Thirukadaiyur Amritaghateswarar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Tiruchirapalli airport is about 150 km away. Chennai airport is about 300 km away.

• By train

  Mayiladuthurai is the nearest station from the north and west, and Karaikal from the south.

• By road

  The temple is on the East Coast Road between Sirkali and Karaikal. The village lies on the Chidambaram to Nagapattinam highway and is connected by bus.

Why devotees come here

Thirukadaiyur Amritaghateswarar Temple stands in Thirukadaiyur, 21 km east of Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Ashta Veeratanam temples, a group of eight Shiva temples. The temple is dedicated to Shiva as Kalantaka, with his wife Parvati worshipped as Abhirami, and its main linga is named Amrithakadeswarar.

Thirukadaiyur is one of the Ashta Veeratanam, a group of eight Shiva temples said to commemorate Shiva's eight acts of valour. It is also a Paadal Petra Sthalam, praised in the Tevaram and counted among the 276 temples in the Saiva canon. Legend says Shiva saved the sage's son Markandeya from Yama and blessed him to remain sixteen years old for ever. Because Shiva is believed to have subdued Yama here, he is called Mrityunjaya at this temple.

The present masonry structure was built in the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, and later expansions are attributed to the Thanjavur Nayaks. Several medieval Chola inscriptions are found in the temple. The temple covers 11 acres and has around five large precincts. Its eastern gopuram is the tallest, with 11 stories and a height of 46 metres.

Near the sanctum stands a separate shrine for Kalasamharamurthy, who saved Markandeya.

Festivals

• Chithirai month, April to MayBrahmotsavam

  The annual festival of the temple.

• Date not given in our sourcesAadi Pooram

  Marks the day Abhirami reached puberty.

• New moon day in Tai, mid-January to mid-FebruaryAbhirami Bhattar day

  Abhirami Bhattar is still celebrated at Thirukadaiyur on this day.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the separate Kalasamharamurthy shrine near the sanctum, for the saviour of Markandeya.
• If you want to attend the Abhirami Bhattar day, plan your visit around the new moon in Tai.

Questions people ask