Amirthagateswarar Abhirami Temple (also referred to as Abhirami temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in his manifestation as “Destroyer of dying” and his spouse Parvati as Abhirami. It’s miles located in Thirukkadaiyur (Thirukadavur), 21 km East of Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu in India. This temple is related to the legend of Shiva saving his younger devotee, Markendeya from demise, and the story of a saint, Abirami Pattar a devotee of the presiding goddess. The presiding deity is revered inside the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written with the aid of Tamil saint poets referred to as the nayanars and labeled as Paadal Petra Sthalam.The temple complicated covers 10 acres and has two gateway towers called gopurams. 

The tallest is the japanese tower, with 11 tales and a peak of forty six metres (151 toes). The temple has numerous shrines, with the ones of Amirthaghateswarar and Abhirami being the most distinguished. The temple has six every day rituals at various times from 5:30 a.M. To 10 p.M., and twelve every year fairs on its calendar. The existing masonry shape was constructed at some stage in the Chola dynasty inside the ninth century, even as later expansions are attributed to Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple is maintained and administered by using the Dharmapuram Aadhenam. As in line with Hindu legend, Shiva is thought to have destroyed eight extraordinary demons and the eight Ashta Veeratanam temples are built signifying every of his victories. The temple is counted one of the 8 in which Shiva is thought to have appeared as Kalasamharamurthy to save Markandeya from the death clutches of Yama. Based totally on the legend of Markandeya, it’s far believed that worshiping at this temple will deliver sturdiness to couples who have reached age sixty or eighty-one and such worship is not unusual in the temple.

There are numerous inscriptions inside the temple belonging to the Medieval Cholas. At the southern wall in the imperative shrine, there’s an inscription from the thirteenth regnal year of Rajaraja I indicating stipulation of paddy to the temple with the aid of a service provider in go back to provide of land to the temple provided. Another file within the temple indicates the report (ARE 242 of 1925) of a gift of paddy to the temple by means of Rajendra Chola for undertaking 8-day temple festival yearly. A 3rd file on the same wall shows document dated to 1054 ad from the reign of Rajadhiraja Chola data a gift of land through a devotee to feed 17 devotees. The fourth file (ARE 244 of 1925) in the shrine from the period of Kulothunga Chola I indicates the Mahasabha of Tirukadavur selling 1.Seventy four velis of land that were mendacity fallow for fifty years. An interesting inscription from the outer precinct from the length of Rajaraja II shows confiscation of lands from a custodian of a temple who colluded with Vaishanvites (worshipers of Vishnu). There are several inscriptions indicating donations for appearing artwork, drama, dance and track.The temple is maintained and administered with the aid of the Dharmapuram Adheenam.

The temple, in line with the temple architecture of the Chola dynasty, occupies a very substantial location of eleven acres (forty five,000 m2), with five courtyards, several implementing temple towers, and large and spacious mandapas. Though the information of the king who consecrated the temple are uncertain, it is able to be ascertained from inscriptions inside the temple that it’s been in existence for the reason that as a minimum the tenth or eleventh century, at some point of the reign of Raja Raja Chola I. It changed into throughout the duration of Kulothunga Chola I (1075–1120) that the brick partitions of the temple have been changed with stone walls and the mandapam within the the front was built. The rajagopuram, or the the front entryway of the temple, is replete with pix product of mortar, depicting diverse legends related to the temple.

The temple occupies an area of eleven acres (four.Five ha) and has around five huge precincts. The temple faces West and is approached thru a seven-tiered raja gopuram (pyramidal temple tower). The relevant shrine homes the image of Amrithakadeswarar in the form of Linga. There may be a separate shrine for Kalasamharamurthy, the saviour of Markendeya near the sanctum. The bronze photograph is sported with four palms, emanating out of a Linga. The niches in the partitions around the first precinct carries pictures of Durga, Dakshinamurthy and Chandikesa. There are 5 set of stone sculptures belonging to the Chola temple. There are three temple tanks, or teerthams, referred to as Amrita Pushkarini, Kaala Theertham and Maarkandeya Theertham. There may be a separate shrine devoted to Abhirami. The Shakta saint Abhirami Pattar is thought to have rendered the Abhirami Anthathi in the front hall of the shrine. The temple also maintains a separate shrine for Markandeya worshipping Kalasamhara Murti. Although Thirukadaiyur is a Shaiva temple, it consists of an vintage Vaishnava temple. The gods in this temple are Amrita Narayana (Vishnu) and his consort Amrita Valli (Lakshmi). The shrine of Abirami faces east and is placed close to the entrance tower. The precinct homes the image of Abirami Pattar.