This Shiva temple is located at Thirukkadaiyur in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is at about 2 kilometers from Thirukkadaiyur Veeratteshwarar Temple on Mayiladuthurai- Karaikkal route. It is about 22 kilometers from Karaikkal, 22 kilometers from Mayiladuthurai and about 25 kilometers from Sirkazhi. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalams on the southern bank of Kaveri. Lord Shiva of this temple was revered by Shaiva saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar in their sacred hymns. The temple must have existed in the 6th century, later reconstructed by Cholas and renovated by Pandya and Vijaynagar Kings. This place was earlier known as Brahmapuri BilvaAranya, ShivaVedapuri.
Moolavar: Shri Brahmapureeshwarar, Shri Peruman Adigal
Devi: Shri Aamalagujanayaki, Shri Vadumulai Ambika, Shri Malarluzhal Minnaammai
Sacred Teertha: Brahma Teertha, Aswathi Teertha, Kashi Teertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva, Bahava (Kondrai in Tamil)
Puranik Name: Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam
Present Name: Thirukkadaiyur Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Kshetra Purana:
1. According to Purana, at the end of each yuga Lord Shiva is believed to create a great deluge (pralay) to destroy the universe. In the process, Lord Brahma also gets destroyed. When the new yuga starts, Lord Brahma is recreated by Lord Shiva. During one such yuga Lord Brahma was destroyed and brought back to life at this place. Lord Shiva gave Shiva Dnyana Upadesh (Brahmadnyana upadesh) so that Lord Brahma could start the creation. Hence Lord Shiva is known as Brahmapureeshwarar at this place. This is the third such place where Lord Brahma was given Shiva-Dnyanopadesh. It is believed that there are four more places where Lord Shiva destroyed and re-created Lord Brahma. These five places together are known as PanchaMayanam. 1) Kanchi Mayanam (at Kanchipuram), 2) Kadavur Mayanam at Thirukkadaiyur (this place), 3) Kazhi Mayanam at Sirkazhi, 4) Veeizhi Mayanam at ThiruveeizhiMalay, 5) Nallur Mayanam at ThiruNallur.
2. According to Kshetra puran, Lord Shiva created a well (pond) with water from Ganges for Sage Markandeya to continue his worship of Lord Shiva at this place. This well is located very near the sacred tank of the temple. Even now water is taken from this well to Thirukkadaiyur temple (Amrithakadeshwarar Temple) daily for abhishek of Lord Shiva. The water from this well is used only for the Amrithakadeshwarar.
3. According to another Kshetra purana, Chalukya king Emakeridan who was defeated in a battle and lost his kingdom came to this place to worship Lord Shiva after worshiping at nearby Shiva temples. He prayed to the lord for getting his kingdom back. When he came and prayed at the shrine of Shringarvelar, Lord Muruga took the form of a king. He went with the king's army and defeated the enemy and got the kingdom back for King Emakeridan. That's why the idol of Lord Muruga (Shringarvelar) is in warrior form. The king donated about 53 acres of land to the temple of Shringarvelar which is still known as Shringarveli.
4. According to Sthala-puran, a Chola King was afflicted with leprosy. He was advised by sages to worship Lord Shiva at this place. By worshiping Lord Shiva at this place, he got rid of his ailment.
5. According to Sthala-puran, a Brahmin named Somadeva Sharma was relieved of his BrahmaHatya dosha by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place.
6. According to Sthala-puran, once a Brahmin named Shiva Sharma was cursed to become a crow for the sins committed. He came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. He regained his original form and finally attained salvation.
7. According to Sthala-puran, it is stated that Lord Ganesha had listened and learned the meaning of Pranav-mantra like an obedient student when Lord Shiva was teaching it to Lord Brahma. Hence at this place Lord Vinayaka is praised as Lord Pranav Vinayaka.
8. According to folklore, Pambatti Siddha lived at this place.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord Brahma, Lord Ganesha, Pambatti Siddhar, Sage Markandeya, Chalukya King Emakeridan, Kulothanga Chola II, Somadeva Sharma and Shiva Sharma.
Special Features:
1. The procession idol, Lord Shringarvelar has a bow and arrow in his hands. He wears Rudraksha garland and footwear.
2. Lord Dakshinamurti is depicted with six sanaka rishis instead of the usual four. He is not sitting under a banyan tree.
3. The idols of Lord Bhikshatanar and Lord Bhairav are very beautiful.
4. Lord Pranav Vinayaka has a flat belly instead of the usual pot-belly.
5. The idol of Chandikeshwarar in the shrine of Lord Shringarvelar is praised as Guha Chandikeshwarar.
6. There is a crack on the Shiva Linga.
About the temple:
This is a west facing temple with an entrance arch. It has a newly constructed Rajagopuram at the 2nd level. After the Rajagopuram, we come across Balipeetham, Nandi facing the sanctum.
Sanctum-sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Maha-mandap and Mukha-mandap. The mukha-mandap has the shape of the forehead of a bat. At the entrance of the sanctum, there are Dwarapalas on either side. Shivalinga is a Swayambhu Linga on a square avudayar (base). Sanctum is shaped like a linga.
Koshta murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord ArdhaNareeshwarar, Lord Vishnu, Goddess VishnuDurga, Lord Bhairav, Lord Nardana Vinayaka. Lord Dakshinamurti in the Koshta is depicted along with six of his disciples but he is not seated under a kallal tree (Indian rock fig, Kallalashwattha, Audumbar in Marathi) though he usually sits under it. Lord Chandikeshwarar is in the usual position, he is depicted along with his consort.
There is a relief depicting King Kulothanga Chola III, worshiping a Shiva Linga near Lord Dakshinamurti.
Other idols and shrines in the parikrama:
There is a separate shrine of Lord Muruga. He is with his consorts Valli and Devasena and he is called as Shringarvelar. The idol of Shringarvelar is unique. He is depicted with a bow and a spear in his hands in a warrior posture ready for going to the war. He wears a rudraksha mala and wears slippers known as kurradu in Tamil. He is slightly slanting towards the left. The idol resembles that of Lord Shriram. Shringarvelar is considered as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu who is his maternal uncle. Similar to Chandikeshwar in Lord Shiva’s temple there is a Chandikeshwar in Lord Muruga’s shrine also. He is known as Guha Chandikeshwar. Lord Vinayaka is known here as Lord Pranava Vinayaka and he is depicted with a flat stomach. In the parikrama, we have the idols of Lord Nataraja, Lord Kalyana Sundarar, the four shaiva saints praised as Nalvar, Lord Mahavishnu (praised as Shri Pillai Perumal), Goddess Gajalakshmi, Goddess Chandeshwari, Lord Bhikshatanar and Lord Bhairav. One of the 18 great sidhhars Shri Pambatti Siddhar lived here. Since Lord Brahma was destroyed and created later and given dnyana-upadesh by Lord Shiva, the place is known as Brahmapuri, Thirumeidnyanam and Kadaiyur Mayanam. Lord Shiva is known as Lord Brahmapureeswarar.
Ambika is in a separate, east facing shrine in standing posture. This shrine is in the southwest corner of the outer parikrama. Her shrine has a three-tiered RajaGopuram, Nandi and Balipeetham. Her shrine consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Maha-mandap. At the entrance, we have Dwarapalikis. She is depicted with four hands with Varada and Abhaya mudra.
Prayers:
People worship here for getting knowledge, excellence in education, removal of marriage obstacles, child boon, relief from Pitru-dosha.
Poojas:
Regular daily worship, pradosha puja, special pooja on new moon and full moon days.
Some important festivals:
Aipassi (Oct-Nov): Skanda Shashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Masi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri
Panguni (Mar-April): Teertha vari festival on ashwini nakshatra. It is believed that Ganga visits this place on this day every year. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are taken in procession to the well.
Timings: 6:30 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 7 pm.
Address:
Shri Brahmapureeshwarar temple,
ThiruMayanam,
AadhiKadavur,
At-post: Thirukkadaiyur
Taluka: Tharanganpadi
TN 609311.
Contact:
Temple priest: Shri M, Ganesha Gurukkal - +91-436428799, +91-4364287222, +91-9442012133
Courtesy: Following sites
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
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