Kadambar Koil Kadambanathar Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Kadambar Koil Kadambanathar Temple, Kadambar Koil, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu 631603

Diety

Kadambanathar

Introduction

Kadambanathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Kadambar Koil near Uthiramerur in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. The village itself is called Kadambar koil after the temple. Kadambar Koil is located along the banks of Cheyyar. The main deity, the Shiva, called Kadambanathar is a Suyambu lingam. There were inscriptions on the sanctum sanctorum walls. The Nandhi is majestic and beautiful. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. This village name itself is Kadambar Koil and is in the Uthiramerur-Kanchipuram main road.

Puranic Significance

Murugan defeating Demons Malayan & Magaran: Two demons Malayan and Magaran, defeated in the war with Soorapadman, worshipped Magaral God, got power and was doing all evils. Kasiba rishi was doing a Yagna to get rid of them but was disturbed by them. So Kasiba rishi prayed to this Suyambu lingam, Kadambeswarar and he sent his son Lord Muruga at Tirumagaral (nearby) to destroy the demons. Lord Murugar destroyed them so that the yagna could be completed. Later Lord Muruga brought the Cheyyar and during the Valar Pirai of Tamil month Panguni, on a Pradosham day worshipped Shiva at this place. This day during Panguni is being celebrated in a grand scale during the Brahmotsavam every year. Since this place is worshipped by Kadambar (Lord Muruga), this is called Kadambar Koil. Lord Shiva has a high regard for this holy place, (greater than his regard for Kasi) since he loved his stay in this sacred place and therefore this place possesses immense sanctity. Kadambar Koil holier than Kasi: When a Pandya Brahmin called Gunaseelan was dead, as per his wish, his son Budhisenan brought his ash to immerse it in Kasi. When he was doing Sandhyandhanam here keeping the pot with ash in the bank, he smelt flowers’ smell from the pot. He was surprised to find that the bones got changed to flowers in the pot. At that time, a sacred voice was heard that this place is much holier than Kasi and so let the ashes be immersed here. He did the same in the river Cheyyar here so as to fulfill his father’s wish. So this is a place where one can do the rituals for the forefathers like in Kasi and to worship for salvation. Uma Devi wanted to become permanent part of Shiva: Uma Devi wanted to be with Shiva permanently and Shiva asked her to worship him at Kadambar koil to get her wish fulfilled. Uma Devi left Kailasam and worshipped Shiva at Thirukedharam, Kasi Tiruvengadam, Kaalahasthi, Thiruvalangadu, and Kachi and then came here to become a permanent part of Shiva.

Special Features

The main sanctum houses a small Sivalingam which is slanting to the left facing east. This is a swayambu lingam and there is a gaja prushti vimanam. The main praharam also houses Aavudai Nayaki Amman in the standing posture facing south. There is a small navagraha Sannidhi outside in the praharam is a later addition. There is an Adhikara nandi and 63 Nayanmars in the outer praharam with the usual koshta vigrahams of Vinayaka, Lingodbhavar, Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Chandikeshwarar and Bhairavar in their usual niches as in all Siva temples. The name of the presiding God in the temple is ‘Kadambanathar’ and is a Suyambu lingam. The Temple doesn’t have any major sculpture works. The temple carries a lot of historic values with it. The entrance from the main gopuram leads to the Kodimaram, and Nandhi and the main sanctum. The Cheyyar river which normally flows east-west, flows north-south at this place. Pitru Tharpanam and ancestor worship pujas are performed here.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October; Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Sani Peyarchi-Saturn planet transition days are the festivals celebrated in the temple.