Brahmmapureeswarar, Tirukkadaiyur, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Brahmapureeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Malarkkuzhal, Minamai
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TirukkaDavur Mayanam, Tirumeignanam, Tirumayanam
Vriksham:	Kondrai, Vilvam	Teertham:	Kasi Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	6 to 12 & 4 to 7.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tirukadaiyur	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (26 km)	Nagapattinam (44 km)
	Tiruvarur (50 km)	Kumbakonam (61 km)

Location

Tirukkadaiyur is located east of Vaitheeswaran Koil, on the road to Poompuhar. This temple is very close to Tirukkadaiyur, on the road going east from Tirukkadaiyur towards Pillai Perumal Nallur.

Sthala puranam and temple information

Tirukadaiyur is popular amongst devotees for the Amrita Kadeswarar temple, but the nearby Brahmapureeswarar temple is often missed out. This is considered a mayana koil (see below), and is also sometimes referred to as Tirukadaiyur Mayanam or Kadavur Mayanam. The temple is located about 1.5km east of the Amrita Kadeswarar temple.

Lord Siva is said to have destroyed and recreated Brahma’s ego five times. Each of the places where this event happened is considered a mayanam (in casual parlance, mayanam refers to graveyard, but in Saivite philosophy, mayanam is considered auspicious, as it is a place where the ego is destroyed and the Lord is realized). The five places are: Kachi Mayanam at Kanchipuram, Kadavur Mayanam at Tirukadaiyur, Kazhi Mayanam at Sirkazhi, Naalur Mayanam at Tirumeignanam / Naalur, and Veezhi Mayanam at Tiruveezhimizhalai. In most of these temples, the Lord is called Brahmapureeswarar, as Lord Siva taught Siva gnanam to Brahma. This temple’s location is also sometimes referred to as Tirumeignanam or Tirumayanam, but is not to be confused with Veezhinallur (Tirumeignanam, or Naalur), as above.

According to legend, Lord Siva created a well here for Markandeya to perform his pooja. Even today, water from this well is taken to the Amrita Kadeswarar temple at Tirukadaiyur for abhishekams. Once, a local chieftain tried to use this water for the ablution of Brahmapureeswarar but that resulted in a crack on the idol.

King Emakeridan of the Chalukya dynasty was defeated in the war and so prayed to Murugan here. Murugan took the form of the king and defeated the enemy. Out of gratitude, the king donated 53 acres of land to the temple, under the name Singaraveli (Singaravelan is Murugan). Murugan is seen here with the bow and arrow, like Rama.

The Pranava Vinayagar at this temple does not have a belly, and instead is seen with is seen with a flat tummy, as a result of listening to Siva’s instruction of the Siva gnanam to Brahma. This is considered as advice to young children to listen to their elders.

Unlike the normal four rishis surrounding Dakshinamurti, here there are six disciples (Sanakaadi rishis). Both Lord Siva and Murugan have independent Chandikeswarar shrines, which is also unusual. Murugan’s utsava murti wears a rudraksha mala and slippers!

It is said that devotees who visit Tirukadayur must also visit this temple to receive the full benefits of their pilgrimage.

Other information for your visit

This is a beautiful and peaceful temple, so please be sure not to miss this. As it is very close to the Amritakadeswarar temple, a trip to that temple can be combined with a visit here.