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Photo: Nittawinoda, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A village that is 31 km (19 mi) from Chidambaram known for Arulmigu Amirthakateshwarar Thirukkoil, constructed during the reign of Cholas by Kulothunga Chola.
Melakadambur is a village located 31 kilometres (19 mi) from Chidambaram, and can reach at 6 km from Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for Arulmigu Amirthakateshwarar Thirukkoil temple, constructed during the reign of Cholas by Kulottunga I. The temple and the village are well known in Ponniyin Selvan history, as they are more than 1,000 years old. The Sivan temple at Melakadambur is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. This Sivalinga is self-manifested or Swayambhu Linga.
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The temple complex is spread over an area of 40 acres (160,000 m²) in the heart of the city. The main complex is dedicated to Shiva Nataraja and the complex contains shrines to deities such as Shivakami Amman, Ganesh, Murugan and Vishnu in the form Govindaraja Perumal. The golden tiled roof for the Chit Ambalam (the vimanam) was laid by the Chola King Parantaka I (907-950 CE). Donations of gold and jewels have been made by various kings, rulers and patrons to the temple from 9th to 16th century and by the British. In the Chidambaram temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of sky.
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