Karuppanna Swamy Temple, Keela Kuyilkudi, Samanar Hills, Madurai
Karuppanna Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated
to local village deity, Karuppanna Swamy located at Keela Kuyilkudi Village in
the foot Hills of Samanar Hills in Madurai District of Tamilnadu. This temple constitutes a few idols that were made by
the Jain monks. There is also a lotus pond at the bottom of the hills. This
Temple is located at a very picturesque place at the base of the Samanar hills.
There are steps to climb this small hill. The location is a favourite spot for
the Kollywood.
The
Temple has been heavily modernized, but if you look closely at two deities,
fancifully called after mythical Pandya kings, you will find the heads of early
pre-9th century Pandya sculptures of attendants, who would have formed part of
the Jain temple that once stood on the hill. They have not been vandalized, but
giving stucco or concrete bodies and incorporated into the pantheon of deities
inside the living temple.
The
Temple is situated on the Nagamalai-Pudukottai Road. The Temple is located at
about 1.5 Kms from Vadivelkarai Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Keelakuilkudi Bus Stop,
8 Kms from Thiruparankundram, 11 Kms from Madurai, 10 Kms from Madurai Periyar
Bus Stand, 15 Kms from Madurai Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus, 10 Kms
from Madurai Railway Station and 17 Kms from Madurai Airport.
