Udayagiriswarar Temple,
Kunnathur, Madurai
Udayagiriswarar 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 eastern side of the Kunnathur Hill i.e. the direction of
sunrise. Hence the presiding deity came to be called as Udayagiriswarar. 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 is found very near to the Jain cave at the eastern slope of the
Kunnathur hill. Presiding Deity is called as Udayagiriswarar. The Central shrine is housed with Shiva Linga
carved in the natural rock. He is facing east. A small mukhamandapa is also
seen. There are two Dwara Palakas carved one both sides of the entrance of
the Garbha Griha. Jain beds with Brahmi inscriptions can be seen at top of
this cave 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