Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil

God

Kadambanathaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Aavudainayaki, facing south

Other Deities

Sidhdhi Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Bhairava, 63 Nayanmar, Santha Ganapathi, Naagar, Shivalingams, Arumuga with consorts, Veerabadhra, Naalvar, Surya, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Goshta Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Navagraha

Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil is a large east facing temple with a 3 tiered Rajagopuram at the eastern entrance. The temple has 2 Prakarams with high walls and is situated right on the banks of the Cheyyar River. There is an entrance from the west to the river which is kept closed normally. The Navagraha are installed in the outer Prakaram. There are two beautiful Nandis here at Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil. The river Cheyyar flows south to north here similar to the Ganges which flows south to north in Kasi. Hence people consider this temple as holy as Kasi.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Cheyyar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

There are several stone inscriptions found here at Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil which indicate the antiquity of the temple. Thirunavukkarasar (7th Century CE) has mentioned this temple in his Thevaram Hymns and thus Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil is a Vaippu Sthalam.

Legend

The lord of Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil sent his son Muruga to destroy the demons Malayan and Maagaran upon the request of Sage Kashyapa. Lord Muruga has worshiped here. Lord Shiva himself is believed to have held this place in high regard and is hence considered as holy as Kasi (Varanasi) by devotees. The pot containing the ashes of a dead Brahman is believed to have turned to contain flowers and his son submerged the Ashes in the river Cheyyar. Since then Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil is considered as a holy place for performing rituals to ancestors. Goddess Parvati is believed to have merged with the Lord here after worshiping him at several important places including Thirukedharam, Varanasi, Thiruvengadam, Kalahasthi, Thiruvalankadu and Kacheepuram.

Directions

Kadambanathar Kadambar Koil is about 11 Kilometers on the road to Kancheepuram before crossing the Cheyyar River.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest are Uthiramerur or Kancheepuram.