Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Sakkottai

Amirthakadeswarar Temple is a Shiva temple at Sakkottai in Tamil Nadu, where Shiva is worshipped as Amirthakadeswarar and his consort as Amirthavalli Amman. Legend says the essence of creation came to rest here in a pot, or kalayam, during the deluge, giving the old name Kalayanallur. The temple is tied to Sakya Nayanar, a devotee said to have worshipped Shiva here with stones in place of flowers. Sundarar praised it in ten Tevaram verses, so it is a Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The present structure dates from the 9th-century Cholas, with later work by the Thanjavur Nayaks. A three-tiered rajagopuram leads in, and moats run both inside and outside the outer walls. Notable images include an emerald Lingothbhava, a single panel of the Saptamatrikas and a four-armed Dakshinamurthy holding rudraksha beads, fire and palm leaves. The temple is one of the twelve Shiva temples connected with Kumbakonam's Mahamaham festival and one of its Sapta Stana temples. Maha Shivaratri, Masi Magam and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai are the main festivals.