Melakadambur | |
Other Name: | Kadambur |
Settlement Type: | village |
Pushpin Map: | India Tamil Nadu#India |
Pushpin Label Position: | left |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Tamil Nadu, India |
Coordinates: | 11.14°N 79.31°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | India |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | Cuddalore |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Area Total Km2: | 5 |
Elevation M: | 5 |
Population Total: | 2000 approx. |
Population As Of: | 2008 |
Population Density Km2: | 160 |
Demographics Type1: | Languages |
Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
Timezone1: | IST |
Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
Postal Code Type: | PIN |
Postal Code: | 608304 |
Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
Area Code: | 04144 std |
Registration Plate: | TN-31 |
Blank1 Name Sec1: | Nearest city |
Blank1 Info Sec1: | Chidambaram |
Blank2 Name Sec1: | Sex ratio |
Blank2 Info Sec1: | 1:1 ♂/♀ |
Blank3 Name Sec1: | Literacy |
Blank3 Info Sec1: | 50% |
Blank4 Name Sec1: | Lok Sabha constituency |
Blank4 Info Sec1: | Chidambaram |
Blank5 Name Sec1: | Vidhan Sabha constituency |
Blank5 Info Sec1: | Kattumannarkoil |
Blank1 Name Sec2: | Climate |
Blank1 Info Sec2: | as on plain (Köppen) |
Melakadambur is a village located 31km (19miles) from Chidambaram, and can reach at 6 km from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for Arulmigu Amirthakateshwarar Thirukkoil temple, constructed during the reign of Cholas by Kulottunga I. The temple and the village are well known in Ponniyin Selvan history, as they are more than 1,000 years old. The Sivan temple at Melakadambur is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. 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.[1]
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 Devas visited this place to worship this Lord Amirthakadeswara. In Treta Yuga, Surya, Chandra, Indira, Romarishi, Ashtaparvathas and Parvatharajan came to worship. In Kali Yuga, Pathanjali came to worship this sthala.
There are nine types of Hindu temple structures. Amongst them, Karakkoil also called Mela Kadambur Amirthakadeswarar Temple is a structure that the vimana is in chariot like structure. The structure is pulled by horses looks an enchanting appearance.
This Karakkoil was built by emperor Kulottunga Chola I in the year 1113 AD, the king's 43rd governing year.[2] This temple is like a chariot like structure with two horses pulling the car or Ratha. The temple is 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.
It is rare scene to view. During the 3rd, 4th, 5th day of the Tamil month of Panguni, twelfth month of the Tamil calendar, early during sunrise at 6:15 am, the Sun's rays will fall on Lord Amirthakateshwara Lingam for about fifteen minutes. At that time special poojas are offered to the Lord. The shrine Goddess Jothiminnammai seems as Kalaimagal in morning and Thirumagal in evening and Malaimagal in night.
When Narasimhavarma Pallavan won the war on Chalukya, a Ganapati statue was brought from the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi — by Sirutondar. Like that, cholas made a war towards Ganga region by the King Rajendra I at that time and they took the Ganapathy statue and Dvarabalaka statue from vengi region. While the Ganapathy statue was positioned in Kadambur temple, the Davarabalaka statue was kept in the entrance of Gangai konda cholapuram temple.
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 Vidangars in 1110 AD. Devotees can see this idol only on Pradosha days.
Kadamba tree
The Kadambu tree is the sthala vriksha of the Siva temple situated here. This village is named as Kadambur because of the Kadambu tree, named in botany as Neolamarckia cadamba of Rubiaceae family. This Kadambur then bifurcated into Melakadambur and Keezhakadambur.
This village was called as Thirukkadambur in 6th–19th century. We can know this by means of the padhigams of Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnanasambandar nayanmars. Every month festivals being celebrated in good manner.
1. Chithirai—Tamil varuda pirappu, Nataraja abishegam Thirunavukarasar guru pooja
2. Vaikasi - Visaga uthsavam for Murugan, Thirugnanasambandar gurupooja
3. Aani - Aani Thirumanjanam, Manickavasaga gurupooja
4. Aadi - Amman Abishegam in pooram, Sundarar gurupooj
5. Avani - Vinayagar Chathurthi
6. Purattasi - Navaraththiri
7. Aippasi - Kandhasashti, Thirukkalyanam
8. Karthigai - 108 sangabishegam in Telugu: somavaram
9. Margazhi - Thirupalliyezhuchi in early morning
10. Thai - Pongal pooja magarasangranthi
11. Maasi - Mahasivarathri
12. Panguni—Sooriya pooja on 3,4,5 at early sunrise
In Kadambur temple the moolasthanam is made up as a chariot-like structure. On that structure's south side is a stone statue of Dakshinamurthy who is sitting on a bull below a banyan tree. The beauty of this sculpture is a hole that extends from the left ear to the right ear.