Chennai to Thirukadaiyur Taxi

Chennai to Thirukadaiyur Taxi — 280 km for the 60th and 80th Birthday Rites at the Abirami Temple

About 280 km and five and a half hours south of Chennai, Thirukadaiyur is a small village near the sea in Mayiladuthurai district, visited for one reason above all: the Amritaghateswarar–Abirami temple, where families come to perform Shashtiabdapoorthi for a 60th birthday, Bhimaratha Shanti at 70 and Sathabhishekam at 80.

Why this temple, for these ceremonies

The temple is one of the eight Veerattanam shrines, each marking a heroic act of Shiva. Here, according to tradition, Shiva emerged from the lingam to stop Yama, the god of death, from taking the young devotee Markandeya, and so the temple became associated with long life. Couples who reach 60 or 80 renew their marriage vows here with homams and a ceremonial bath, surrounded by children and grandchildren. The goddess Abirami is equally loved: Abirami Bhattar composed the Abirami Anthadhi in her praise, and the story goes that she made the moon shine on a new-moon night to keep her devotee's word.

Planning around the muhurtham

Ceremonies are fixed to an auspicious time, often early in the morning, and are arranged with the priests who handle the homam, the kalasam and the materials. Most families leave Chennai the afternoon before and stay overnight in Thirukadaiyur, Mayiladuthurai or Tharangambadi, so the elders are rested. If the muhurtham is later in the morning, a pre-dawn departure from Chennai also works, though the night allowance applies for any driving before 6 AM. Tell us the muhurtham when you book and we will work the pickup back from it.

Getting several cars there together

These are family occasions, and relatives often set out from different corners of Chennai. We can send several cars with coordinated pickup times from Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Tambaram or wherever each household lives, or one Tempo Traveller for a large group, so everyone reaches the temple together. Elders travel best in an SUV with a wide door and a firm seat; keep their cushions and medicines within reach.

The route down the coast

The usual line is the East Coast Road through Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry, then Cuddalore and Chidambaram, crossing the Kollidam river toward Sirkazhi before the last stretch through paddy fields. Some drivers prefer the GST Road via Villupuram when the coast road is crowded on weekends. The village lies about 20 km east of Mayiladuthurai and a few kilometres inland from the sea at Tharangambadi.

Temples nearby worth adding

Vaitheeswaran Koil, the Navagraha shrine for Mars and home of the palm-leaf nadi astrologers, is about half an hour away. Sirkazhi's Sattanathar temple is linked to the child saint Thirugnanasambandar. Thirunallar, the Saturn shrine near Karaikal, and the Mayuranathar temple in Mayiladuthurai are both close enough for the same day. Tharangambadi's Danish fort, Dansborg, built in 1620, faces the sea a short drive away and makes a pleasant hour for younger relatives.

What to carry

Traditional dress for the couple and family, such as a veshti and angavastram or a silk saree, a change of clothes for after the ceremonial bath, a small towel, and cash for the temple counters and shoe stand. Rooms in the village are limited, and marriage halls and lodges book up on auspicious dates, so reserve well before you travel.