Kadambur – Amirthakateshwarar Temple

Melakadambur is a village located 31 kilometres (19 mi) from Chidambaram, and can reach at 6 km from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for Arulmigu Amirthakateshwarar Thirukkoil, constructed during the reign of Cholas by Kulothunga Chola. The temple and the village are well known in Ponniyin Selvan history, as they are over than 1,000 years old. The Sivan temple at Melakadambur is a paadal petra thalam. This Sivalinga is Self-manifested or Swayambhu Linga.

Ponniyin Selvan is a historical novel written by Tamil writer Kalki Krishnamurthy, from Tamil Nadu, who is also known as Krishnamurthy. This historical novel appeared in serial in the Tamil weekly Kalki, in the name of the author, many times and attracted many readers.

It is a Devara shrine of north shored Kaveri river. There are 63 shrines along the North bank of River Kaveri, including Melakadambur that lists as the 34th. The well known Nalvar praised the Lord of this shrine and made three pathigams on him. Also Arunagirinathar, Vannacharabamn Thandapani Swamigal, and Vallalar came here to sing in praise of this Lord. In every Yuga some Deva’s visited this place to worship this Lord Amirthakadeswara. In Threthayuga Surya, Chandra, Indira, Romarishi came to worship. In Threthayuga Ashtaparvathas and Parvatharajan came to worship. In Kaliyuga, Pathanjali came to worship this sthala.

Karakkoil

There are nine types of Hindu temple structures. Amongst them, Karakkoil is a structure that the vimana is in chariot like structure. The structure is pulled by horses looks an enchanting appearance.

This Karakkoil has been built by the famous Kulothunga chola-I in the year-1113 AD the king’s 43rd governing year. This temple is like a chariot like structure two horses pulling Ratha. The temple was finely sculptured with many purana stories like Ramayan,krishna leela, Nayanmar stories and other stories of siva. The basement is called Adhittanam this temples adhittanam is laid of 18 layered adittanam called pathmaga pandham, and manjapathram.

Vinayaga

When Narasimhavarma Pallavan won the war on Chalukya, a Ganapati statue brought from the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi — by Sirutondar, like that chola’s made a war towards Ganga region by the King Rajendra I at that time they taken a Ganapathy statue and Dvarabalaka statue from vengi region, that statue was positioned in Kadambur temple, the Davarabalaka statue kept in the entrance of Gangai konda cholapuraam temple.

Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamoorthy

Pala dynasty image of Nataraja

A special idol kept in this temple, called Dasa Bhuja Rishaba Thandavamoorthy, depicts Lord Shiva dancing on a bull with all ten hands spread and holding weapons, with all Devas surrounding his feet. This is believed to be a Pala dynasty idol that came to Tamil Nadu-Melakadambur along with victorious King Rajendra Chola I of the Bengal war. After Rajendra this idol has been kept in this Melakadambur temple built by the king Kulothunga I, who donated this idol and some Vidangar’s in 1110 AD. Devotees can see this idol only on Pradosha days.