Amritaghateswarar-Abirami Temple,Thirukkadaiyur, Hindu temple in Thirukkadaiyur, India

Amritaghateswarar-Abirami Temple is a Hindu temple in Thirukkadaiyur, Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India. The complex includes two gateway towers with carved figures and halls of dark stone arranged around several inner shrines.

The oldest parts date from the 9th century when Chola rulers controlled southern India. Later kings added new halls and towers during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The name Amritaghateswarar comes from the Tamil word gatam, meaning pot: the devas forgot to worship Ganesha before drinking the churned ambrosia, and he hid the pot here. Abirami is the goddess in her form as a beautiful maiden who distracted Yama with her waist, allowing Markandeya to be saved. Couples who reach their 60th or 81st year celebrate a second marriage, the Shashtiapthapoorthi and Sadhabishekam, before Vishweshwara and Abirami.

The entrance is on the eastern side, where visitors remove shoes before stepping onto the stone floors. Clothing should cover shoulders and knees, and morning or evening hours offer cooler temperatures for walking through.

The temple has no shrine for the nine planetary deities, the Navagraha, a feature noted by visitors. Its inscriptions record Chola gifts: Rajendra Chola funded an eight-day annual festival, and a 1054 CE record under Rajadhiraja Chola provided land to feed 17 devotees.