Sri Abirami Amman Temple Thirukadaiyur

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: Sri Amirtha kadesvarar temple is located in Thirukadiyur which is near Mayiladuthurai in Nagappatinam district in the state of Tamilnadu, India. It is around twenty kilometers from Mayiladuthurai. It is situated in the chidambaram- Nagappatinam East Coast Road.

HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE: There are a few temples that are well known for the Lord and his Consort and Tirukkadaiyur is one among them.


The Amritaghateswarar - Abirami Temple of Tirukkadaiyur is associated with the legends of Markandeya and Abirami patter. When devas and Asuras churned parkadal to get Amirtham , they forgot to Worship Lord Ganesa (Sri vinayagayar), Lord Ganesa stole the pot of Amirtham and kept at Thirukadiyur, it is believed that the Sivalingam in this temple is made of Amirtha Kudam . Since the pot of Amirtham was hidden here, the lord Ganesa is called "Kailavarna pilliyar". 

Markandeya, son of sage Mrikanduwas predicted to live for only 16 years. As advised by his father, Markandeya worshipped Amritaghateswarar in Tirukkadaiyur, bringing the water from Ganges through an underground passage to the temple. On the destined day, Yama appeared with his noose, kala paasa . Markandeya sought refuge in the Lord and embraced the Siva Lingam. The Lord warned Yama not to touch Markandeya as he was under his protection. Yama did not listen and threw the noose that bound Markandeya and the Lingam together. Angered by this act of rashness, the Lord kicked him with the left leg and held him under his left foot, making him inactive. Markandeya was blessed with Ever sixteen . Abirami patter has sung 100 hymns about Goddess Abirami. This is called Abirami Anthathi. The last word of previous song will be the first word of the next song. It is known as Andhathi in Tamil poetric literature.


DIVINESS OF THE TEMPLE:Thirugana sambandar, Navukarasar and Sundarar have sung devotional songs, hymns about this temple, this temple faces West Side. It is believed that Sri Abirami Devi was evolved here from the meditation power of Sri Mahavishnu. Among sixty-three Nayanmars, Kungilinayanar and Karinayanar performed siva thondu and attained Moksha (mukthi) here. Images in the temple depict the Lord with a raised forefinger, warning Yama . The mark of the kala paasa is visible on the Lingam. With Yama being rendered inactive, there were no deaths on earth. 

As nature should have its way, the Kala-samhara-moorthi, the other name by which Amritaghateswarar is known - Lord Siva brought God Yama to life. It is here that the significance of 'kicking with the left leg' is spoken about.Had he desired to quell Yama forever, He would have held him under his right leg - as in the case of Muyalaka . The very fact that he used his left leg points to the fact that he intended it as a punishment for an act of rashness and not otherwise. 

AUSPICIOUS TIMES: The worship services are offered six times a day in the temple. Almost every day dawns with one celebration or other, as hundreds of pilgrims throng the temple to celebrate their 60th or 80th birthdays.celebration of 60th and 80th birth days (birth star) called as Sashti Aptha poorthi and Sathabishekam respectively is held very auspicious by the people as their longevity will increase.

The annual 'Brahmotsavam' is celebrated in the month of Chithirai (April-May); the 'Shankhabishekam' celebrated in the month of Kartikai (November-December) is also of great importance here. Few other festivals being celebrated over here include Navaratri and 'Aadi Pooram' . POOJAS TO BE PERFORMED FOR: It is believed that Lord Siva dimnished Kalan (Yaman) in Thirukadiyur. So Lord Siva in Thirukadiyur is called Mritunga jaya murthi . 

Devotees completing 59 years and starting sixty have to perform Ukira ratha Santhi ; completing sixty years and starting sixties have to perform Sashtiyapatha purthi . Completing sixty-nine years and starting seventy have to perform Beema ratha santhi. Starting eighty has to perform Sathabishekham and Ayusha homam. According to astrology devotees can perform Mrutinji jaya homam.



Ref :- Pariharam.com

Margali Masam Special..

The month of Margazhi (Margasirsh in Sanskrit) or Danur masam of the Hindu calendar is considered extremely holy. Shivas ArudraDarshan comes in this month. Vaikunda Ekadasi comes in this month. Aandals Tiruppavai and Manikkavasagars Tiruvempavai is chanted during this month. Music stands tall. Temples have special early morning pooja (Ushat Kala Pooja). In Bagavadgita Krishna himself says, Masanam Margaseersho Asmi.

Leaving behind Hinduisim, Christmas and the Christian new year falls within this month. Bakrid of Islam comes within this month. Buddhists, Jains and also Sikhs consider this month Holy. Some tribes have their Harvest Fest within this month. Many countries celebrate various traditional fest during this month.

The month is of great spiritual significance. The Tamil holy scriptures Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai are read in the temples of Lord Vishnu during this month. Another unique feature is the reading of the four Vedas. The two month long pilgrimage season to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple comes to and end in Margazhi.

The month is also noted for its numerous music concerts. Another unique feature of the month is the beautiful kolams (rangoli) drawn on streets and in the courtyard of houses. Morning Bajans and Temple Prasadasm, Venpongal are very important in this month. In my younger yesrs I never missed the Perumal Koil Ven Pongal.Koil Prasadams has special taste, probably it is the prasadam of God.

Shri Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami or Gokulashtami.

Gokulashtami or Gokul Ashtami, popularly known as Janmashtami or Sri Krishna Jayanti, celebrates the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna. In 2009, the date of Gokulashtami is August 14. Gokulashtami is celebrated with great fervor in India. In South India it is celebrated in a spectacular way.
In South Indian states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, various temples of Sri Krishna celebrate the fest with utmost devotion. Not only Krishna mandirs, all Vaishnava temples consider the festival as a major one.

Udupi Sri Krishna temple in Karnataka and Guruvayur Guruvayurappa temple in Kerala are the most predominant temples of Sri Krishna in modern times. In Udupi and Guruvayur, Janmashtami festival brings out all the joy and devotion from devotees. In ISKCON Temples in Bangalore and Hyderabad, Gokulashtami celebrations provide a spectacular look and feel.

If you plan to celebrate or perform rituals at home on the day, the ideal method will be to recite the mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’ This can be done while performing pujas or throughout the day. Pujas involve offering flowers and performing Arati. Reciting or listening to Srimad Bhagavad Purna or Bhagavatam is highly auspicious on the day. Some devotees observe fast and spend time in temples or listening to discourses.



The main worship in temples takes place at midnight when Lord Krishna was born. It must be remembered here that Lord Krishna is happy with anything that is offered to him in true devotion. Krishna was happy with sweat drenched beaten rice offered by Kuchela or Sudama. He was happy with the last leaf left in Draupadi’s Akaheyapatra. He was content with the gruel in Vidura’s (Dhritarashtra’s minister in Mahabharata) home. So, one need not indulge in complex rituals to please Krishna. Just the japa ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’ rendered devotionally is more than enough.

Varalakshmi Puja or Varalakshmi Vratha           

Varalakshmi Puja or Varalakshmi Vratha is an important ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra for the prosperity and welfare of their families. Varalakshmi Puja falls on a Friday in the month of August and the preparations for the puja begin on Thursday. All the necessary items needed for the pooja are collected by Thursday evening. The date of Varalakshmi Vratam in 2009 is July 31.

People wake up early in the morning on Friday and take a bath. Traditionally speaking the waking up time for the puja is the brahma muhurtham. Then the designated puja area and house is cleaned well and a beautiful ‘kolam’ or rangoli is drawn on the intended place of puja.

Next is the preparation of the ‘kalasham or kalash.’ A bronze or silver pot is selected and is cleaned thoroughly and a swastika symbol is drawn and is smeared with sandalwood paste. The kalasham pot is filled with raw rice or water, coins, a single whole lime, five different kinds of leaves, and beetle nut. The items used to fill the kalasham vary from region to region and includes turmeric, comb, mirror, small black bangles and black beads.

The kalasham up to the neck is sometimes covered with a cloth and mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the kalasham. Finally, a coconut smeared with turmeric is used to close the mouth of the kalasham. To this coconut, an image of Goddess Lakshmi is fixed or the image of Lakshmi is drawn using turmeric powder. Now the kalasham symbolically represents Goddess Lakshmi.

In some areas, women place a mirror behind the kalasham. Today, there are also specially made Varalakshmi pots available in the market.

The kalasham is usually placed on a bed of rice. First Lord Ganesha is worshipped. Then begins the Varalakshmi Puja. The puja consists of singing slokas dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi like the Lakshmi Sahasranamam. Arati is performed on the kalasham. Different types of sweets are offered. Some people offer pongal. In some areas women tie yellow thread on their hands.

The woman who is observing the Varalakshmi Puja abstains from eating certain kind of food and this varies from region to region. In some regions, women fast till the puja period.

Thamboolam – betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime – is offered to women in the locality and in the evening an arati is offered.

The next day, that is on Saturday, after taking a bath the kalasham is dismantled and the water in the kalasham is sprinkled in the house. If rice is used then it is mixed with rice in the house.

There are no hard and fast rules in performing the Varalakshmi Puja and you can be flexible on the puja items. Even a simple prayer will please Goddess Lakshmi.