Asthagiriswarar Temple,
Kunnathur, Madurai
Asthagiriswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located at Kunnathur Village in Madurai
District of Tamil Nadu. This is a Rock Cut Cave Temple,
situated on the western side of the Kunnathur Hill i.e. the direction of sunset.
Hence the presiding deity came to be called as Asthagiriswarar. Kunnathur has
two caves one is Udayagiri (rising sun) and other is Ashtagiri (setting sun).
The sun rays fall on the Shivalingam everyday morning and evening on the
Udayagiri and Ashtagiri respectively. The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.
History
This
cave temple is dated to 8th century CE. Historically, the village
was called Thirukavalur.
The Temple
This
rock cut temple consists of small garbhagriha and open front mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Asthagiriswarar / Somanathar. The Central shrine
is housed with Shiva Linga carved in the natural rock. He is facing west. A small
Nandhi Idol can be found facing the sanctum. A Sketch of a structural temple is
engraved on the front wall of this Temple.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 71st
Patikam in 9th Song.
கந்தமா தனங்கயிலை மலை கேதாரங்
காளத்தி கழுக்குன்றங் கண்ணார் அண்ணா
மந்தமாம் பொழிற்சாரல் வடபர்ப் பதம்
மகேந்திரமா மலைநீலம் ஏம கூடம்
விந்தமா மலைவேதஞ் சைய மிக்க
வியன் பொதியின் மலைமேரு வுதய மத்தம்
இந்துசே கரனுறையும் மலைகள் மற்றும்
ஏத்துவோம் இடர்கெடநின் றேத்து வோமே.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
3 Kms from Varichiyur, 11 Kms from Silaiman Railway Station, 14 Kms from Thirupuvanam,
18 Kms from Madurai, 19 Kms from Madurai Railway Junction, 32 Kms from
Sivaganga and 28 Kms from Madurai Airport. The Temple is situated on Madurai to
Sivaganga Route.
Location