Kalikamba Nayanar Temple,
Pennadam, Cuddalore
Kalikamba Nayanar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Kalikamba Nayanar, a venerated Shaivite Nayanmar, located at Pennadam Town in Thitagudi Taluk in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. This Temple is considered as Avathara and Mukthi Sthalam of Kalikamba Nayanar.
History
Kalikamba Nayanar is a Nayanar saint,
venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as
the forty-third in the list of 63 Nayanars. His hagiography speaks about how he
cut the hand of his wife, who did not help in serving a Shaiva, devotee of the
god Shiva. The primary account of Kalikamba Nayanar's life comes from
the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th
century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.
Kalikamba Nayanar was born and lived in Pennagadam, also
known as Tirupennagadam, currently situated near Virudhachalam the Indian
state of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for Sudarkozhundeesar Temple, dedicated
to the god Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. In Kalikamba Nayanar's
times, Pennagadam was part of the Chola kingdom. Kalikamba was
a Vaishya, the merchant caste that flourished in Pennagadam. He
was a devotee of Shiva and used to serve the devotees of Shiva (Shaivas).
Every day, he welcomed them, washed their feet, and
worshipped them. He also served lunch to the devotees and offered them money
and gifts. Once, when the devotees gathered for lunch at Kalikamba's house, he
started with his daily ritual of pada-puja (washing of feet to show
respect) of the devotees. His wife helped him in the service. The wife would
pour water from the pot, as Kalikamba washed the feet. When Kalikamba was about
to wash the feet of a devotee, she recognized the devotee as their former
servant and hesitated from pouring water from the pot.
Kalikamba felt that the wife has desecrated the sacred
service. He took the pot from her hand and cut off the hand by his sword. He
continued to wash the feet of the devotees and served them food, a duty
generally performed by his wife. For his act of devotion, he attained the grace
of Shiva. The tale of Kalikamba Nayanar is also recalled in the 13th
century Telugu Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha with
some variation. The devotee is recognized the son of their servant Mallandu or
Malla. He had refused to serve Kalikamba and left Kalikamba's house and become
a Shaiva mendicant.
The wife refuses to serve a son of a slave and advises
her husband not to do so, however Kalikamba considers every Shaiva as a
manifestation of Shiva and refuses to pour water to wash his feet. Kalikamba
considers this as an insult of Shiva and cuts both her hands as a punishment.
The account ends by saying that Kalikamba attained moksha (salvation)
by the grace of Shiva. Kalikamba Nayanar receives collective worship as part of
the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many
Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in procession in
festivals.
The Temple
This is a Small temple with an entrance arch. Sanctum
houses an idol of Kalikamba Nayanar. Vinayaga and Murugan can be found at the
entrance of the sanctum.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 350 meters from Pennadam
Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Pennadam Railway Station, 15 Kms from Thittakudi, 18 Kms
from Virudhachalam, 21 Kms from Virudhachalam Railway Station, 23 Kms from Srimushnam,
29 Kms from Thozhuthur, 34 Kms from Neyveli, 39 Kms from Ulundurpet, 42 Kms
from Sethiyathope, 48 Kms from Kurinjipadi, 50 Kms from Gangai Konda
Cholapuram, 60 Kms from Chidambaram, 78 Kms from Cuddalore, 97 Kms from Puducherry,
106 Kms from Trichy, 114 Kms from Trichy Airport and 257 Kms from Chennai.
The Temple is located on Virudhachalam to Thittakudi
Route. Frequent Bus facilities to reach this temple are available from both
ends. There is a railway station at Pennadam which is on the
Virudhachalam – Tiruchirappalli section of the Southern Railway. Pennadam
Railway Station is located at about 3 Kms from the Temple. Nearest Major
Railway Station is located at Virudhachalam (21 Kms). Nearest Airport is
located at Puducherry, Chennai and Trichy.
