In the heart of the East, where the sun does rise,

Lies a land of wonders under the endless skies.

From the peaks of the Himalayas, capped in snow,

To the shores of Kanyakumari, where the oceans flow.

Yes it’s my India!

My incredible India!

A tapestry woven with colors that are bright!

India’s culture is a radiant sight.

Ancient temples whisper of Sanctity

Telling tales of bravery!

Of my kings, queens and Knights!

Her heritage sites, a timeless embrace,

Khajuraho’s carvings, stories they unfold,

Konark’s Sun Temple, a chariot of gold.

Ellora and Ajanta, in stone they decree,

India’s art is a wonder for all to see.

Her dances and music sings,

Of love, devotion, and sacred things.

From Bharatnatyam’s grace to Manipuri’s moves

From Pongal’s jallikattu to Bihu’s Drumming

Every step resounds with heritage my friends!

Languages aplenty, yet unity stands,

A chorus of harmony across her lands.

Oh, India, where tradition and dreams entwine,

A treasure of culture, forever divine.

Yes, this is my India, my incredible India!

5. Amritaghateswarar Temple at, Thirukkadaiyur is located in the
Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu.

This temple stands at number 47 in the Padal Petra sthalams.

It’s the 108th shiva sthalam visited by Markendeya .

This holy temple sthala is also known as:

 Vilvaranyam - as the first vilva seed given by lord Shiva & planted by
Lord Brahma, sprouted here first within 24 hours after seeding, and lord
Shiva instilled jnana in Brahma deva.
 Kadapuri/ kadavur - as lord Vishnu and other devas wanted to drink the
Amrita from the churning of the ocean in a place of sanctity, they placed
the Amrita ghatam here and lord shiva appeared a Swayambhu lingam.
They offered their prayers to Lord Shiva and drank the Amrita.

The main deities of this temple are:

Moolavar: AMIRTAGHATESHWARAR

Utsavar: KAALASAMHARAMOORTHY

Ambal: ABIRAMI, ( also called as Abirama Sundari, Sugam thantha Nayagi)

Story: The story associated with this temple is as follows:

Kaushika Muni’s son Mrigandu Rishi and his wife Maruthvathi were great
Shiva Bhaktas and prayed constantly to Lord Shiva to be blessed with a child.
Lord Shiva, pleased by their prayers, blessed them and asked them to choose
between a child who lives for long with less intelligence and a child who lives
only for 16 years but blessed with supreme intelligence. The couple chose to
beget a child with more intelligence. Thus they were blessed with a baby boy
and they named him, Markandeya.

Markandeya grew up to be the most intelligent child, but his parents grew
sadder and sadder by the day. He was confused and one day asked his parents
why they were sad. They confided everything to him and he confidently said, I
will do penance and get a boon from Lord Shiva for my long life.

Markandeya went to Kashi Kshetra, and near the Manikarnika ghat, prayed to a
Shivalinga with all his heart. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him
with a boon to be free from the fear of Yama. Markandeya happily returned
home and continued his prayers by chanting the Mahamrityunjay Mantra.
When he turned 16, he went to the Thirukadayur Kshetra and kept praying to
Amruthaghateshwarar. The Yamadootas and Chitragupta himself came to take
the boy but couldn’t come close to him due to the power of his austerities. Lord
Yama himself finally arrived and flung his noose on Markandeya while
Markandaya embraced the Shiva linga. As Yama pulled Markandeya with his
noose, the Shivalinga too was pulled by the noose.

At that moment, Lord Shiva appeared, kicked Yama with his left leg, killed
him, and blessed Markandeya to be a Nithya Chiranjeevi.

With Yama dead, the Earth became devoid of death, increasing her burden of
living bodies. Bhumi Devi complained about this to Lord Shiva. So Mahadeva,
himself revived Yama for the world to function efficiently.

Hence this is the sthala where Yama’s life was taken away and then given back.

The Kala Samhaara Moorthy appears with his:

 Left leg on Adisesha

 The Trishul downward with Yama under
 Gundodhara ties Yama with a noose and pulls him
 Markandeya in a surrendering position facing Lord Shiva.

1 km away in the south-west direction of the temple, Markandeya has his own
temple in Thirumanalmedu.

Special Features:

The Sthala Vruksham is the:

 Vilvam
 Pingjilam - a rare type of Jaathi Malli climber- only used for the residing
lord . An offering of 1 flower equals a 1008 flower offerings.

Sthala theertham or the temple tank is the:

 Amritha pushkarini well.

 In the garbagriha, when closely observed, another lingam’s reflection
appears behind the main swayambu lingam.
 In the prakaram, Ambal sits as Guhamba, with lord Muruga on her lap.
 We can visualize the Uthsava moorthy in two forms:
o As samhara moorthy , when Lord Shiva takes Yama’s life, only the
Trishul and lord shiva are visible.
o During puja, the peetam , where Yama is visible. Here he is
visualised as Anugraha Moorthy, when he brought back Yama to
life.
  The mark of Yama’s noose is visible on the moolavar moorthy during
Palabishekam.

Yantram:

Thirukkadayur Rahasyam or secret is installed on the Right wall of the

Garbagriha.

Rishi’s and Munis who visited the sthala: It is believed that

 Agastya Maharishi
 Pulastya
 Lord Brahma
 Bhumidevi
 Goddess Durga
 Vasuki
 Pambatti Siddhar

Have visited this temple.

The stalwarts who sang about this sthalam are:

1. Gnana sambandar
2. Sundarar
3. Manikkavachagar

This sthalam has inspired many heartfelt appeals of protection from the
thevaram trio . Nambiyaaroorar asks resoundingly - “Who else can save, but
YOU, Oh Lord Shiva “In his “andraalin nizharrkkeezh aRam” and in maruvaar
konRai , he describes how majestically Lord Shiva will appear before His
devotees to protect them. Thirunavukkarasar sang the pathigam poLLaththa
kAya on the merciful Lord Shiva.

Benefit of worshiping at this temple are:

1. Prayers are offered to lord shiva here during specific anniversary dates of
married couples- like 60th- Ugraratha Shanthi, 70th- bheemaratha shanti,
80th- sadaabhishekam, 90th - kanakaabishekam, 100th- poornabhishekam
for a longer lifetime.
2. Doshas or faults related to an individual’s horoscope are relieved by
praying to lord shiva here.

Let us learn the sacred verse from Thirumandiram composed on this

Veerattanam:

Verse 345 , Thanthiram 2

Moola dwaratthu moolum oruvanai

Mélai dwaratthu méloora nokkimurr

kalurru-k kalanai-k kaynthangi yogamay

jnaala-k kadavoor nalamaay irunthathey.

Meaning

Serpent power, at rest in mooladhara,

He raises by concentration to the gateway on top

Through the central pathway; time He transcends, this yogin;

A celebration indeed, at Kadavur!

Inner meaning:

Lord Shiva is the true yogi who conquers death by raising the kundalini from
the muladhara chakra(through the control of prana) , drawing it upwards along
the central pathway called the sushumna nadi towards the sahasrara at the top of
the head, which the saint calls dwara or gateway to immortality . Thus the soul
is freed from the hold of Yama .Siva’s grace was earned by the intensity of
Markandeya’s prayers. Thus Lord’s grace and one’s effort combined , leads to
mukti