THIRUKADAIYUR

Thirukadaiyur is situated about sixty eight kilometers from the temple town of South India  KUMBAKONAM.  A famous temple is located in this place for Lord Shiva and his consort. Lord is called  AMIRTHAKADESWARAR and his consort called ABHIRAMI. The temple is related to the stories of BAKTHA MARKANDEYA and ABHIRAMA BHATTAR.

Myself and my wife who is an ardent devotee of Shiva and Shakthi visited this temple many times. Our last visit was around some fifteen years back. We have not heard about the Homas that are performed now in this temple during our earlier visits. Since the temple features in many bakthi programmes in various channels, we decided to visit this temple on 13th May, which was our wedding  day, not for performing any Homas.

The story about the temple is, a Maharishi by name Mrigandan and his wife Marudhanaathi lived in this place had no children. They prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. Lord pleased with their prayers appeared before them and granted their wish, but with a choice. Lord asked them to choose between a child who will not be virtuous but will live for hundred years and one will be virtuous but will live for only sixteen years. Maharishi and his wife chose for virtuous son. Markandeya was born to them, As Markandeya grew was pleasing with his behaviour and was liked by all. He also became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.  His parents were proud of him, but remembered that he will live only until the age of sixteen. This made them unhappy. One day his mother informed him of boon Lord Shiva had granted to them. Markandeya was confident that lord Shiva would protect him.

Markandeya made a Lingam out of wet sand of river Cauvery  and started his penance. As Markandeya entered sixteenth year of age, Yama came to take  his life, but Markandeya grabbed the Lingam and refused to go with Yama. Yama threw the noose around Markandeya  and since he was hugging the Shivalingam, the noose fell around Shivalingam also. This angered Lord Shiva and he killed  Yama and blessed Markandeya to be immortal. It is said that the mark of Yama's noose still can be seen on the Lingam. It is also said that there is on opening mark on the top of the Lingam to prove that Lord Shiva emerged from this Lingam.

It is also  believed that Devas had not worshiped Vinayaka before churning of ocean for nector. To teach a lesson to Devas. Vinayaka stole the pot containing nector and hid it. Hence  Vinayaka in this place called "KALLA PILLAYAR'.

As death is conquered in this place, people perform Sasthiabdhyipoorthi, Bheemarath and Sadabishegam here.

The legend goes further, that there lived a priest in the temple by name ABHIRAMA BHATTAR. He was a staunch devotee of Goddess Abhirami and throughout the day he used to sing about the Goddess. One day the King of Tanjore visited the temple and saw Abhirama Bhattar immersed in the thoughts of Goddess, when the king inquired with others, some even said he is a madman. To ascertain himself, the king asked Bhattar what thiti is today. Bhattar who was engrossed in the Goddess said it is Full moon day, actually it was New moon day. The king said, if moon does not rise in the evening his head would be cut-off.

Bhattar realized his mistake  and prayed to Goddess Abhirami to save his life. When evening approached the guards of the king tied him to specially erected swing over fire. Abhirama Bhattar took permission from the king to sing Abhirami Andhadhi. Andhadhi is a collection of one hundred four lined verses composed by Abhirama Bhattar. Uniqueness of Andhadhi is that the last word of last composition becomes first word of the next verse.

When Abhirama Bhattar started to sing, the ropes tied to the swing started to break one by one and when he started the hundredth verse, Goddess threw her ear ring into the sky and it shone like a full moon in the sky. The king wondered at the devotion of Bhattar and the power of Andhadhi. The king ordered his release bestowed on him the title Abhirama Bhattar and named the Andhadhi as Abhirami Andhadhi and the king also ordered Andhadhi to be recited in the temple everyday, the practice is continuing even today.

 Rajagopuram

 

                                                                                                                                           

                                                             Abhirami Sannadhi

                                                 

 

                                                                   Temple elephant                                             

KOTILINGESHWARA TEMPLE

Kotiligeshwara Temple is situated at Kammasandra in the Kolar district of Karnataka. Kammasandra is a small village surrounded by green fields, water logged fields and hillocks. It is at a distance of  six kilometers from Kolar Gold Fields, popularly known as KGF. This small village houses a rarest of rare temples in the world called "KOTILINGESHWARA TEMPLE'. The name Kotilingeshwara denotes one crore Lingas. It is a wonderful sight to see so many Lingas in one place.

It is said that in order to instill culture of divinity, peace and prosperity Sri Sri Sri Samba Shiva Murthy Samiji founded this temple on a thirteen acre land in the year 1980, and the first Linga was installed on the tenth of October the same year. Later a temple for Kotilingeshwara  was built. The complex now houses eleven temples of various deities like Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, Venkataramanaswamy, Annapoorneshwari,
Panduranga, Panchmukhi Ganapathi, Anjaneya, Rama Lakshmana Sita, Kannigaparameshwari and Karumariamman. The temple contains a Linga which is 108 feet in height. This is considered as the largest in Asia. A Nandi which is 60 feet long, 40 feet wide and 35 feet tall has been erected on a pedestal which greets the visitors to the temple.

It is also said that eighty six lakhs Lingas have been installed so far. All these Lingas have been installed by the devotees. Hassle free arrangements are in place in the temple for installing Lingas. A nominal fee is charged for installation and the amount varies according to the size of the Linga. The temple provides all the articles required for the prathisthapana including nadaswara and the pooja lasts for an hour. Abhisheka is performed everyday for all Lingas installed both in the morning and evening with nadaswara in attendance. Archakas in two groups go around the complex and perform the Abhisheka for all Lingas installed. The temple also offers free accommodation to devotees who want to stay from 6am to 8pm. The temple also offers Annadhana to all the visitors.

Now the Government of Karnataka declared this place as a tourist spot. Large number of devotees and tourists come not only from Karnataka but also from the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu.  The place is well connected by bus fron Bangalore and KGF.

A Nandi which is 60 feet long, 40 feet wide and 35 feet tall

Linga which is 108 feet in height and is considered the largest in Asia

Rows of Lingas