Masilamaneeswarar Temple,
Kadichambadi, Thanjavur
Masilamaneeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kadichambadi Village in Kumbakonam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Masilamaneeswarar and Mother is called as Thirupurasundari. The Temple is believed to be around 800 years old.
Legends
When a king stayed here, he was woken
up by a bird's sound (Kirricham - a bird, Padi - sings). Hence, the village
came to be called as Kirricham Padi and later got corrupted to Kadichambadi.
The Temple
The Temple is facing towards
east with three tiered Rajagopuram. Nandi and Balipeedam
can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha
Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Masilamaneeswarar
and is east facing. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam. Sun
rays falls on Lingam on 16, 17 and 18th of Tamil month of Chithirai
every year. Mother is called as Thirupurasundari.
She is housed in a separate
south facing shrine. Her Shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam. There are shrines
of Lord Vinayaga and Lord Murugan at the entrance of the Rajagopuram. The idol
of Vinayaga is unique one. Lord Vinayaga can be seen standing on Moonjuru
vehicle. Idols of Durga, Surya, Bhoodagana blowing conch, rectangular shaped
Vinayaga, Lord Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi can be found in
the temple premises. All these idols are dated to 12th Century Chola
period.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 4
Kms from Neerathanallur, 5 Kms from Eragaram, 7 Kms from Kumbakonam, 8 Kms from
Kumbakonam Bus Stand, 9 Kms from Kumbakonam Railway Station, 44 Kms from Thanjavur
and 96 Kms from Trichy Airport. . The Temple is situated on Kumbakonam to
Neerathanallur Route.