Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple,
Kunnandarkoil – History
The cave temple was originally built by Mutharaiyar
Chieftain, feudatory of Pallava King Nandivarman II Pallava Malla (731 – 796
CE). The temple received extensive patronage from the Cholas, Pandyas,
Vijayanagara Empire and Nayakas. The earliest inscription in this temple are
dated to the reigns of Nandivarman II and his son Dantivarman indicating
generous gifts to learned brahmins during Thiruvadhirai festival. There
are about 37 inscriptions found in this temple.
Inscriptions dating back to Pallava Kings Nandivarman
II Pallava Malla, Dantivarman & Nandivarman III, Chola Kings Rajadhiraja
I, Kulothunga I, Rajaraja II, Rajadhiraja II & Kulothunga III, Pandya Kings
Jadavarman Sundara Pandya I, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I & Parakrama
Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings Kumara Viruppanna Udaiyar & Krishnadevaraya Raya
and Nayak Chief Kunnai Nayakkar are found in this temple.
These inscriptions records the
gifts & grants made to this temple, renovation activities carried out in
the temple, conducting festivals, administration activities and feeding poor
people. During the 14th century CE, the village had two divisions
for the Kallar community. It is said that the northern part of the village
belongs to the Kallar of the Vadamalai Naadu and the southern part belongs to
the Kallar of the Thenmalai Naadu.
The joint meetings of the panchayats
of the two naadus were held in this temple. The fighting between the two
divisions of Kallars used to result in damage of various properties. An inscription
dating back to 1394 CE mentions an agreement to provide protection to common
people from Kallar fights. As per the agreement, the Kallars were asked to make
the temple an annual payment and an offering of a ring for every marriage
celebrated.
Also, it reveal that there were
strict punishments levied to people robbing in Kunnandarkoil. Kunnandarkoil
derives its name from Kundru Andan Koil meaning the temple of the
Lord of the Hill. Lord Shiva was called as Thiru Kundra Kudi Mahadevar, Thiru
Kundra Kudi Nayanar & Thiru Kundra Kudi Udaiyar and the place was called as
Thiru Kundra Kudi as per the inscriptions. This temple complex is protected as
monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.
