Thirukkadaiyur

Thirukkadaiyur (Tamil: திருக்கடையூர்) is a temple town on the east coast of Tamil Nadu, about 300 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Karaikal. The original temple, Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam now called Thirumeignanam built in circa 11th century AD was ravaged by sea and is in ruins now. Another temple on identical plan was built later and is now thronged by people who pray for long life.

This is one of the holy places of Saivism today. Legend has that Mrikandu, a sage and devotee of Lord Siva, prayed to God to bless him with a son. God appeared and gave him a choice to select the type of child he wanted - An honest responsible and virtuous son who will live only for 16 years or a son who would live for 100 years but whose behavior is bad. Mrikandu chose the former. The boy, named Markandeya also grew up to be an ardent devotee of Siva. The destined time came. When Yama tried to snatch the life of the boy, Markandeya went to the temple and clutched at the Siva Lingam in a bid to escape death. Pleased by the boy's belief, Siva rescued him from death, incarnating as Kalantaka.

It is possible that this legend was created as there was a conflict between the worship of Yama and the newly emerging brahminised form of the Lord and the latter sect won. Interestingly, the temple has an appellation as Mayanam which in Tamil means crematorium.

Most of the temples are known either by the name of the Lord or His Consort. Nataraja is the name that rings in the mind when the word Chidambaram is uttered. Similarly, the name Madurai brings memories of Meenakshi. However, there are a few temples that are well known for the Lord and his Consort and Tirukkadaiyur is one among them. The Amritaghateswarar - Abirami Temple of Tirukkadaiyur is associated with the legends of Markandeya and Abirami Battar.

Situated in the Mayavaram - Tarangampaadi branch of the Southern Railway, Tirukkadaiyur is a railway station about 250 km. from Chennai. It falls under one of the eight Veeratta Sthalams of Lord Shiva.