Muchukundesvara Temple,
Kodumbalur – History
Kodumbalur was mentioned as Kodumbai lying in the trade
route between Uraiyur and Madurai in the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. The route taken by
Kovalan, hero of Silapathikaram, with his wife Kannagi. Kodumbalur is considered as the birthplace of Idangazhi Nayanar, one of the Irukku Velir chieftains who
served under the Chola kings. The Irunkovel line of kings ruled
over Ko Nadu identified with the Kodumbalur and surrounding areas in
ancient Tamilakam.
Irunkovel clan is said to
have been descended from the Yadavas of Dwarka, who migrated
to South India with the sage Agastya. Sangam literature mentions
a chieftain called Irunkovel who could trace his lineage back over 49
generations to residence in Thuvarai (Dwaraka). He is later defeated by
Karikala and becomes a subordinate to the Chola sovereign. Kodumbalur was a battlefield between Pallavas and
Pandyas in the 8th century CE in which both sides claimed victory.
Later, Irukkuvel became a powerful ally of the Cholas in
the 9th - 10th centuries. Also, Kodumbalur became an
important commercial centre from 9th century as the Manigramam, an
early type of trade guild is found active here. The inscriptions in the
temple also gives us a glimpse of the political climate of south
India between the 8th and the 10th centuries as well as
the relation between the royal houses of Chola and
the Irukkuvel.
Periyapuranam provides a reference of Konnatukkodi Nagaram (apex town of Konadu) for Kodumbalur. This
temple was built by Mahimalaya Irukkuvel, chief of Kodumbalur,
in 920 CE during 4th regnal year of Chola king Parantaka
I. The
temple is mentioned as Thiru Mudukundram temple in the inscription. This
temple was extensively renovated, and Maha Mandapam & Parvathy
Shrine were added during 13th century CE. The
temple is maintained and administered by the Archaeological
Survey of India.
