Tirukadayur Amrithakadeswarar

The town is about 22 kms from Mayavaram or Mayiladathurai.

The Siva Lingam is called Amrithakadeswarar in this temple and the Utsavar is called Kaala Samhara Murthi. Goddess Parvathi appears as Abirami here. Pillayar is called Kalla Pillayar. There is also a small Sannidhi for Muneeswaran at the entrance of the temple.

Sthala Puranam

At the time of churning the ocean to get nectar, the Devas and Asuras did not offer prayers to Pillayar who is the remover of obstacles. So Pillayar stole the Amrita Kalasam and hid it away earning the name Kalla Pillayar (Kallan means thief in Tamil). Realizing the mistake, appropriate prayers were offered to Pillayar and Shivan in the form of Amrithakadeswarar received the Amrita Kalasam from Pillayar in this Sthalam.

Mriganda Maharishi and his wife Maruthavathi Devi were a childless couple. Mriganda Maharishi performed penance to Lord Shiva who gave him the option of having either a brilliant and devout son who would live only for 16 years or  a foolish son who would live for 100 years. Mriganda Maharishi opted for the former and Markandeyan was born to them.

Lord Yama came to take the life of Markandeyar when the boy turned 16. The boy prayed to Lord Shiva who rescued Markandeyar and made him an ever-16 Chiranjeevi. It is in this Kshetra that Lord Shiva killed Lord Yama and earned the name "Kaala Samhara Murthi". At the same time, Bhooma Devi began to suffer due to the continuing births and increasing population. In the absence of Yama,  the there were no deaths, so the weight that Bhooma Devi had to shoulder became oppressive. She Prayed to Kaala Samhaara Murthi for help and He in turn blessed Yama with life and rescued Bhooma Devi.

There is also a tale for the Ambal - Abirami in this Sthalam. Abhirama Bhattar was an ardent devotee of Abhirami. When Abhirama Bhattar was immersed in thoughts of the Goddess, the ruling king asked Bhattar for the Tithi (day in the lunar calendar). Bhattar replied that it was Pournami (full moon) instead of Ammavaasai (new moon). Enraged, the king asked Bhattar to show the full moon or face death. Goddess Abirami intervened and threw her ear-ring which became the full moon. Thus she rescued her devotee. It is at this place that Abhirama Bhattar composed Abhirami Andhadhi in praise of the Goddess.

 

Special Features

As is evident from the Sthala Puranam, the deities in this Sthalam have rescued their devotees from death and blessed them with long life instead. Some devotees celebrate important milestones in life like Sashtiapthapoorthi(60th birthday), Bheema Ratha Shanthi(70th birthday) Sadabhishekam (80th birthday) etc. in this Sthalam.

Tirukadayur Temple Entrance