Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi

Karaikandeswarar, Kadaladi

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Karaikandeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Periyanayaki Amman, facing east

Other Deities

Ganesha, Twin Lingams, Murugan, Surya. Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara.

Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi is an ancient nearly dilapidated temple with a single prakaram. Set amidst beautiful green fields, near the bank of the Cheyyar River and with a backdrop of mountains the temple is blissful. The entrance is through a gateway at the south and the temple faces east. There are two bas relief’s of Muruga with his consorts praying to the lord on either side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. The Parvathamalai hill is in the background. This is the second of the Saptha Karaikandeswarar Sthalams (7 temples) located on the north banks of the Cheyyar River. As the Cheyyar River runs northwards at this spot it is considered as holy as Varanasi. The temples in the order of proceeding north from Kanji along Cheyyar River are Kanji, Kadaladi, Mambakkam, Thenmathimangalam, Elathur, Poondi and Kuruvimalai.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Cheyyar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Iluppai (Madhuca longifolia) in olden days. Now Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

As per inscriptions Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi had been renovated during the reign of Parantaka Chola (907–955 CE). An inscription called Kadaladi Inscription has been totaly damaged in recent times as per information available.

Legend

Lord Muruga is believed to have built the Saptha Karaikandeswarar temples in the northern banks of Cheyyar River to counter the sin of killing seven Sages (Puthirandan, Puruhudan, Pandurangan, Bodhavan, Bodhan, Koman and Vaman) performing penance in the hills in the region with his spear (Vel). Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi is said to be the second in this series. This event happened in a quest to create a Theertham for his Mother Parvati to perform ablutions for the Shiva Lingam she created out of earth at Vazhapandal. Another version is that to counter the sin of killing the asura Surapadman, Lord Muruga was advised by his mother to throw his spear and install and worship a shiva lingam where it lands. According to the same legend Muruga is also believed to have created seven temples in the southern banks of the river Cheyyar which are called Saptha Kailasha Sthalams and worshiped Lord Shiva there. The River Cheyyar is believed to be the theertham created by him – Sei (child) representing the young Muruga and Aar meaning river in Tamil.

Directions

Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi is about 2.5 kilometers north of Kanji when you come from Thiruvannamalai. After Kanji and 250 meters before reaching Kadaladi there is a small road taking off on the right which will take you to Karaikandeswarar Kadaladi temple.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Thiruvannamalai or Polur depending on your travel plans. There is a small mess at Kadaladi Bazaar where you can get simple decent food.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples