Umai Andar Temple, Thiruparankundram, Madurai
Umai
Andar Temple is a Hindu Cave Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at
Thiruparankundram at outskirts of Madurai City in Madurai District of Tamil
Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Umai Andar / Arthanareeswarar. The temple is
situated on Tiruparankundram hills, standing on the Girivalam path of the
Subramanyaswamy Temple, attracts good number of people during the weekends. The
Cave temple is situated back side of the famous Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple.
The area around this Temple is also commonly called peacock garden because
hundreds of peacocks live here. This area is protected area under ASI and
declared as historically important.
History
This Temple
is supposed to be the original Thiruparankundram where Tamil Sangam Poets like
Nakkeerar lived in caves and were doing penance to receive many boons from Lord
Shiva. The evidence of one of the earliest Jain religious practice here in
Madurai is seen in the Brahmi inscriptions found on temple walls. The temple
even served as a monastery. As the Digambara Jains spent most of their time in
penance leading a secluded life, the rulers respected their feelings and made
necessary arrangements for them to live on the hills. This can be found from in
ancient inscriptions on the Mangulam and Arittapatti sites. They also mention
King Pandian Nedunchezhian who helped the Digambara Jains to settle down.
This
Cave Temple is protected by the ASI. This Pandya temple was probably a 1st
Century Jain cave, which was later converted, according to the rock
inscriptions near a tree. It, apparently, served as a monastery for the Jain
saints who lived in these hills. More inscriptions refer to the 13th
Century Pandya ruler, Maravarma Sundara Pandian reign (1216-1238), and it says
that a Saiva Saint Prasanna Deva, under the patronage of the king, converted
this Jain monument into a temple and named it as Sundara Pandian Eswaram Temple
after the monarch.
Cave
Temple
The
Temple, now called as Umai Andar Koil (with Lord Shiva in the form of
Arthanareeswarar) by the locals, was originally a Jain Cave Temple dating back
to first century B.C. The temple has a long central mandapam (hall) and with
the Sanctum Sanctorum of God Umai Andavar on the left. A small flight of steps
takes you up the mandapam or the hall which has some ancient sculptures.
There is
Nataraja and his consort Sivakami (both these sculptures are now in dilapidated
condition) flanked by Lord Murugan with his consorts Deivayanai and Valli, Bhairava,
Ganesha and the three Saiva saints, Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar,
Sundarar are sculpted on the outer walls.
Sambandhar
is standing on a small pedestal (Peedam) which is a special privilege given to
him as he was the person who took off Jainism from Madurai and introduced
Saivam after rescuing the king Koon Pandiyan from severe ailment (in Tamil, Veppu
Noi) by singing the song Mandiramaavadhu neeru. Manikavasagar statue is in
sitting position (Suhasanam, means relaxed position) in order to give comfort
to him as he has hailed from Madurai.
A small
statue of Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the celebrated woman Nayanmar can be found
near Natarajar statue. Figures of two more Saiva saints are also there, one of
them perhaps being that of Prasanna Deva. Pandiyan Well (Pandiyan Kinaru in
Tamil) is present near to this cave temple.
This
cave contains inscriptions of Sundara Pandian of 1256 AD, who captured Madurai
from 3rd Kulothunga Cholan. Also, the inscription refers him as
Chonaadu Vazhangiya Sundara Pandian means he who has gifted Chola dynasty to 3rd
Rajadhiraja Cholan (Son of 3rd Kulothunga Chola). The Temple also
has the inscriptions of taxation as Puravu Varithinaikalam means Tax office.
The rock
engravings of a papal tree found right on top of the bass-relief of the deity
proves that this place was a Jain cave temple. The Lotus medallion symbols
present on the pillars of cave ascertain this cave was originally a Jain
cave. The Thenparankundram site has been declared a protected monument and
is now under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Thiruparankundram Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Thiruparankundram
Railway Station, 10 Kms from Madurai, 8 Kms from Madurai Periyar Bus Stand, 15
Kms from Madurai Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus, 8 Kms from Madurai
Railway Junction, 9 Kms from Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, 8 Kms from Madurai
Koodal Azhagar Temple, 14 Kms from Thirumangalam and 10 Kms from Madurai
Airport.
There is
a bus stand with bus services connecting Thiruparankundram with other parts of
Madurai and adjacent villages. Buses are available from Madurai Periyar Bus Stand.
All the buses moving from Periyar Bus Stand to Thirumangalam go through
Thiruparankundram. Frequent bus services are available from in and around
Madurai. Route Nos. 5, 14, 22, 48, 49 and 52 from Periyar bus stand &
Mattuthavani Bus stand covers Tiruparankundram. Also, Mofussil buses heading
towards Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Tirunelveli crosses here which seldom stops.
Thiruparankundram
railway station is 6 Kms from Madurai Junction. Tiruparankundram Railway
Station is in between Madurai and Thirumangalam railway stations, on the
Chennai – Kanyakumari railway track. All passenger Trains running between
Madurai and Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kollam stops at Tiruparankundram. Also,
Tuticorin – Mysore Express stops here. Nearest Airport is Madurai
Airport.
