Muchukundesvara Temple,
Kodumbalur – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east. The temple is enclosed within an ancient compound wall out of which only a few portions of the wall remains now. There is a Mandapam before the entrance of the temple. It is situated in the south-eastern corner of the temple, by the side of the compound wall. It has walls on all the four sides and a flat roof. It consists of a large pillared hall in front and a small sanctum on the back side.
The entrance to this mandapam is from the east, outside the temple complex. The entrance is flanked by two hexagonal pilasters. The base of the pilaster is carved in the shape of a lion sitting erect and carrying the pillar on its back. Nandi housed in a four pillared mandapam can be seen facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam.
The original temple consisted of the Sanctum, Antrala and Ardha Mandapam. The Mukha Mandapam was added to the structure in later period during Later Cholas. There is no Linga presently in the sanctum. There are niches around the walls of the sanctum however all are empty. The vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers. Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu and Brahma are the niche idols around the top tier of the Vimana.
Veenadhara Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu and Brahma are the niche idols around the lower tier of the Vimana. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother Parvathy is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Mukha Mandapam the left side of the sanctum. This temple might have hosted around seven subsidiary shrines compared to be sixteen subsidiary shrines of Moovar Koil, out of which remains of only four can be seen.
These shrines would have housed Ganesha, Muruga, Jyestha, Bhairava, Chandikeswara, Chandran and Sapta Matrikas. There is an ancient stone well close to the pillared mandapam of the main shrine, on the southern side. It is said to have a tunnel about 3 feet in width below, probably an inlet for water from the tank in front of the temple.
