Kodunkundranathar Temple, Piranmalai, Sivaganga –
History
Piranmalai
is the 2,000-year-old capital of Vallal Paari — earlier known as Parambumalai —
famous. It also came to be known as Mullaimangalanadu after the creeper plant,
which as the legend goes, grew once the gracious King Paari lent his golden
chariot to it when he found the Mullai lying on the ground.
Piranmalai
is a fortified hill at an elevation of over 2,000 feet. This is a last outcrop
of the Eastern Ghats, with a Bhairavar temple and five peedas in the rocks
of the hill called the Pandava Theerthams, is also sacred to the Muslims with
a dargah of Waliyullah Sheikh Abdullah Saheb on its peak.
At the foot hill, there are traces of a moat and Fort Marudhu, which was pulled down in early 19th
century.
History
records that the Sivagangai country was ruled by the Marudhus who waged a war
against the British and the Arcot Nawab alliance during the 18th Century. It is
said that Umai Durai, younger brother of Kattabomman, was hidden here in an
inaccessible cave in Piranmalai by the Marudhu brothers. The spot is called the
“Umaiyan Kudambu”.
The
barren hill is believed to have been covered with dense jungle in the days of Maruthupandiar's rule from late 17th century to 1801. It was part
of a large jungle that extended from the Eastern
Ghats to the Palk
Straits. This is a vast hill
temple reached by a flight of steps in the Pandya
Kingdom. The Marudu
brothers of Sivagangai associated with Kalaiyar
Kovil have made several
contributions to this temple. The hilly village includes five areas (Piranmalai
Main, Mathagupatti, Pudupatti, Pappapatti, and Adiyarkulam).