Thirukkadaiyur

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Thirukkadaiyur
Thirukkadavur
village
Image of Thirukkadaiyur temple
Thirukkadaiyur is located in Tamil Nadu
Thirukkadaiyur
Thirukkadaiyur
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 11°4′27″N 79°48′31″E / 11.07417°N 79.80861°E / 11.07417; 79.80861Coordinates: 11°4′27″N 79°48′31″E / 11.07417°N 79.80861°E / 11.07417; 79.80861
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
District
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationTN82

Thirukkadaiyur (Thirukadavur) is a village on the east coast of Tamil Nadu, about 300 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Karaikal. The history of the village is centered around Amritaghateswarar - Abirami Temple of Tirukkadaiyur is associated with the legends of Markandeya and Abirami Pattar, which is a replica. The original temple, Thirumeignanam Gnanaparameswarar Temple,[1] called Thirumeignanam, built in the 11th century, was ravaged by the sea and is in ruins now. People worship and pray at Thirukkadaiyur temple for long life.

In modern times, the village is part of Nagapattinam district and is administered by a village panchayat. As per 2021 census, the village had a population of 6,244. The village is connected by bus transport and is located on the Chidambaram - Nagapattinam highway. There is a small seaport under the control of Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.

Legend[]

Shiva saving Markendeya from Yama

Thirukkadaiyur derives its name from the pot, called Gatam in Tamil. Vishnu, Indra, and the other Devas needed a sublime place to consume the ambrosia that had been churned during the Samudra manthan and, therefore, brought the ambrosia pot here. Before consuming it, they forgot to worship Ganesha, who is to be worshiped before any great undertaking. Ganesha, hurt and offended at the unintentional slight by the devas, stole the pot of Amrita and hid it at Tirukkadaiyur. Ganesha created a Shiva Lingam, dedicated to his father and mother, and poured some of the Amrita over it. The Shiva Lingam at this temple is known as Amrita Ghat Eshwarar, which, translated from Sanskrit literally means "Lord that leads to immortality" ('Immortality' (Amrita) 'Step' (Ghat) 'Lord' (Eshwarar)). It is also believed that Abhirami incarnated here by the power of Vishnu. As per popular legend, near the temple of Tirukkadaiyur, there lived a sage named Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati. They were both devotees of Shiva and worshiped him day and night for many years, asking to be graced with a child. After many years of penance, Shiva appeared to Mrikandu and Marudmati. He told them that he heard their prayers and would give them a choice: they could either have a gifted son who would live to be only sixteen, or a son of low intelligence who would live a long life. Mrikandu and Marudmati chose the former, and were blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen.

As Markandeya grew, so did his devotion to Shiva. As advised by his father, Markandeya worshipped the Shiva Lingam at Tirukkadaiyur, even bringing water from the Ganges to the temple via an underground passage. On the day he was destined to die, Yama, the deity of death, appeared with his noose to tie around the soul of Markandeya and take it with him. Markandeya sought refuge in the temple and embraced the Siva Lingam. Shiva appeared and warned Yama not to touch Markandeya, as he was under his protection. Yama refused to listen and threw the noose anyway, binding Markandeya and the Lingam together. Angered by Yama's extraordinary arrogance, Shiva kicked him and held him under his foot, making Yama inactive. Markandeya was blessed by Shiva to remain sixteen years old eternally. Meanwhile, with Yama being rendered inactive, there were no deaths on earth, but people were still being born. Burdened by the weight of so many people and unable to sustain their hunger, the earth-goddess, Bhumi Devi, appealed to Shiva for help. Shiva, feeling compassionate for the earth-goddess, released Yama, allowing death to occur again. However, in order to remind Yama never to try to kill someone while they are worshiping Shiva again, the icon of Shiva in this temple is depicted with his forefinger raised in warning.[2]

History[]

Shrines of both the temples

There are several inscriptions in the temple belonging to the Medieval Cholas. On the southern wall in the central shrine, there is an inscription from the 13th regnal year of Rajaraja I indicating stipulation of paddy to the temple by a merchant in return to offer of land to the temple offered. Another record in the temple indicates the record (ARE 242 of 1925) of a gift of paddy to the temple by Rajendra Chola for conducting eight-day temple festival annually. A third record on the same wall indicates record dated to 1054 AD from the reign of Rajadhiraja Chola records a gift of land by a devotee to feed 17 devotees. The fourth record (ARE 244 of 1925) in the shrine from the period of Kulothunga Chola I indicates the Mahasabha of Tirukadavur selling 1.74 velis of land that had been lying fallow for 50 years. An interesting inscription from the outer precinct from the period of Rajaraja II indicates confiscation of lands from a custodian of a temple who colluded with Vaishanvites (worshipers of Vishnu). There are several inscriptions indicating donations for performing art, drama, dance and music.[3] The temple is maintained and administered by the Dharmapuram Adheenam.[4]

Culture, Administration and utility services[]

As per 2021 census, the village had a population of 6,244. The village is connected by bus transport and is located on the Chidambaram - Nagapattinam highway. There are three secondary schools and one senior secondary school in the village. There are a total of 1,528 households and the total area of the village is 793.4 ha (1,961 acres). There was one medical practitioner with MBBS degree and four other medical practitioners. Being a tourist village, the public transport mechanism like auto, taxi and bus are common. The village also has an Anganwadi centre and nutrition centre. The village is also agrarian with a total of 455.3 ha (1,125 acres) irrigatable land. The village has a captive minor port close to PPN power generating companies. The Port is under the control of Tamil Nadu Maritime Board. Shastiapthapoorthi (60th birthday), Bhimaradha Shanthi (70th birthday), Sadabishegam (80th birthday) and other Ayul Shanthi fire worships are very famous here.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "Sri Brahmmapureeswarar Temple Temple : Sri Brahmmapureeswarar Temple Temple Details | Sri Brahmmapureeswarar Temple - Tirumayanam | Tamilnadu Temple | பிரம்மபுரீஸ்வரர்".
  2. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 37.
  3. ^ S.R., Balasubramanyam (1975). Middle Chola temples Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (AD. 985-1070) (PDF). Thomson Press (India) Limited. pp. 104–6. ISBN 978-9060236079.
  4. ^ Dr. R., Selvaganapathy, ed. (2013). Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 4 - Thirumurai Thalangal. Chennai, India: Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust. pp. 127–131.
  5. ^ Nagapattinam district Profile (PDF) (Report). Census of India. 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

External links[]

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