Thirukkadaiyur

This is one of the holy places of Saivism today. There is a legend woven around this place.Mrikandu was a sage and devotee of Lord Siva. He prayed to god for blessing him with a son. He was told that he would get a son who would live only upto the age of sixteen years. The boy, named Markandeya also grew up to be an ardent devotee of Siva. The destined time came.Yama tried to snatch the life of the boy, who went to the temple and clutched at the lingam in a bid to escape death. Siva rescued

It is possible that there was a conflict between the worship of Yama and the newly emerging brahminised form of the Lord and the latter sect won. Interestingly, the temple has an appelation as Mayanam which means a burning ghat.

Thirukkadaiyur is on the east coast of Tamilnadu, about 300 kilometres south of Chennai. The original temple, now called Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam built in circa 11th century A.D. was ravaged by sea and is in ruins now. Another temple on identical plan was built later and is now thronged by people who pray for long life.