Devotees perform here Sasthiaptha Purthi (61st. birthday, Ukratha shanthi, Bheemaratha shanthi (70th birth day), Sadhabishekam (80th birth day) birth star days, Ayush Homan (prayer for longevity) are performed in this temple. To perform pujas and prayers on these important days in life, people come here not only from Tamilnadu but from all states. Also from other countries.
Devotees visit the temple to pray on the 50th anniversary of their wedding days and for relief from planetary problems according their horoscopes. Abirami Amman is both powerful and merciful. The devotees are blessed with prosperity, marriage alliances etc. She blesses them with children and wisdom. The Kalasamharamurthy blesses the devotees with longevity; health, remedy from ailments and the devotees will be free from the fear of death. Thirukadayur is a place noted for remedies from many problems in life.
People roll around (Angapadhikshanam) the temple as a prayer commitment. Those awaiting marriages offer garlands called Kalyanamalai. Devotees also offer children in adoption so that they get child in turn. People offer Rudrabishaka for children and Sankabisheka for remedy from illnesses and those suffering from cardiac problem perfer Mrutyanja Homam for relief. Many had survived attacks after the Mrutyanja Homam. People offer Dhoti and Sari for the Lord and the Mother. They offer abisheks in turmeric powder, in water mixed with cosmetic powders, milk, curd, tender coconut, panchamirtham, lime, honey, sandal etc. People also feed (annadhanam) to the visitors. The wealthy offer liberal donations for the maintenance of the temple and its renovations taken up from time to time.
Kallapillayar
During the churning of the milk ocean to extract the Nectar, the Devas stole a bit without the knowledge of anybody and without praying to Lord Ganapathy and hid it in a secret place. To teach a lesson to Devas for ignoring him in their haste, Lord Vinayaka simply changed the place of the Nectar pot. When they searched for it, they could not get it back. Lord Shiva advised the Devas to apologise to Lord Vinayaka to get back the nectar pot. After getting the pot, the Devas went for a bath. When they returned, they could not get the pot. It has become a Shivalinga. And that Shiva Ling is Amirthakadeswarar, the presiding deity of Thirukadayur.
Jathi Malli
When Markandeya was performing Abisheka to Lord Amirthakadeswarar with Ganga Water, Ippinjilam flowers too came with the water. Ippinjilam is a flower also called Jathi Malli (Jasmine that blossoms throughout the yea).) This flower is used only for the God and should not be used for human purposes. An archana with a single flower is considered equal to 1008 archanas.
Reputation:
The Linga is swayambu. The temple is west facing. If one observes closely, they could see another Linga too.
When the Lord of Death Yama, spread the rope on the Sivalinga, it caused a scar on the Sivalinga. It is still visible on the Linga. Of the 8 Attaveeratta holy temples, Thirukadayur is one because the God defeated Yama here. The Lord in the form of Kalasamaharamurthy, in the copper idol, looks furious, majestic,waving the Shoola on Yama and hit him by the left leg.
Many Siddhas performed penance here of whom, Pampatti Siddhar was one.
The nine planets have no power here, all devotees coming here perform pujas to the KalasamharaMurthy only. There will be no Rahu effects in Thirukadayur. It is also said that Goddess Abirami came from the Jewel of Mahavishnu. Brahma, Agasthya, Pulasthiya, Durga worshipped the Lord here.
Of the 63 Nayanmars, Kari and Kungiliakalaya Nayanar lived here and served the Lord. This is the holy soil that gave birth to Abirami Pattar. Thirugnansambandar sings Thirukadayur, Appar and Sundarar praised in the Saivite World as Moovar Mudaligal.
Thirukadayur administration officer can be reached on telephone No. 91-4268-287429.
Thirukadayur is 22 kms from Mayiladuthurai, 30 from Sirkali. There are many lodges in Thirukadayur for staying conveniences charges ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs. 600. In the district quarters Nagapattinam, people can choose Hotel Tamilnadu 044365-22389 charges ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 600.
Thirukadayur lies on the Nagapattinam-Chidambaram route. Bus conveniences are available from Karaikal, Sirkali and Mayiladuthurai. Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai and airport Trichy.
Festivals:
Yama Samharam festival is celebrated for 18 days in the Tamil month Chithirai (April-May). During Mondays in the month of Karthikai (November-December) 1008 Sankabishekam is very famous. Purattasi Navarathri and Margazhi Vidhi Padam are
one-day festivals. Adipooram, Navarathri, Poornimas, are very devotionally observed in the temple. Skanda Sashti, Mahasivarathri, Panguni Uthiram, Abirami Andhadhi recitation, monthly Pradosha days, Tamil and English New Year days, Pongal speical pujas are performed in the temple.
History:
Maharshi Mirigandu and Maruthuvathi were very sadmas they did not have a child. The Lord, in recognition of the penance of the Rishi granted the Child boon. He asked the sage whether he wanted a child full of wisdom and spartan character with a short life or one with a long lifeotelsINagapattinam
Known for all wickedness. The sage preferred the former. The boy was born and named Markandeya. When he was 16 he understood the truth of his longevity and began to visit the Shiva temples and came to Thirukadayur. It was the 100th one. And that was his last day. He saw the Yama too coming to take his life. Markandeya embraced the Shivalinga. When the Yama spread his death rope, it also covered the Lord Shiva. Exasperated by Yama’s action, the Lord hit him Since the Samahara of Yama by God, no death occurred on earth and the burden of Mother earth became heavy. At her request, the Lord restored Yama back to life.
Presiding deity Amirthakadeswarar
Speciality Swayambu
Reputation Attaveerattasthalam
Goddess Abirami Amman
Vinayaka Kallavinayakar
Holy tree Jathi Malli
Holy spring Amirthakulam
