Amirthakateshwarar Temple (Karakkoil), Melakadambur, Cuddalore

Amirthakateshwarar Temple (Karakkoil), Melakadambur, Cuddalore

Amirthakateshwarar Temple (Karakkoil) is located in Melakadambur, located 31 kilometres (19 mi) from Chidambaram, and located at a distance of  6 km from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. It was constructed during the reign of Cholas by Kulothunga Chola. The temple and the village are well known in Ponniyin Selvan Novel written by Kalki, as they are over than 1,000 years old. The Sivan temple at Melakadambur is a paadal Petra Sthalam. This Sivalingam is Self-manifested or Swayambu Linga.

This is the 88th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 34th sthalam on the north side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thiruganasambhandar and Appar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Legends

Devas who churned the nectar ocean began to consume it without worshipping Lord Vinayaka who angrily took away the pot to teach them a lesson.  When he passed through this place, once a Kadamba forest, a drop of nectar fell on the earth and it became a Swayambu Linga.  Realizing their folly, Indira and Devas came here and begged Lord Vinayaka’s pardon who in turn advised them to worship Lord Shiva.  Lord Shiva, responding to their prayers gave them the nectar and stayed here as Amirthakateshwarar – Amirtha-nectar, Kada the pot and Easwara the Lord.

Athithi, mother of Devas was worshipping Lord Amirthakateshwarar for granting the nectar to her children.  Indira did not want to see his mother coming to this place each day and wanted to take the Lord to his Indraloka itself to help his mother.  He changed the temple as a car and tried to pull it towards his place.  Lord Vinayaka pressed the left wheel which got stuck to earth.  Indira’s attempts failed to lift the car-temple.  He begged Lord Vinayaka for help who agreed to let the temple if Indira installed a crore of Lingas. 

Indira took the challenge with pride but every piece got damaged.  Realizing his pride, Indira fell at the Feet of Lord Amirthakateshwarar. Lord asked him to make one Shivalinga chanting his name thousand times.  Indira made the Rudrakoteeswara Linga.  Lord appeared before him and said that he wishes to stay here itself and do the worship for his mother.  Indira obeyed.  It is believed that Indira performs pujas to the Lord in this temple each day.

Greatness of Temple

It is believed that all the nine planets pray to Lord Shiva in this temple on their respective days.  Accordingly, Lord Shiva is dressed with clothes of different colours attributed to the planets.  The shrine is regarded as one meant to seek relief from various planetary problems faced by devotees.  The Navagraha shrine is opposite to the shrine of Mother.

Mother Vidhyu Jothi Nayaki - Vidya-Saraswathi, Jothi-Mahalakshmi, Nayaki-Durga) combining the powers of three Shaktis graces as Saraswathi with Veena in the morning, with elephant as Mahalakshmi in midday and with trident as Durga in the evenings.  Hence Mother got this name Vidyajothinayaki.  Mother also has the name Jothi Minnammai.  Those seeking wedding and child boon worship Mother with turmeric and bangles.

Saint Tirunavukkarasar’s hymn dedicating himself to the service of Lord saying “My job is only to serve my Lord” was sung in this temple.

Lord Vrishaba Thandavamurthy graces in a dancing form on his Nandhi-Vrushab or bull vehicle- is the procession deity with 10 hands.  Special pujas are performed to him on Pradosha days – 13th day of new moon or full moon day.  His darshan is available only on this day.  In the peeta-stage below are Mother Parvathi, Lord Vishnu, Bhairava, Veerabhadra, Lord Vinayaka, Maharshis Narada, Brungi and Mrigandu, Nandhi Deva, Gandharvas a group in the celestial world known for musical skills and Boodhaganas.

Lord Vinayaka, who destroyed the pride of Indira is in a separate shrine with the name Aaravara Vinayaka as he created great noise by pressing the Rath and taking the nectar pot-Amirta Kalasa.  He looks with an indignant face with head leaning left.

Place for planet Mars: Before waging his war against demon Surapadma, Lord Muruga visited this temple to worship mother and get the bow.  Hence, Muruga in the temple appears with a bow.  Planet Mars worshipped Lord Muruga here.  Mars is a procession deity here.

Lord Brhamma on the wall appears worshipping Lord Shiva.  Yama the Lord of Death and his assistant Chitra Gupta are on both sides.  Sage Patanjali is nearby holding Lord Nataraja on his head showing his overwhelming joy of enjoying the dance darshan of the Lord.  Mother Durga appears without toe.  Below her are the Meru Mount and the Sri Chakra installed by Acharya Sankara.

Devara shrine

It is a Devara shrine of north shored Kaveri river. There are 63 shrines along the North bank of River Kaveri, including Melakadambur that lists as the 34th. The well known Nalvar praised the Lord of this shrine and made three Pathigams on him. Also Arunagirinathar, Vannacharabamn Thandapani Swamigal, and Vallalar came here to sing in praise of this Lord. In every Yuga some Deva's visited this place to worship this Lord Amirthakateshwarar. In Threthayuga Surya, Chandra, Indira, Romarishi came to worship. In Threthayuga, Ashtaparvathas and Parvatharajan came to worship. In Kaliyuga, Patanjali came to worship this sthala.

Temple Speciality

Shivalinga in the temple is made of Navapasana- nine herbals. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord on 3, 4 and 5 of Panguni-March-April and the rays of Moon on the Aippasi Annabishekam day. It is said that Sani Bhagwan had eagle as his vahana the vehicle. It is said that Emperor Dasaratha gave him crow then replacing the eagle. Hence, it is said that Sani Bhagwan-Saturn in the temple with the eagle vehicle belongs to the period prior to Ramayana days. Special pujas are performed to him on Saturdays in the month of Purattasi-September-October.

Architecture

The temple is in the shape of a Ratham-Car.  The left wheel is stuck to the earth as Lord Vinayaka pressed it.  Lord Kunjithapada Nataraja graces with Mother Sivakami in a leaning position.  The life histories of the celebrated Saivite Nayanmars are sculpted on the wall of the main shrine.  The pleasing feature is that Lord Ardhanareeswara graces with Nandhi the bull vehicle on the right wall while Lord Ranganatha is below. Special pujas are performed to Lord Ranganatha on Vaikunda Ekadasi day in December-January.  

On the back wall, Lord Vishnu graces with a Shivalinga on his hand with Sri Andal, Garudazhwar and Sri Anjaneya.  Lord Muruga, with his consorts Valli and Deivanai graces on the opposite side.  Saint Arunagiriar has sung the praise of Lord Muruga in this temple.  Lord Gangadhara and Lord Aalinganamurthy also grace from this ghoshta walls.  Lord Dakshinamurthi graces from the Vimana-tower above the sanctum sanctorum with a flute and Veena.  Lord Vinayaka graces in the name of Aaravara Vinayaka.

Karakkoil:

There are nine types of Hindu temple structures. Amongst them, Karakkoil is a structure that the vimana is in chariot like structure. The structure is pulled by horses’ looks an enchanting appearance.

This Karakkoil has been built by the famous Chalukya Chola Kulothunga-I in the year-1113 AD the king's 43rd governing year. This temple is like a chariot like structure two horses pulling Ratha. The temple was finely sculptured with many Purana stories like Ramayanam, Krishna Leela, Nayanmar stories and other stories of Shiva. The basement is called Adhittanam this temples Adhittanam is laid of 18 layered Adhittanam called pathmaga pandham, and manjapathram.

Sun Worship:

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 Amirthakateshwarar Lingam for about fifteen minutes. At that time special Pooja’s are offered to the Lord. The shrine Goddess Jothiminnammai seems as Kalaimagal in Morning and Thirumagal in Evening and Malaimagal in Night.

Vinayaga Statue:

When Narasimhavarman Pallavan won the war on Chalukya, a Ganapati statue brought from the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi — by Siruttondar, like that Chola’s made a war towards Ganga region by the King Rajendra I at that time they taken a Ganapathy statue and Dvarapalakas statue from Vengi region, that statue was positioned in Kadambur temple, the Dvarapalakas statue kept in the entrance of Gangai konda Cholapuram temple.

Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamurthy Idol:

A special idol kept in this temple, called Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamurthy, 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 Vidangar's 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.

Dakshinamoorthy Statue:

In Kadambur temple the moolasthanam is made up as a chariot like structure, on that structure's south side a statue is the Dakshinamoorthy who sat on a rishaba below a kal aalam (stone banyan tree) was a fine example of stone made statue. This statue is one of a sculptural beauty it has a hole on the left ear that extends up to the right ear.

Temple Opening Time

The temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Prayers

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 pujas are performed to Lord Muruga on Tuesdays with Homas.

Festivals

Shivrathri in February-March, Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November, Arudra Darshan or Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January, feeding of Saint Gnanasambandar by Mother Parvathi in the month of Purattasi – September-October are the festivals observed in the temple.

This village once upon a time called as Thirukkadambur in 6th–19th century. We can know this by means of the Pathigams of Thirunavukarasar and Tirugnanasambandar Nayanmars. Every month festivals are being celebrated in good manner.

·        Chithirai — Tamil varuda pirappu, Nataraja Abishegam Thirunavukarasar guru pooja

·        Vaikasi - Visaga Uthsavam for Murugan, Tirugnanasambandar guru pooja

·        Aani - Aani Thirumanjanam, Manickavasagar guru pooja

·        Aadi - Amman Abishegam in Pooram, Sundarar guru pooja

·        Avani - Vinayagar Chathurthi

·        Purattasi - Navarathri

·        Aippasi - Skandasashti, Thirukkalyanam

·        Karthigai - 108 sangabishegam in Somavaram

·        Margazhi - Thirupalliyezhuchi in early morning

·        Thai - Pongal pooja magarasangranthi

·        Maasi - Mahasivarathri

·        Panguni—Soorya pooja on 3,4,5 at early sunrise

Singers

The shrine is praised in the hymns of Saivite saints Sundarar and Appar. This is the 34th shrine sung in Thevaram hymns on the northern banks of Cauvery.

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.

Features

·        Iraivan: Sri Amirthakateshwarar

·        Iraivi: Sri Vidhyu Jothi Nayagi, Sri Jothiminnammai

·   Indiran worshiped and got the Amirtha Kalasam & Sri Subramaniyar worshiped and got bow.

·        Angaragan dhosha nivarthi sthalam

·        There is no kodi maram

·        Nagarathar Thirupanni for this temple.

·    In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Navagrahas. Natarajar Sabhai is in inner mandapam and Thirumeni is of very old.

·        Moolavar is standing on one side and paanam is sharp on the top. There is story for this. Indiran without the permission of Pollapillayar tried to take Karuvarai with Moolavar for his mother's worship. This act was stopped by Pollapillayar by pressing his right leg on the ground. Due to this Pillayar is also in standing posture.

·        In prakaram moothangal for Vinayagar, Naalvar, Mahalakshmi, Dhurvasar, Bairavar, Sanibhagavan, Chandran, Suryan, etc.,

·        Ambal on the laps of Lord Shiva as Alingana Moorthy in Pudai Sirpam on the Karuvarai wall. (Beautiful to look).Karuvarai and vimanam are built like chariot with horses pulling.

Contact

Sri Amirthakateshwarar Temple,

Malakadambur-608 304

Cuddalore district

Phone: +91- 4144 - 264 638, 93456 56982.

Gurukkal Selva Ganesan: 09715639212

Connectivity

Kattumannarkoil is 22 km from Chidambaram. The temple is 6 km from this place. Bus facility is available. Nearest Railway Station is located at Chidambaram & Nearest Airport Is located at Chennai & Pondicherry.

It is located

·        On the bus route Chidambaram to Kaatumannar Koil via Eyyalur.

·   On the bus route Kaatumannar koil to Eyyalur  after Keel Kadambur is Melai Kadambur.