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The shrine is praised in the hymns of saivite saints Sundarar and Appar.   This is the 34th shrine sung in Thevaram hymns on the northern banks of Cauvery.

The temple is in the shape of a Rath Car. The left wheel is stuck to the earth as Lord Vinayaka pressed it. Lord Kunjithapada Nataraja graces with Mother Sivakami in a leaning position. The life history of the celebrated saivite Nayanmars are sculpted on the wall of the main shrine. The pleasing feature is that Lord Arthanareeswara graces with Nandhi the bull vehicle on the right wall while Lord Ranganatha is below. Special pujas are performed to Lord Ranganatha on Vaikunda Ekadasi day in (December-January). On the back wall, Lord Vishnu graces with a Shivalinga on His hand with Sri Andal, Garudazhwar and Sri Anjaneya. Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai graces on the opposite side. Saint Arunagiriar has sung the praise he Lord of Muruga in this temple. Lord Gangadhara and Lord Aalinganamurthy also grace from this ghoshta walls. Lord Dakshinamurthi graces from the Vimna tower above the sanctum sanctorum with a flute and Veena. Lord Vinayaka graces in the name of Aaravara Vinayaka.

It is believed that all the nine planets pray to Lord Shiva in this temple on their respective days. Accordingly, Lord Shiva is dressed with clothes of different colours attributed to the planets. The shrine is regarded as one meant to seek relief from various planetary problems faced by devotees. The Navagraha shrine is opposite to the shrine of Mother.

Mother VidhyuJothi Nayaki , VidyaSaraswathi, Jothi Mahalakshmi, Nayaki Durga combining the powers of three Shaktis graces as Saraswathi with Veena in the morning, with elephant as Mahalakshmi in midday and with trident as Durga in the evenings. Hence the name Vidyajothinayaki. Mother also has the name Jothi Minnammai. Those seeking wedding and child boon worship Mother with turmeric and bangles.

Saint Tirunavikkarasars hymn dedicating himself to the service of Lord saying My job is only to serve my Lord was sung in this temple.

Lord Vrushaba Thandavamurthi graces in a dancing form on His Nandhi Vrushab or bull vehicle is the procession deity with 10 hands. Special pujas are performed to Him on Pradosha days 13th day of new moon or full moon day. His darshan is available only on this day. In the peeta-stage below are Mother Parvathi, Lord Vishnu, Bhairava, Veerabadra, Lord Vinayaka, Maharshis Narada, Brungi and Mruganda, Nandhi Deva, Gandharvas a group in the celestial world known for musical skills and Boodhaganas.

Lord Vinayaka, who destroyed the pride of Indira is in a separate shrine with the name Aaravara Vinayaka as He created great noise by pressing the Rath and taking the nectar pot Amirta Kalasa. He looks with an indignant face with head leaning left.

Place for planet Mars: Before waging His war against demon Surapanma, Lord Muruga visited this temple to worship mother and get the bow. Hence, Muruga in the temple appears with a bow. Planet Mars worshipped Lord Muruga here. Mars is a procession deity here.

Lord Brhamma on the wall appears worshipping Lord Shiva. Yama the Lord of Death and his assistant Chitra Gupta are on both sides. Sage Patanjali is nearby holding Lord Nataraja on his head showing his overwhelming joy of enjoying the dance darshan of the Lord. Mother Durga appears without toe. Below Her are the Meru Mount and the Sri Chakra installed by Acharya Sankara.

Devas who churned the nectar ocean began to consume it without worshipping Lord Vinayaka who angrily took away the pot to teach them a lesson. When He passed through this place, once a Kadamba forest, a drop of nectar fell on the earth and it became a Swyambu Linga. Realizing their folly, Indira and Devas came here and begged Lord Vinayakas pardon who in turn advised them to worship Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, responding to their prayers gave them the nectar and stayed here as Amirthakadeswarar  Amirtha nectar, Kada the pot and Easwara the Lord.

Athithi, mother of Devas was worshipping Lord Amirthakadeswarar for granting the nectar to her children. Indira did not want to see his mother coming to this place each day and wanted to take the Lord to his Indraloka itself to help his mother. He changed the temple as a car and tried to pull it towards his place. Lord Vinayaka pressed the left wheel which got stuck to earth. Indiras attempts failed to lift the car temple. He begged Lord Vinayaka for help who agreed to let the temple if Indira installed a crore of Lingas. Indira took the challenge with pride but every piece got damaged. Realizing his pride, Indira fell at the Feet of Lord Amirthakadeswarar. Lord asked him to make one Shivalinga chanting His name thousand times. Indira made the Rudrakoteeswara Linga. Lord appeared before him and said that He wishes to stay here itself and do the worship for his mother. Indira obeyed. It is believed that Indira performs pujas to the Lord in this temple each day.   
Moolavar: Amirtha Kadeswarar

Urchavar: Somaskandar               

Amman / Thayar:
Vidyujothi Nayaki, Abhirami               

Thala Virutcham:
Kadamba tree               

Theertham:
Shakti Theertha               

Agamam / Pooja: Shivagama               

Old year: 1000-2000 years old               

Historical Name:
Tirukadambur               

This sivasthalam temple is located on the Mayiladuturai Tarangambadi route. Tirukkadavur Mayanam, another paadal petra sthalam is located at a distance of 2 Kms from here. Tirukkadavur can be reached from Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai.

Tirukkadavur is one of the Attan Veerattana Sthalams of Lord Shiva. Shiva vanquished Yaman, the Lord of Death, at this sthalam to save the life of Markandeya.

Sage Mrikandu and his wife prayed to Shiva for a child. Shiva gave them a choice they could have a foolish son with a long life, or a short lived, but intelligent child. They chose the latter, and soon had a smart child, who came to be known as Markandeya. When, just before his 16th birthday, he learnt that he would die soon, he left home, and stayed in the temple, praying to Shiva, who was the one who had brought him to life. At the appointed hour, Yama (or Kaala) arrived to take his soul, and threw his noose of death over the child. Markandeya at once embraced the Shiva lingam, and the noose fell over the lingam. Shiva was furious and came out of the lingam, kicking Yama to death, thus stopping all death and saved Markandeya. However, with Yamas death, there were no more deaths on earth, and Bhoomi Devi could bear the burden no more. Finally, Shiva yielded to their prayers, resurrecting Yama, and giving Markandeya eternal youth.

Thirukkadaiyur is the holy place where this legend is believed to have taken place, and here, the main deity is called Amritaghateswarar the lord with the pot of nectar, who can confer immortality. The legend is depicted in the form of the bronze statue of Kaala Samhara Moorthy Markandeya embracing the lingam out of which Shiva appears and kicks Yama.

The lower portion of the statue showing the actual Samharam or killing of Yama is kept closed and opened only during the Aarti. Right opposite the sanctum of Kaala Samhara Moorthy is the sanctum of Yama, who is believed to be thanking the lord for allowing him to live.The goddess here is Abirami, who is believed to have answered the prayers of a great devotee of hers, Abirami Bhattar, by bringing the full moon to the sky on a new moon night. It is believed that at this temple, all the Navagrahas and even Yama owe their allegiance to Shiva, and hence prayers to Shiva can solve all problems, and in particular, increase the life span of people. The temple is at all times filled with multitudes of people who arrive to perform special pujas and homams on their birthdays, especially their60th and 80th birthdays. Homams are conducted all day long, all around the pragaram and inside the sanctum yet there are waiting lists. This is among the most popular temples in the area.

Shivalinga in the temple is made of Navapashana nine herbals. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord on 3, 4 and 5 of Panguni (March-April) and the rays of Moon on the Apipasi Annabishekam day. It is said that Sani Baghwan had eagle as his vahan the vehicle. It is said that Emperor Dasaratha gave him crow then replacing the eagle. Hence, it is said that Sani Bhagwan Saturn in the temple with the eagle vehicle belongs to the period prior to Ramayana days. Special pujas are performed to him on Saturdays in the month of Purattasi (September-October).

Shivrathri in (February-March), Aipasi Annabhishekam in (October-November), Arudra Darshan or Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in (December-January), feeding of Saint Gnanasambandar by Mother Parvathi in the month of Purattasi (September-October) are the festivals observed in the temple.

Those facing adverse effects of Mars planet pray in this temple. Also those 60 years old (Sashti Aptha Poorthy) pray here for longevity with Homas.

People facing problems due to Mars aspects pray to Lord Muruga with red vastras. Special pujas are performed to Lord Muruga on Tuesdays with Homas.

The temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. For darshan during other hours.

Sri Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Malakadambur-608 304. Cuddalore district. Contact Number - +91 264 638, 93456 56982.
Do:
  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.