Amritaghateswarar - Abirami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur
Primarily meant for Lord Abirami (Parvati), Lord Shiva here is in the name of Amritaghateswarar. The legend of the temple is associated with lord Shiva saving his devotee ‘Markandeya’ from death and the tale of saint Abirami Battar, whose real name is Subramanian, a devotee of the presiding goddess. Markandeya, son of sage Mrikandu maharishi was predicted to live for only 16 years. As advised by his father, Markandeya worshipped the lord here, bringing the holy Ganges water through an underground passage to the temple. On the day he was supposed to leave his body, the God of death Yama, appeared before him. Going through his life full of devotion towards lord Shiva, the latter came there for his protection. But, Yama did not listen and threw the noose that bound Markandeya with the lingam together. This triggered anger for the lord keeping him under his left foot. Images in the temple depict the lord with a raised forefinger as a warning sign to Yama.
By that way, there were no deaths in the world for some time as Yama could not come out of Shiva’s control. His power was taken over the lord and he brought death to the creatures. The fact that he used his left leg infers a punishment for an act of rashness and not otherwise. Abirami Battar, originally Subramanian, lived during the rule of king Sarabhoji around the 18th century. He was completely devoted to Amirthakadeswarar and Abirami. King Serfoji, the ruler of the region once came to this temple. It was the priest, who was sitting alongside Abirami Battar and indulged in meditation. He did not notice the arrival of the king. Abirami Battar was at that moment meditating and was immersed in the vision of the luminous visage of the lord Abirami. The king was annoyed for not showing the respects and enquired about him with the persons standing close by. The king approached Abirami Battar and asked him for the Thithi (lunar day) of that day. Since he was connected with the lord mentally, he wrongly informed that it was full moon day in place of new moon day.
It annoyed the king more as he did not respect him first and answered the exact opposite state. Coming to know what had happened only after some time, Battar felt sorry for his disrespectful behaviour and started singing versions towards Lord Abirami. At the time when the king came back there to punish Battar, Lord Abirami was the saviour there throwing her ear ring to the sky making it glow like a full moon. These 100 verses towards Lord Abirami later became to be known as ‘Abirami Andhadhi’. The poem has a unique arrangement that the last foot of the last verse would end with the first foot of the first line of the first verse. This is how the familiarity of the temple is described mythologically. The temple occupies a very vast area of 11 acres , with five praharams, several gopurams. People from many places come here to perform their birthdays or Shanthi's like Sashtiapthapoorthi (completion of 60 years of age), Bheema Ratha shanthi (beginning of 70th year), Sathabhishekam (completion of 80 years). Advance booking for these services is required though.