Thirukadaiyur

This is one of the holy places of Saivism today. Legend has it that Mrikandu, a sage and devotee of Lord Siva, prayed to God to bless him with a son. God appeared and gave him a choice to select the type of child he wanted - An honest responsible and virtuous son who will live only for 16 years or a son who would live for 100 years but whose behavior is bad. Mrikandu chose the former.

The boy, named Markandeya also grew up to be an ardent devotee of Siva. The destined time came, when Yama (the lord of death) tried to snatch the life of the boy. Markandeya went to the temple and clutched at the Siva Lingam in a bid to escape death. Pleased by the boy's belief, Siva rescued him from death, incarnating him as Kalantaka (the ender of death).

Here the Lord Shiva killed Yama, for the sake of his votary and has known as Lord Mirthunjayamoorthi. Hence, people perform Shastiapthapoorthi at the begininning of 61st Age of their Star Birthday, Bheemaradha Shanthi at the beginning of 70th Age of their Star Birthday and Sadabishegam at the beginning of 80th Age of their Star Birthday. Other important functions take place here are Ayush-Homam for Children to remove the future Astrolgical difficulties arising from Navagrahas. If anybody is suffering from serious disease and is in the verge of their lives, Mirthunja-Homam is performed here to Lord to save their lives and to relieve them from all illness. This is a proven fact.

Sarabeswarar, Incarnation of Agora Veerabathirar – Manifestation of Shiva’s Wrath

Sri Sarabeswarar is also referred to as Sarabesa, Saraba and Suluvesa. He is also known as Sri Atharva Sarabeswarar. The Lord in his unique manifestation is the vanquisher of evil forces everywhere. He is the great protector, motivator and well wisher of all beings. The lord of fearlessness is the one who envelops us with His invincible shield of protection. He destroys negative forces and showers us with positive spiritual energy.

Lord Sarabeswarar is another form of Lord Shiva who took this form to bring down the anger and ferociousness of Lord Narasimha. Lord Sarabeswarar took the form of Yazhi bird with human body and eagle's wings having Godess Durga and Godess Maha Prathyangira Devi in each of his wings. In his four hands,he holds a deer, battle axe, snake and fire. Bhairava and Agni are contained in his abdomen. Two of his four feet rest on a mountain. The benign grace of Lord Veera Sarabeswara is said to protect devotees from all kinds of malevolent forces.

According to Hindu mythology Lord Shiva sends Veerabathirar to quell the anger of Lord Narasimha after the latter had vanquished the demon King Hiranyakashipu. Unable to control the turbulence of Lord Narasimha, His anger did not subside. Veerabathirar pleads to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva, then took a fearsome pose called Sarabeswarar. A shaft of light emantes from Lord Shiva’s third eye. This enters Veerabhadra who assumes the magnificent form of Lord Sarabeswarar. Srasbam means the mixture of human and animal form half-bird and half-beast, with two wings bearing Goddess Prathiyankara and Goddess Soolini on either side. The face is that of a Yali.

Sarabeswarar the form of Shiva than appears and confronts Narashima.The battle between them ends with Narashima realizing who Sarabeswara is and calmed down.

Sri Narasimha realising his erroneous action, praised Lord Sarabeswarar with beautiful epithets, which later became the Ashtothra (108 Names) of the victorious Lord.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

"Saluvesaya Vidmahey Pakshi rajaya Deemahi Tanno Sarabha Prachodayath"