Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 88th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 34th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
Mela
Kadambur Amirthakadeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located
at Melakadambur in Cuddalore
district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is
Tirukadambur. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Amirtha Kadeswarar. His consort is
known as Vidyujothi Nayaki. The temple has beautiful sculptures and the vimana
is in the form of a chariot. The name of the temple is derived from the words, “Amritha”
meaning nectar, “Kada” meaning pot and “Eeswara” meaning Lord
Shiva. The temple and the village are well known in Ponniyin Selvan history, as
they are more than 1,000 years old.
AmrithaKadeshwarar:
When
the Devas won the nectar from the Asuras, they began
drinking it without paying due respect to Lord Ganesha. This
infuriated him and he took away the pot of nectar. When he was passing through
this place a drop of nectar fell and got manifested as a Swayambhu Linga.
Realising their mistake, Indra and the other Devas asked Ganesha to forgive them
who in turn returned the pot of nectar and told the Devas to worship Lord Shiva
here as AmrithaKadeshwarar.
Lord Indra:
Aditi the mother of Devas came
here to worship Lord Shiva everyday. So, Indra decided to turn the temple into
a chariot and have it pulled to Devaloka, the
abode of Devas so that his mother did not have to visit this place to worship
Shiva everyday. Lord Ganesha having noticed this pressed the chariot with his
leg and as a consequence one of the wheels sank and got stuck into the ground.
Indra then prayed to Ganesha and requested to allow him to move the temple to
Devaloka. Ganesha agreed to let the temple go if Indra installed a crore lingas. However,
when Indra tried installing the lingas every piece got damaged and finally
Indra went back to Shiva, his pride broken, and requested him for help. Shiva
in the form of Lord Amrithakadeswarar then asked Indra to install one linga by
chanting his name a thousand times. Accordingly, when Indra completed the
penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him and told him that he wished to stay in
the same place and worship Amrithakadeswarar on behalf of Aditi, Indra's
mother. It is believed that Indra visits the temple everyday to worship Lord
Shiva in the form of Amrithakadeswarar.
The
temple has been well preserved and the chariot with one of its wheels stuck in
the ground can be seen to this day.
Karak Koil:
It
is classified as Karak kovil, a temple built resembling the shape of a chariot
used during temple festivals. Literary evidence is found in Tamil works,
which refer the temple as Karak Koil. Similar architecture of halls
(Mandapas) simulating a chariot drawn by elephant or horses is found in Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam, Sikharagiriswara Temple,
Kudumiyamalai, Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam, Vriddhagiriswarar Temple,
Vriddhachalam and Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur.
There
are nine types of Hindu temple structures. Amongst them, Karakkoil also
called Mela Kadambur Amirthakadeswarar
Temple is a structure that the vimana is in chariot like structure.
The structure is pulled by horses looks an enchanting appearance.
This
Karakkoil was built by emperor Kulottunga Chola I in the year 1113 AD, the
king's 43rd governing year. This temple is like a chariot like structure
with two horses pulling the car or Ratha. The temple is finely sculptured with
many purana stories like Ramayan, Krishna Leela, Nayanmar stories and other
stories of siva. The basement is called Adhittanam this temples adhittanam is
laid of 18 layered adittanam called pathmaga pandham, and manjapathram.
Ponniyin Selvan:
Ponniyin Selvan is
a historical novel written by Tamil writer Kalki Krishnamurthy,
from Tamil Nadu, who is also known as Krishnamurthy. This historical novel
appeared in serial in the Tamil weekly Kalki, in the name of the author,
many times and attracted many readers.
Lord Ganapati:
When
Narasimhavarma Pallavan won the war on Chalukya, a Ganapati statue brought from
the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi — by Sirutondar, like that cholas made a
war towards Ganga region by the King Rajendra I at that time they taken a
Ganapathy statue and Dvarabalaka statue from vengi region, that statue was
positioned in Kadambur temple, the Davarabalaka statue kept in the entrance of
Gangai konda cholapuraam temple.
Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamoorthy:
A
special idol kept in this temple, called Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamoorthy,
depicts Lord Shiva dancing on a bull with all ten hands spread and holding
weapons, with all Devas surrounding his feet. This is believed to be a Pala dynasty idol
that came to Tamil Nadu-Melakadambur along with victorious King Rajendra
Chola I of the Bengal war. After Rajendra this idol has been kept in
this Melakadambur temple built by the king Kulothunga
I, who donated this idol and some Vidangars in 1110 AD. Devotees can see
this idol only on Pradosha days.
Kadamba tree:
The
Kadambu tree is the sthala vriksha of the Siva temple situated here. This
village is named as Kadambur because of the Kadambu tree, named in botany
as Anthocephalus Cadamba of Rubicea family. This Kadambur
then bifurcated into Melakadambur and Keezhakadambur.
People who worshipped here:
Arunagirinathar,
Vannacharabamn Thandapani Swamigal, and Vallalar came here to sing in praise of
this Lord. In every Yuga some Devas visited this place to worship this Lord
Amirthakadeswara. In Threthayuga Surya, Chandra, Indira, Romarishi came to
worship. In Threthayuga Ashtaparvathas and Parvatharajan came to worship. In
Kaliyuga, Pathanjali came to worship this sthala.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
· The well-known Nalvar praised the Lord of this shrine and made three pathigams on him.
· It is rare scene to view. During the 3rd, 4th, 5th day of the Tamil month of Panguni, twelfth month of the Tamil calendar, early during sunrise at 6.15 am, the Sun's rays will fall on Lord Amirthakateshwara Lingam for about fifteen minutes. At that time special poojas are offered to the Lord. The shrine Goddess Jothiminnammai seems as Kalaimagal in morning and Thirumagal in evening and Malaimagal in night.
· In Kadambur temple the moolasthanam is made up as a chariot-like structure. On that structure's south side is a stone statue of Dakshinamurthy who is sitting on a bull below a banyan tree. The beauty of this sculpture is a hole that extends from the left ear to the right ear.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Amirtha Kadeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Vidyujothi Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Shakti
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Kadamba
tree |
BELIEF:
Those facing adverse
effects of mars planet pray in this temple. Also those 60 years old(Sashti
Aptha Poorthy) pray here for longevity with homas.
People facing problems
due to mars aspects pray to lord muruga with red vastras. Special poojas are
performed to lord muruga on Tuesday with homas.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
Tamil varuda pirappu, Nataraja abishegam
and Thirunavukarasar guru pooja |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
Vaikasi Visakam
and Thirugnanasambandar gurupooja |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani
Tirumanjanam and Manickavasaga gurupooja |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram,
Sundarar gurupooj and Amman Abishegam |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar
Chaturthi |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda
Shashti, Annabishekam and Thirukkalyanam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai
and 108 sangabishegam in somavaram |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thirupalliyezhuchi
in early morning |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makara
Sankranthi |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram and Soorya
pooja on 3,4,5 at early sunrise |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
sivasthalam is located at about 34 Kms from Chidambaram via Kattumannar Kovil.
It is about 7.5 Kms. from Kattumannarkudi. Bus services from Kattumannarkudi to
Eyyalur goes via Melakadambur and the temple is located within a short distance
from Melakadambur bus stop.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Amirthakadesar
Temple,
Melakadambur,
Via Reddiyur,
Kattumannarkudi,
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu - 608304.
LOCATION:
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