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Thursday, April 6, 2023

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – History

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.