Name: Thirukadaiyur
Historical Name: Thirukkadavur, Vilvavanam, Pinchilavanam ,kadavur.
Moolavar: Amirtha kadeswarar
Urchavar: Kala samharamoorthi
Amman/Thayer: Abirami Amman
Thala Virutcham: Vilvam , jathi mullai.
Theertham: Amirtha pushkarani Ganga Theertham
Old Year: 1000 to 2000 years
Opening Time: 6.00 AM TO 1.00PM and 4.00 PM to 9.00 PM

• Pathigam (Rendered By): Saint Appar (Thirunavukarasar), Sundarar (Sundaramoorthy, Thiru Gnana Sambandar. (Moovar Padal Petra Stalam out of 63 Nayanmars)
• The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram (Devara padal)written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified.As Paadal Petra Sthalamand the thirukadaiyur is 47th place (out of 276).
• The Temple Known as “ATTA VEERATTA STHALAM” and also be a“SAKTHI PEETAM”.
• 44 Padal Pathigam pettra sthalam and rendered Moovar (Appar, sundarar, sammandar).
• Out of 63 Nayanmars birth placed here in two Nayanmars one is Kaari Nayanar and Kungiliakalya Nayanar.
• ABHIRAMI ANDTHATHI written (Composed) by Abhirami Bhattarand his birth place also be Thirukadaiyur.
• Sri Amirthakadeswarar temple is west facing and five corridors and it has seven tired main tower (Raja Gopuram).
• Last Kumbabishegam (Consecration ceremony) took place on 26.03.1997
• Temple under Dharumapura Aadhinam Mailaduthurai (Administrative Control).

Veeratta Sthalam: As per Hindu Mythology aroundEight places where it’s believed that lord shiva conquer various demons and exhibited acts of bravery. In these place called as
“VEERATTA STHALAM “
These places called“Atta Veertta sthalam “
Atta = Eight
Veeram = Bravery
Sthalam=Temple
“Thirukadavur is one the place (Atta Veeratta Sthalam) out of eight”.
“Lord Yama was believed to have been kicked and punished to save Markandeya “

Temple History: Amritaghateswarar Abirami Temple Thirukadayur

The Hindu God of Brahamma (Brahmman) West to Kailash to have the Gnana upadesa [Wisdom Learning]. Lord Shiva gave the Seeds of Vilva Tree to Brahamma and asked him to saw them in earth in various places. Where the seed germinates within one hour into a tree shall be venue of teaching said Lord Shiva. Shiva the teacher of Brahmma is worshipped as adhi VilvaVana Nathar in this temple having his own shrine.

The devan began to consume the nectar without offering prayers to Lord Vinayaka (Kalla Pillayar) who simply did the pot. They realized their folly and prayed to vinayaga got it from him and placed it in this Thirukkadavur for Shiva Pooja. When opened it was ShivaLinga from the Amirtha-Nector Pot. He is worshipped as Amirtha Kadeswarar.

In a shrine,
Mother Parvathi appears with Lord Muruga in Her right lap, praised as Guhambika.
Lord Kalla Varana Pillayar appears with the nectar pot in his hand.
Lord Brahma, Sages Agastya (Agasthiya munivar), Pulasthya, Serpent Vasuki, Mother Durga had worshipped Lord in this temple. The procession deity is Lord Kala Samhara Murthy. Those seeking longevity throng the temple.

Feature:
Presiding Lord in this temple is a Suyambulingamof the Atta Veera Sthalas. Thirukkadavur (Thirukkadaiyur) is one where Yama was hit by Lord Shiva. Though there is only on Linga in the Sanctum. Sanctorum, a close 1000 will show another Linga too in shady form. The Scar Caused by the Yama’s lope is visible on the Linga only during abishek times.

Specialty:
Lord Shiva graces in the temple as Suyambumoorthi. This is the exactly the place where Lord hit Yama the God of death with His legs. Though the presiding deity in the sanctum sanctorum is only one in Linga form, a close look at the Linga will show another reflection of the Linga.

Kala Samhara Moorthi : Amritaghateswarar Abirami Temple Thirukadayur

Kalasamharamoorthi known as
(Kaala = Yama,
Samhara = put to death,
Moorthi = Lord)
The other name by which Sri Amirthakadeshwarar
(Amirtham= (Nector)
Kadam= (Pot)

Is known brought Death to life. It is here that the significance of “kicking with the left leg”is spoken about as in the case of Punishment for an act of rashness, otherwise, He would have held him under His right leg and made him completely inactive. Since Death was conquered at Thirukadaiyur, it is usual to see couples who have celebrated their Shasthiapthapoorthi (completion of 60 years), Bheemaratha Shanthi (70th Birthday) and Sadhabishegam(completion of 80 years) make it a point to have a darshan of the Kala-samhara-moorthi.

Mirkandu-Markandeya

Mrikandu was a sage and devotee of Lord Siva (Sri Amirtha kadeswarar). He prayed to god for blessing him with a son. He was told that he would get a son who would live only up to the age of 16 years. The boy, named Markandeya also grew up to be an ardent devotee of Siva.

As advised by his father, Markandeya worshipped Lord Sri Amirthakadeshwarar in Thirukadaiyur, bringing the water from famous river Ganges through an underground passage to the temple. (Still this passage is in existence to this day, to a depth of a flight of 20 steps.) On the destined day, Yama appeared with his lasso, (kala paasaor paasa kayiru). Markandeya sought refuge in the Lord Amirthakadeshwarar and hugged the Lord Shiva Linga.

The Lord warned Yama not to touch Markandeya as he was under his safeguard. Yama did not listen and threw the lasso (Pasa Kayiru) that bound Markandeya and also the god lingam together. Angered by this act of rashness, the Lord kicked him with the left leg and held him under his left foot, and made him static.

Abirami Pattar

Abirami patter lived during the rule of King Sarabhoji. He was completely devoted to the goddess Sri Abirami Amman. He would sit in meditation and in the blissful state of trance for hours – sometimes days – together in the presence of the Devi.

Once King Sarabhoji visited the temple and saw this priest, who lost in himself and did not even standing up as a basic mark of respect to the Him. Abirami Pattar was under deep rumination on that time and was immersed in the vision of the glowing visage of the Divine Devi Abirami.
King was annoyed with Abirami Pattar* for not showing the respects and enquired about him with the persons standing next by him. Unfortunately, he was told that ‘this man’ was a fraud..

The King then approached Abirami Pattar* and asked him for the Thithi (lunar day) of that day. Actually it was new Moon day. Since the mind of Abhirami Bhattar was filled with the luminescent vision of the Devi’s face, he – even without opening his eyes – said that it was full moon day. King was angered by this reply and he thought that he had a chance to the ‘true bearings’ of this fraud.

King warned Abirami Pattarthat, ‘If there is no full moon rising this evening,’ ‘He will be put to death.’ Abirami Pattar was told what had happened only after he opened his eyes after a long time, from his meditation. Poetry, Evocative, moving and having the power to melt the hearts of all, flowed from him right from that moment. He sang a hundred verses in praise of Abhirami. The verses are known as Abhirami Andhadhi, a unique kind of poetry that begins with the last foot – or a portion of it – of the previous verse. And the last foot of the last verse would end with the first foot of the first line of first verse.

Goddess Devi took her earring and threw it in the sky. That shone in the sky brighter than the full moon. King Sarabhoji realized the greatness of Abirami Pattar*. Despite the refusal of Pattar*, he had documented his authority on copper plates to donate one-hundredth part of his revenue from all villages to him and his successors. The copper plate is still in possession of the successors of Abirami Pattar*.

Here, there are 3 temple tanks (Theertham) – known as ‘Amrita Pushkarini’, ‘Kaala Theertham’ and ‘Markandeya Theertham’.

The worship services are offered 6 times a day in the temple. Almost every day dawns with one celebration or other, as hundreds of pilgrims throng the temple to celebrate their 59th60th, 70th or 80th 100thbirthdays and other special Occasions..

Pinjila vanam: it’s also call as Jathi Malli (Jasmine) blossoms throughout the year.
But this flowers used for Pooja purpose only. If we are doing Archana (Archanai) single flower is equal to 1008 Archani.
(*Abirami Pattar Known as Abhirami Bhattar)