which Brahma placed the seeds of creation. Lord Shiva set the pot afloat and claimed that the place where the pot came to rest would be the holiest place on earth. It came to rest here and Shiva dressed a hunter shot the pot and split the Amruth (nectar) and it into the Mahamaham tank. Kumbakonam is 40 km from Thanjavur, about 300 km from Chennai and is also known for its production of Betel Leaves. It is bounded by Cauvery river on one side and the Arasalar on the other.

This is the Hema Pushkarni tank between the Sarangapani temple and the Kumbeshwara temple.
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