This is the eighth Veeratteswarar temple. The place is connected to the slaying of Yama by Lord Shiva to save Sage Markandeya from death.
The temple is known as Amrutaghateshwarar temple. The temple is located at Thirukkadaiyur on the Mayiladuthurai - Karaikal route at about 32 kilometers from Mayiladuthurai.
This is one of the 276 Paadal Pethra Sthalams. Appar and Sundarar have sung sacred hymns on Lord Shiva of the temple. This is also considered as one of the shakti peetha.
Mulavar: Sri Amrutaghateshwarar,
Devi: Abhirami Amman
Kshetra vruksha: Bilva, Gulabi Chameli (Pinjalam or Jathi Malli in Tamil)
Sacred Teertha: Amruta pushkarini, Ganga Teertha, Shiva Ganga Teertha, Markandeya Teertha and Kalateertha
Puranik name: Thirukkadaiyur, Bilavavanam, Pinjalamvana
Present name: Thirukkadaiyur
District: Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu
The west facing temple has five prakarams, parikramas and seven tiered Rajagopuram. Lord Shiva is a swayambhu shiva linga. Temple is about 2000 years old. There are fifty four stone inscriptions within the temple which indicate the contributions of the kings of Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagara kings. The kshetra vruksha Pinjalam is about 2000 years old. It flowers throughout the year and its flowers are used only for the worship of Lord Shiva in the temple. This vruksha is found in the inner corridor.
About the shrines and idols:
When we look at the shiva linga closely and minutely we can observe an image of another shiva linga behind it. Similar to Lord Muruga who has six kshetras attributed to him, Lord Vinayaka also has six sthalas attributed to him. There is a shrine of Ganesha on the outer parikrama. It is to the right of Nandidev who is facing Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha in the shrine is known as Kallavarana Vinayaka. And this shrine is third of the six sthalas. Lord Ganesha carries an amrut kalash in his trunk. The utsav murti in this temple is known as Kala Samhara murti. There is a shrine of Goddess Parvati in a parikrama with infant Lord Muruga seated on her lap. She is known as Guhambika.
We have the shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga with Valli and Devasena, Somaskanda, Nataraja and his consort Shivagami. In the corridor we come across idols of Mahalakshmi, Bilvavaneshwar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Bhikshatanar, Goddess Durga, Ardhanareeswarar and Bhairav and koshta murtis. In this temple there is no navagraha shrine. There is a shrine of Papakareshwar which was worshiped by Sage Agastya. There is another shrine of Punyavaradanar which was worshiped by Sage Pulasti. These shrines are found in the corridor.
In the inner right hand side wall of sanctum sanctorum there is a yantra. It is known as Thirukadiyur rahasya. It is stated that one has to have darshan first of Papakareshwar, then Lord Shiva and finally yantra, so that his life span will increase. In this place opposite to the shrine of Kalasamhar murti we have Yama idol in worshiping posture with his mount by his side.
Salient features:
There are six places where one can get rid of fear of Yama namey 1. Thirukkadaiyur, 2. Thiruveezhimalai, 3. Thiruvaikudi, 4. Thiruvenkadu, 5. Thiruvaikavur, 6. Tiruvanchiyam. It is believed that Lord Shiva brought Ganga to help Sage Markandeya to perform Shiva worship at this place. The well (pond) near this temple is believed to have water from Ganges. Water from this well is used only for the abhishek of Lord Shiva.
There is a huge idol of Lord Shiva as Kala Samhara murti who saved Sage Markandeya from Yama. Lord Shiva has his left leg on AdiShesha; his trident pointing towards Yama and we find Yama at the foot of the other leg of Lord Shiva. By the side we have an idol of bhuta ganas dragging yama with a rope. The idol of Yama at Lord’s feet is kept covered by a metal plate and is removed only at the time of puja. Goddess Parvati is depicted as a small girl along with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. She is known as Balambika. There is a scar on the shiva linga which is visible only during abhishek. It is believed to have been made by the rope which was thrown on Markandeya by Yama. And the rope left a mark on the shiva linga as Markandeya was grasping the shiva linga. It is believed that this is 108th shiva sthala where Sage Markandeya worshiped Lord Shiva to escape from Yama. It is believed that siddhas lived around this place especially Pambatti Siddhar.
Those who worshiped at this place: Lord Brahma, Lord Yama, Goddess Durga, Vasuki, Sages Agastya, Pulasti, Markandeya, Sapta Matrikas, and shaiva saints Appar and Sambandhar.
Kshetra purana:
Lord Brahma once went to Kailas to obtain dnyana upadesh from Lord Shiva. At that time Lord Shiva gave him some bilva seeds and told him that he will give upadesh at that place where the seeds grow into a tree in a short time (about one prahar). When Lord Brahma came to this place the seeds sprouted and became a tree in the mentioned period. Lord Shiva gave upadesh to Lord Brahma at this place. This place is known as Bilva vanam and shiva linga is known as Bilvavananadar.
It is believed according to the purana that Lord Shiva gave amrut kalash during samudra manthan. The devas forgot to worship Lord Ganesha before partaking amrut. Lord Ganesha took the pot away from them and hid the pot at this place. But the amrut kalash got deeply entrenched and could not be removed and later on this amrut kalash became a shiva linga and Lord became Amrutaghateshwar. This shiva linga is present in the temple.
Sage Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati got a son by performing penance at this place. The son was known as Markandeya. Lord Shiva blessed them with a son who will be noble, wise but who will live only for 16 years. When Markandeya came to know about his fate he went on pilgrimage to shaiva sthalams. He came to this place which was 108th shaiva sthalam on the day of his destiny. While he was worshiping the Lord Yama came to take away his life, Markandeya embraced shiva linga. When Yama threw his rope on Markandeya it covered the shiva linga also. It is stated in purana that Lord Shiva appeared from Shiva Linga as Kalasamhar murti and destroyed yama with his trishul. He blessed Markandeya that he will be sixteen years forever. Lord Shiva is known as Mrutyunjaya murti and Kalasamhar murti.
As Yama was killed there was no death taking place on the earth. Bhudevi complained to Lord Shiva and he gave life back to Yama at this place.
When we have darshan of Kalaasamhar murti without Yama who is kept covered the darshan is known as samhar darshan. When we have darshan with Yama the darshan is known as live darshan (Uoouir-pitha ऊइरपित्त darshan).
Lord Vishnu wanted to perform Shiva Puja before getting the amrut after samudra manthan. In order to perform puja, it is essential to remove one’s ornaments. So Lord Vishnu removed his ornaments before performing the shiv puja. From his ornaments Ambika appeared as Abhirami. It is believed that Mahalakshmi resides in the ornaments of Lord Vishnu. As Ambika appeared from the ornaments of Lord Vishnu, he is worshiped as mother of Ambika.
Once a staunch devotee of Abhirami known as Subramanya informed the maratha king of Tanjore Saraboji Maharaja that the day was full moon day instead of new moon day. At that time Subramanya was in full concentration and in deep worship of Goddess Abirami. The king got angry and asked Subramanya to prove that it was full moon day or face the death sentence. Subramanya also known as Abhiramibhattar started reciting Abhirami Antaadi i.e. the end letter of the first verse becomes the beginning of the second verse and so on. When he was reciting the seventy ninth verse the earstead of Goddess Abhirami was thrown into the sky by her. It appeared as a full moon in the sky. This day i.e. new moon day of Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) is celebrated in the temple on a very grand scale.
Abhirami Antaadi contains 100 verses.
Importance of the Kshetra
On Aswini nakshatra in the Tamil month of Panguni, Ganges appears in the well at Brahmapureeswarar temple in Thirukadaiyur mayanam which is very close by. The water from this well is used only for the abhishek of Lord Shiva on all days except this day when people are allowed to bathe in this water.
By worshiping Lord Shiva with a flower from a Pinjalam, one is believed to have worshiped 1008 times.
According to Purana, one has to worship first Papakareshwar, and then Punyakareshwar, so that all sins are removed and one attains punya.
Of the 63 Nayanmars, Kari Nayanar and Kungila Kalaya Nayanar lived and attained mukti at this place. Abhiram bhattar who wrote Abhirami Antaadi lived at this place.
Festivals and worships:
- Chithirai - Magha nakshatra, Yama samhar festival for 18 days. On the sixth day Kalasamhar murti comes out in procession.
- Purattasi
- Adi Puram
- Aipassi - skanda shashthi and annabhishekam
- Masi - mahashivaratri,
- Panguni - Uttara phalguni
- Karthigai - deepam festival. On mondays Shankhabhishek with 1008 conches. Pradosha puja full moon
- Thai - new moon
- Special worship on Tamil english new year days
People perform the sixtieth birthday (utkruta shanti) that is known Shashthyapurti, seventieth birthday that is known Bhimarathi shanti, eightieth birthday that is known shatabhishek shanti, ninetieth kanakabhishekam. Besides this people perform janma nakshatra shanti. Ayushya homa and mahamrityunjaya homa to get rid of obstacles in life. Besides this, people perform special worship for wealth, child boon etc.
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