அபிராமி பட்டரும் திருக்கடையூரும்

Abirami Pattar of Thirukadiyur

Every year during the Tamil Month of Thai (January) in New Moon Day (Amavasai) ‘Abirami Pattar’ festival is celebrated in temples in Sri Lanka and at ‘Thirukadiyur’ in South India.

In fact, many years ago in South India there was one devotee of Goddess Abirami called Subramanian in Thiru Kadaiyur, Tamil Nadu. He had deep devotion towards the Mother Goddess Abirami, indulging in performing poojas & showering of flowers at the feet of Goddess Abirami.

One day King Saraboji, visited this temple when devotee Subramanian was meditating.

The King was provoked seeing Subramanian’s ignorance about his arrival.

The King asked who that man was. One of the devotees told the king that he was mad thinking the other women as Amman and used to shower flowers on them. But, the Chief priest of this temple told, that he was a deep devotee of Goddess Abirami.

The King wanted to test who he was ! So, King Saroboji looked at Subramanian and asked whether today is New Moon Day (Amavasai) or Full Moon Day. At that time Subramanian was in eternal bliss of Goddess Abirami enjoying her beautiful face surrounded with thousands of sunlights. So, Subramanian answered the King, that the day was ‘Full Moon Day’ which was actually ‘New Moon Day’ (Amavasai).

The King Saroboji got angry and ordered to push Subramanian into the burning fire at evening if the Moon did not appear. Thereafter, the Kings’ Army awakened Subramanian and called him to come with them, to undergo the punishment.

Returning to his consciousness, Subramanian realised that “Goddess Abirami” alone made him to say, it was a ‘Full Moon Day’ when it was really a New Moon Day (Amavasai).

Burning fire, with rays beneath him and Subramanian was on top, inch by inch mooving down by the forces.

Realizing that ‘Amman Abirami’ alone can save him, he started singing 100 songs as Abirami (the so called Abirami Anthathi) and prayed Her to come to his rescue.

While singing the 79th song stating that Her merciful eyes have got super power and she is the ocean of blessings with no limits. Immediately ‘Annai Abirami’ appeared before him and threw Her ‘Ear ring” in the sky which appeared as Moon for full night.

Seeing this, the being Saroboji was immensely pleased on Subramanian’s devotion and honoured him by calling him ‘Abirami Pattar’ and the king himself became a disciple of Abirami Pattar.

The king, not only gave the name Abirami Pattar, but donated lands, gold and also a surname ‘Barathi’ for Abirami Pattars’ generations.

In fact, ‘Abirami Pattar’ wrote the following: - ‘Abirami Anthathi,’ ‘Kallavaranar Pathigam,’ ‘Amirtha Kadeswarar Pathigam’, ‘Kala Samhara Moorthy Pathigam’, ‘Murugu Venba’, and Abirami ‘Ammai Pathigam’.

Indeed, what we come to know from ‘Abirami Pattar’s’ life is that ‘God alone is all providing, pervading super power and immortal. All the worldly creatures are not perennial.’ If you are really interested to see God, you are supposed to do meditation and prayers to receive His Divine Blessings.

	The presiding Deity of this Thirukkadayur Temple is Shri Amrthalingeswara and the consort is shri Abirami. This place has been praised and sung by the three, Appar Sundarar and Thirugnanasambandar. Thirukkadaiyur is siruated in Nagapattinam district between Mayiladuthurai and Porayar in Tamilnadu. Frequent public transport is available which enables you to reach here and have easy worship at Temple. It is 22 Kms from Mayiladuthurai and 8 Kms from Porayar. It is one of the important temples in the Chola country situated south of Cauvery. The places which are associated with the prowess and valour- Vira stalam- of Shri Parameshwara are eight and Thirukkadaiyur is important among them. The eight places of rare distinction ascribed to Shri Parameshwara are as follows :
		1. Thirukkadaiyur - where the Lord of Death was slighted. 2. Thirukandaiyur - where Brahma was deprived of one of his heads. 3. Thirukkovilur - where Anandakasura was destroyed. 4. Thiruvadhigai - where Tripuram was annihilated. 5. Thirupparaiyur - where Dakshags head was clipped. 6. Thiruvirkudi - where Jalandasura was destroyed. 7. Vazhuvur - where the Elephant was fleeced. 8.Thirukkurakkai - where cupid was reduced to ashes.
	Shri Amirthakadeswara materialized from the Linga in this Temple to save Markandeya from the Lord of Death and blessed Markandeya forever sixteen years of age and immortality. Shri Abirami, to adhere to the wordings of Abirami pattar, her devotee, materialized before him in this temple and brought full moon with dazzling light in the sky on a new moon day at Thirukkadaiyur. The Abirami pattar has made the string of 100 verses for the benefit of all and whoever chanted the Antadi with devotion shall attain all prosperity and blessings. As the Presiding Deity is the Destroyer of the Lord of Death, people who have turned 60, for the good health worship this deity. The ceremonial rites connected with this are UGRARATHA SANTI. Those who have turned 61 for the welfare of the whole family perform the rites of SASHTIYABTAPURTI. Those who have turned 70 for the welfare of their generation perform BHIMARATHA SANTI. Octogenarians get themselves purified and protected by "Sathabhishekam" and "Ayushya Homam" Kallapillayar During thechurning of the milk ocean to extract the Nectar, the Devas stole a bit without the knowledge of anybody and without praying to Lord Ganapathy and hid it in a secret place. To teach a lesson to Devas for ignoring him in their haste, Lord Vinayaka simply changed the place of the Nectar pot. When they searched for it, they could not get it back. Lord Shiva advised the Devas to apologise to Lord Vinayaka to get back the nectar pot. After getting the pot, the Devas went for a bath. When they returned, they could not get the pot. It has become a Shivalinga. And that Shiva Ling is Amirthakadeswarar, the presiding deity of Thirukadayur. Jathi Malli When Markandeyawas performing Abisheka to Lord Amirthakadeswarar with Ganga Water, Ippinjilam flowers too came with the water. Ippinjilam is a flower also called Jathi Malli (Jasmine that blossoms throughout the yea).) This flower is used only for the God and should not be used for human purposes. An archana with a single flower is considered equal to 1008 archanas. Reputation: The Linga is swayambu. The temple is west facing. If one observes closely, they could see another Linga too. When the Lord of Death Yama, spread the rope on the Sivalinga, it caused a scar on the Sivalinga. It is still visible on the Linga. Of the 8 Attaveeratta holy temples, Thirukadayur is one because the God defeated Yama here. The Lord in the form of Kalasamaharamurthy, in the copper idol, looks furious, majestic,waving the Shoola on Yama and hit him by the left leg. Many Siddhas performed penance here of whom, Pampatti Siddhar was one. The nine planets have no power here, all devotees coming here perform pujas to the KalasamharaMurthy only. There will be no Rahu effects in Thirukadayur. It is also said that Goddess Abirami came from the Jewel of Mahavishnu. Brahma, Agasthya, Pulasthiya, Durga worshipped the Lord here. Of the 63 Nayanmars, Kari and Kungiliakalaya Nayanar lived here and served the Lord. This is the holy soil that gave birth to Abirami Pattar. Thirugnansambandar sings Thirukadayur, Appar and Sundarar praised in the Saivite World as Moovar Mudaligal. Yama Samharam festival is celebrated for 18 days in the Tamil month Chithirai (April-May). During Mondays in the month of Karthikai (November-December) 1008 Sankabishekam is very famous. Purattasi Navarathri and Margazhi Vidhi Padam areone-day festivals. Adipooram, Navarathri, Poornimas, are very devotionally observed in the temple. Skanda Sashti, Mahasivarathri, Panguni Uthiram, Abirami Andhadhi recitation, monthly Pradosha days, Tamil and English New Year days, Pongal speical pujas are performed in the temple.