Amritaghateswarar–Abirami Temple
ஸ்ரீ அமிர்தகடேஸ்வரர் அபிராமி அம்மன் திருக்கோயில்
Lord Shiva · Thirukkadaiyur, Tamil Nadu
Ancient
About the temple
One of the sacred Eight Heroic Abodes (Ashta Veerattanam) of Lord Shiva; holy site where Shiva kicked and subdued Yama (the Lord of Death) to save his 16-year-old devotee Sage Markandeya from mortality; world-famous as the foremost longevity pilgrimage destination in India where thousands conduct their 60th (Sashtiapthapoorthi), 70th (Bheemaratha Shanti), 80th (Sadabhishekam), and 100th birthday renewal marriages; where saint Abirami Bhattar composed the immortal "Abirami Anthadhi" and made the new moon shine as full moon. Traditional belief: Absolute destruction of untimely death (Mrityu Dosha), grant of long healthy life (Ayushya Vriddhi), cure of fatal illnesses, and blessings of eternal matrimonial companionship.
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 05:30 – 21:00
- Established
- 7
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
Deity
Lord Shiva · ଶିବ (Shiva)Ganesha FamilyLord Markandeya Swamy
- Deity form
- Ancient Swayambhu Shiva Lingam formed from the divine nectar pot (Amrita Ghata) bearing the scar mark of Yama’s deadly noose; world-famous bronze Kalasamhara Murti kicking Yama
- Religious tradition
- Vedic Agamic Shaiva Siddhanta & Longevity Marriage (Sashtiapthapoorthi / Sadabhishekam) Heritage
- Sanskrit name
- श्री अमृतघटेश्वर-अभिरामी मन्दिरम्
- Also known as
- Thirukkadaiyur Temple, Kalasamhara Murti Temple, Sashtiapthapoorthi Temple, Abirami Bhattar Temple
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 05:30 AM - 01:00 PM, 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM
- Break timings
- 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Sanctum closed; marriage halls continue rituals)
- Special days
- Chithirai Brahmotsavam (Yama Samharam), Navaratri, Maha Shivaratri: 04:00 AM - 11:30 PM (Continuous Darshan)
- Festival timings
- Open continuously till 11:30 PM during Chithirai Brahmotsavam and festival days
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 06:00 AM
- Midday aarti
- 12:00 PM
- Evening aarti
- 06:00 PM
- Night aarti
- 8:15 PM
- Special aarti days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, Fridays for Abirami, Chithirai Yama Samharam day, Full Moon days
- Ritual schedule
- Nitya Arukala Puja, Sashtiapthapoorthi (60th marriage), Sadabhishekam (80th marriage), Ayushya Homam, Mrityunjaya Homam, Abirami Anthadhi parayanam
- Pooja timings
- 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:30 PM
- Abhishek timings
- 06:30 AM - 08:30 AM, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- Special poojas
- Available
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Imperial Cholas; reconstructed in stone by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I; administered by Dharmapuram Adheenam
- Architect / builder
- Master traditional royal sthapathis of the Imperial Chola court
- Construction materials
- Solid dressed dark granite, brick-lime soaring Rajagopurams, brass flagstaff, dozens of wedding pavilions
- Historical events
- Sage Markandeya was granted eternal youth at age 16; saint Abirami Bhattar prayed during the reign of Sarfoji Maharaja, threw his earring into the sky, and Goddess Abirami made it shine like the full moon on an Amavasya night
- Renovations
- Punarprathishta performed with extensive modernization of air-conditioned marriage mandapams, marble flooring, and gold kalashas under Dharmapuram Adheenam and HR&CE
- Archaeological importance
- Priceless Ashta Veerattana monument preserving dozens of 10th-12th century Chola stone inscriptions
- Legends
- The Lingam has a visible groove mark caused by Yama’s deadly rope (Pasha); Shiva emerged kicking Yama to the ground to protect Markandeya, earning the title Kalasamhara Murti
- Inscriptions
- More than 50 stone inscriptions in Tamil dating from the 10th to 16th century recording royal endowments by Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola, and Kulothunga I
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Circa 1000 - 1050 CE
- Structure
- Sprawling 11-acre walled temple city featuring seven-tiered entrance Rajagopuram, Kalasamhara Sannidhi, Abirami Amman shrine, dozens of marriage halls, and Amrita Theertham
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Soaring seven-tiered 120-foot entrance Rajagopuram embellished with colorful stucco sculptures of Markandeya legend, Kalasamharam, and Abirami Bhattar
- Mandapa
- Spacious 100-pillared hall and marriage cloisters supported by carved granite pillars depicting rearing yalis, warriors, and celestial devatas
- Sculptural features
- Ancient Swayambhu Shiva Lingam bearing Yama’s rope scar; awe-inspiring bronze Kalasamhara Murti kicking Yama; radiant standing Goddess Abirami Amman; carved stone Markandeya
- Artistic elements
- Intricate stone ceiling rosettes, embossed silver altar frames, gold-plated kalashas, and traditional brass oil lamps
- Construction technique
- Dry-stone interlocking granite block masonry of exceptional Chola engineering precision
- Unique features
- The undisputed national capital of Hindu longevity marriages (60th, 70th, 80th, and 100th birthday renewal ceremonies), and the Yama rope scar on the Lingam
Festivals & events
- Festival calendar
- Chithirai month (April/May Brahmotsavam), Ashwayuja Navaratri, Magha Bahula Chaturdashi
- Special celebration days
- Every Monday, Pradosham, Fridays for Abirami, Full Moon day (Pournami), New Moon day (Amavasya)
- Cultural events
- Grand classical Carnatic music concerts, Bharatanatyam dance performances, and Veda parayanam during festival months
- Annual events
- The monumental Yama Samharam festival where Lord Shiva kicking Yama is dramatized before 200,000 devotees
- Peak crowd season
- Throughout the year on all auspicious wedding muhurtham dates, weekends, and during Chithirai festival
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere
- Parking capacity
- 50+ vehicles
- Parking fees
- Approx. 20-50 INR
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer
- Prasadam
- Vibhuti/Kumkum.