Tiruchchennampoondi is a small hamlet in Budalur taluk in Thanjavur district and about 30kms from Tiruchirappalli and 36kms from the district headquarters Thanjavur. Tiruchchennampoondi is one among the villages situated in the land stretch between the rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. The northern and southern banks of river Cauvery till it reaches the sea is flooded with ancient temples particularly of Chola period, in addition, also venerated by the Four Great Saiva Saints. Tiruchchennampoondi is also credited with an Early Chola temple dedicated to Lord Siva in the name Tirukadaimudi Mahadevar. The inscriptions mention the God as Thirukadaimudi Mahadevar, Thirukadaimudinathar and Tirusadaimudinathar and the village as Thirukadaimudi. However at present, the deity and temple is known as Sadaiyar and Sadaiyarkoil whereas the village as Thiruchinampundi or Thiruchannampoondi. The Goddess of the temple is Seethambika.
Kadaimudinathar temple is located on the north western side of the village. The temple has vimana, mukha mandapa and remnant of a maha mandapa, for which only the adhishthana is seen. The shrines of goddess Seethambiga and Chandeswara are on the northern side and both are brick structure. The temple lacks gopura or compound wall and lies in the open space. Being located in a remote area, aloof from the habitation, the temple was much dilapidated, collapsed and deserted. Recently, the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department renovated and now-a-days remain open for morning puja service. The grand old temple, a treasure trove of early architecture remains solitarily in the midst of a serene setup.
The God Thirukadaimudi Mahadevar and the village Thirukadaimudi are also mentioned in the inscriptions of nearby temples viz., Divyanageswaram temple and Appakudathan temple of Koviladi, the neighbourhood places of Tiruchchennampoondi. An inscription of Divyanageswaram temple refers Tiruchchenampundi, as Pandikulasani Valanattu, Vallanattu Melaimuri Tirukadaimudi Tirukadaimudiyudaya Mahadevar. As like, in the inscriptions of Thirupper nagar while speaking about the activities of Perunguri Mahasabaiyom referred the lands of Thirusadaimudi Thirusadaimudiyudaiya Mahadevar’. From these inscriptions the name of the place and the deity of this temple could be inferred. Koiladi is one of the Divyadesam and the inscriptions mention it as Thirupernagar. Thrupernagar is a historic place, the literature gleans that in this place war happened where Kochengatcholan arrested KanaikkalIrumporai, the Chera king.
The existing structure of the vimana of Kadaimudinathar temple denotes it as a dvitala nagara vimana, the griva and sikhara are absent, probably dilapidated. The vimana has an adhishthana, bhitti, prastara forming the aditala, the aditala is also crowned with hara, the second tala is seen only upto valabhi.
The vimana is segmented as karna-bhadra-karna divisions, all the three segments are projected, in addition, the bhadra division is further projected comparing the karana divisions. The projections created recession in between and the recessions are adorned with a koshtha. In addition the bhadra is also adorned with a koshtha. The projection and recession arrangement of the segments add elegance to the vimana.
The adhishthana of the vimana is kapotabandha type. The rudra kumuda is ornamented with padma, the padas of the gala complex are adorned with miniatures of Ramayana, the kapota is ornamented with konapatta in the corners. The prativari is represented with yazhi frieze, yazhis are paired facing each other and the corners are decked with makara heads. The makaras are with mouth wide open and miniatures are shown inside, warrior with sword and shield is commonly seen, yazhi seated in squatting posture, Varaha with Bhudevi, a warrior mounting on a yazhi, are also seen. Such variety representation is also seen in Kuranganathar Temple at Srinivasanallur, Vadakailayam at Thiruvaiyaru. Above the adhishthana rests the vedika complex, the padas in the vedika complex are also adorned with miniatures, unlike the gala padas here Gods and Goddess in various forms, other puranic themes, dancing and musical troupe, are shown. Some of the padas are also decked with medallions. Above the vedika complex raise the bhitti.
The bhitti is cantoned by pilaster, each segment is adorned with a pair of pilasters, different variety of pilasters are shown. The karna sections are adorned with vishnukantha pilasters whereas the bhadra sections are decked with indrakantha pilasters. The pilasters has oma, the shaft is ornamented with all usual head components, mala is adorned with beaded and flower festoons, sthana is decked with creeper ornamentation. Above the pilasters rests the angular taranga potikas with kuzhavu and media patta ornamentation. The well formed kuzhavu is shown in the angular point of the potikas. All the potikas are three limbed and bear the prastara. It is quite interesting to see instead of bhuta frieze rampant yazhi is shown in the valabhi at frequent intervals. The roof of the tala extend as flexed over hanging kapota, it extend according to the recession and projection of the tala. It is quite interesting to see kodungai shown in the canopy, in addition, rampant yazhi from the valabhi are bearing the kodungai. The kapota is decked with kudu arches, konapattas and chandramadalas. The kudu arches are quite big, and some of the kudus are adorned with Linga. Bhumidesa shown on the roof denotes the end of the tala. The bhadra divisions in the west, north, south are decked with koshthas, Brahma and Vinadara Dakshianamurthi are housed in the northern and southern koshthas respectively, however, the western koshtha is empty. A long pranala is seen on the northern side of the vimana above the kumuda.
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