Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur – Chandikeswarar Shrine
Another specialty here is the Chandikeswarar shrine. All the temples have only 1 Chandikeswarar. Here, this temple has 2 shrines of Chandikeswarar. The first one is the customary image of Chandikeswarar and the 2nd one is considered to be Yama (Messenger of Death) himself. He has a beard and matted locks. There is a very interesting story behind this. Being born in Tiruvarur itself is considered as a direct ticket to go to heaven on death – as they say being born in Tiruvarur, Being lived in Mylapore, Being dead in Benares are direct tickets to go to heaven. So Yama got so offended that he has just no work here in Tiruvarur. So lord Shiva said to him that he may be here as the second Chandikeswarar. So he is called the Yama Chandikeswarar.
