History and tradition
- Period
- Built by Chola kings.
- Architecture
- Dravidian architecture
- First attested
- 7th century
Temple tree
வில்வம்
Shaiva temple
Uyyakkondan Malai
உய்யக்கொண்டான் மலை
Uyyakkondan Malai, Tamil Nadu, India
Details are compiled from Wikimedia projects and published temple sources. Send a correction if something is wrong. Report a correction
Overview
Shiva as Ujjeevanaathar
Consort அஞ்சனாட்சி, அஞ்சனாக்ஷி (மைவிழியம்மை),
lingam
Shaiva temple
200x200px|left|thumb|[[Shiva saving Markendeya from Yama]] As per popular legend, near the temple of Tirukkadaiyur, there lived a sage named Mrikandu and his wife Marudmati. They were both devotees of Shiva and worshiped him day and night for many years, asking that he grace them with a child. After many years of penance, Shiva appeared to Mrikandu and Marudmati. He told them that he heard their prayers and would give them a choice: they could either have a gifted son who would live to only sixteen, or a son of low intelligence who would live a long life. Mrikandu and Marudmati chose the former, and were blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of sixteen. As Markandeya grew, so did his devotion to Shiva. As advised by his father, Markandeya worshipped the Shiva Lingam at Tirukkadaiyur, even bringing water from the Ganges to the temple via an underground passage. On the day he was destined to die, Yama, the deity of death, appeared with his noose to tie around the soul of Markandeya and take it with him. Markandeya sought refuge in the Uyyakondan temple and embraced the Siva Lingam and got relief in Thirukkadaiyur. Shiva appeared and warned Yama not to touch Markandeya, as he was under his protection. Yama refused to listen and threw the noose anyway, binding Markandeya and the Lingam together. Angered by Yama's extraordinary arrogance, Shiva kicked him and held him under his foot, making Yama inactive. Markandeya was blessed by Shiva to remain sixteen years old eternally. Shiva became known as "Kala-samhara" (Sanskrit: "Destroyer of Time") at this temple.
Visit information
Sources
Details are compiled from Wikimedia projects and published temple sources. Send a correction if something is wrong.