Shanmughanathar Temple, Kunnakudi, Karaikudi – The
Temple
The
temple is located in Kundrakudi, in the outskirts of Karaikudi in Sivaganga district in Tamilnadu on the road from Tiruppattur to Karaikudi. The hill has a height of 40 m (130 ft.) and
occupies an area of 6.5 acres (26,000 m2). The temple has a five tiered Rajagopuram,
the gateway tower rising to a height of 16.5 m (54 ft.), which
pierces the granite wall surrounding the temple. The sanctum faces East and the
image of the presiding deity Murugan is sported with the images of his consort
Valli and Deivayanai, each of whom are seen sitting on a peacock.
There
are shrines of other deities around the sanctum in the precinct. There are
three caves in the western side of the lower hill, with rock-cut images
dedicated to Shiva in each of them. The first two caves have intricate rock-cut
sculptures and Dvarapalas on either side of the sanctum, while the third one
is plain. There are various sculpted images of Vishnu, Durga, Lingodbhava, and
Harihara. The image of
Dvarapalas in the caves, on either sides of the sanctum, with each leaning in
the direction facing the sanctum, are found to be the earliest representation
of the images. These are not found in Pallava architecture, which precedes the Pandyas.
The
caves are considered one of the major specimens of rock-cut architecture of
the Pandyas, counted along with Vettuvan
Koil, Thirumalai Puram and Thiruparankundram. As you climb the steps (which are not very tiring) you
come across the Sannidhi of Idumban. At the top of the steps you can see the Sannidhi
of Vallabha Ganapathy. As you enter the main sanctum you are mesmerized by the
beauty of Lord Shanmuga with his six faces and twelve arms sitting in a
beautifully carved peacock.
The
peacock and the Lord are of monolithic (carved out of a single stone). His
consorts Valli and Deivanai have their own peacocks as their Vahanas. In a
crowded day it may not be possible to leisurely look at these beautiful
sculptures). As you come out of the sanctum, you can see the beautifully carved
pillars. The hill is in the shape of a peacock. As Muruga’s peacock
vehicle was relieved of its curse here, the hill is called Mayil Malai-peacock
hill.
For many,
the hill appears in a peacock form. Lord Muruga is also known as Chetty
Murugan, Kundrayur Udayan, Mayuragirinathan, Mayil Kalai Kandan, Kundrai
Murugan, Thenattrunathar etc. The temple is praised in the Thirupugazh hymns of
Saint Arunagirinathar. The Theerthams of the temple are Saravana Poigai,
Thenaru and Mayil theertham. The special feature of the temple is
that Valli, Deivanai and Lord Muruga grace darshan individually sitting on a
peacock.
There
are evidences that enlightened souls lived here. There are also some
Brahmi epigraphic evidences in the Jain Ashrams-Pazhis. Idumba from Kalinga
carried a Kavadi to this temple and got his stomach pain cured. There are also
shrines to Vinayakar, Kuzhandai Vadivelar, Meenakshi Sundareswarar,
Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Chandeswarar & Navagrahams. Images of Veerabahu
and Idumban are also in this temple.
The
temple is under the control of Kundrakudi Aadhinam and maintained by them
efficiently. At the bottom of the hill, there is a small temple for Lord Ganesh
who is the brother of Lord Muruga and another temple is also at the bottom of
the hill itself for Lord Muruga in the name Lord Palani Murugan. In this Palani
Murugan temple the main statue is not fixed on floor and set up in a bar because
this statue is brought from Palani by the Kundrakudi Pada yatra group people
every year at the time of Thaipoosam festival.
Then on
the way to the main temple three more mini temples are there, two temples for
again Lord Ganesha and one for Lord Kadamba who is one of the devotees of Lord
Muruga. Generally the Nine Planets Lord are set up facing various directions
but here all planets are set up facing the Main statue of Lord Muruga.
