Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Tirukkadambur (Melakadambur)

01The pot of nectar and the chariot

When the devas began on the amrita without first honouring Vinayaka, he took the pot and went through a forest of kadamba trees; a drop fell, and a swayambhu linga rose where it touched the ground. So the Lord is Amirthakadeswarar, Lord of the pot of nectar. Later Indra, wishing to spare his aged mother the travel, tried to haul the sanctum to svarga with his horses, again without asking Vinayaka, who pressed the wheel into the earth. The sanctum is built as that chariot, with carved wheels and horses, and its left wheel looks sunk in the ground. Appar calls the shrine Kadambur karakkoil, and the form is a fine Chola example, generally credited to Kulottunga Chola I. Aravara Vinayaka, with his face turned aside in displeasure, has his own shrine.

02The dancing Lord on the bull

The temple’s rarest treasure is a bronze of Rishabha Tandava Murti, Shiva dancing on Nandi with ten arms, brought out for darshan only at Pradosham. The chariot walls carry Chola carvings of Gangadhara and Alinganamurti, and Vishnu seated holding a linga. The temple is sought for long life and is a favoured place for the sixtieth and eightieth birthday rites. Sambandar sang one padigam on Kadambur and Appar two. There are two Kadamburs near each other: Melakadambur holds this Paadal Petra shrine, while Keezhakadambur’s temple is a vaippu sthalam, named in passing in the hymns.