About trip

About Temple: Amirthakadeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at Sakkottai in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. Shiva is worshiped as Amirthakadeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Amirthavalli Amman.

• Moolavar : Amirthakadeswarar, Amirthakalasanathar
• Urchavar : Amirthakalasanathar
• Amman / Thayar : Amirthavalli
• Thala Virutcham : Vanni
• Theertham : Naalvedatheertham
• Old year : 1000-2000 years old
• Historical Name : Kalayanallur
• Location : Sakkottai,Thanjavur,  Tamil Nadu

History:

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 68th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This east facing temple has a single corridor and its main tower is not tiered. In place of the Gopuram, there is a beautiful sculpture depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. However, at the second entrance, it has a 3-tiered tower.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 22.10.2015 and prior to that on 09.02.1992. 
• This ancient temple is situated on the southern bank of the river Arisilaru.
• This temple was built in granite by the Cholas. Later it was renovated by the Chola King Kulothungan-III and the Nayakkars.
• This temple is also referred to as “Kottai Shiva temple”. It is believed that earlier this temple was surrounded by a big fortress with tanks (Akazhi) around it. The Akazhi was on both sides of the wall of the fortress.
• However, only the ruins of the wall and the tank can be seen. In his hymn, Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar sings about the glory and grandeur of this fort, its halls, this temple and its tanks.
• It is believed that a lot of Sakkiyas (Buddhist) used to reside here. Hence this place gets the name Sakkiya Kottai which has later been changed to Sakkottai.
• Another reason for the name Sakkottai is that Saint Sakkiya Nayanar, one of the 63-Nayanmars, worshiped the lord here. 
• This is despite the fact that he was a Buddhist (Sakkiya). Because of his staunch devotion towards Lord Shiva, it is believed that he was blessed with the darshan of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. Lord Shiva also blessed him by naming him one of the 63b Nayanmars.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning pick up from Theni. Proceed towards Thanjavur. Hotel Check in. Brahadeshwara Temple. Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Siva Ganga Garden. Vijayanagar Fort. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Thanjavur.

Day 2 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Bangaru Kamakshi Temple. Schwartz church. Swami Malai temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Thanjavur.

Day 3 - Thanjavur Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. To visit Sarasvati Mahal. Thanjavur Maratha Palace. Sri Amirthakalasanatha Swamy Temple at Kalayanallur (Sakkottai). Then proceed towards Theni. Finally drop at Theni.