Friday 16 January 2015

Sri Kundrapureeswarar Temple and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple, Kunnathur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

15, January.2015.
My Tiny Village Pappavalasu is about 4 KM from Kunnathur in Erode district. Whenever I used to cross Kunnathur to Gobichttipalayam or Coimbatore thought of visiting the Kunnathur Shiva Temple. Some how it could not happened. But during my recent Visit to my native Place Visited this temple. I had done my school education in NRKN ( NR Karuppana Nadar Kalvi Nilayam ) High school and then I did my Engineering Diploma at Government Polytechnic, Coimbatore. During my school days I was not an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

After reading the book about Kongu Nadu published by the ASI ( Archaeological Survey Of India ),  I feel very proud  of being born in a historical place which had links to Hindu and Jain religion and ruled by Chera,Chozha, Pandya,  Hoysala, Vijayanagara  Kings and Mysore Wodeyars,  ( The Vijayamangalam was once a capital to Kongu Nadu, is very near to my Native Place. The Vijayamangalam still has a Jain temple which I have to explore yet ).

I had made up my mind that I will cover one or two places of History during my future visits to my native place. Hence I mentioned this post as PART-1.

 Moolavar Vimanam with Chandikeswarar Sannadhi 

HISTORY OF KUNNATHUR IN KURUPPA NADU
The old name of this Kunnathur was “Kundrathur”, in Kongu Nadu. Kongu Nadu was called after name nectar. Kongu nadu was divided in to four parts via North Kongu Nadu, South Kongu Nadu, Mel Kongu Nadu and Keel Kongunadu.  The present Erode district lies in South and North Kongu Nadu. This was divided in to 24 sub sections called as Nadus once again.  Kunnathur is in one of the Sub sect Nadu called “Kuruppu Nadu”, which comes under Perundurai. It was believed that  large number of Kurumbu section குறும்ப இன மக்கள் ) people lived in this area. The name Kurumbu latter turned to Kuruppu. ( I used to wonder why this Name “Kuruppu Nadu” is mentioned in the marriage betrothal ceremonies  ( Nadu Vilambuthal - நாடு விளம்புதல்  ). Now I under stood  how I belongs to “Kupruppa Nadu” – we belongs to “Kuruppa Nadu Kammalars” ).

KUNNATHUR SHIVA  TEMPLE.
As per ASI this temple was built during 14th century with Hoysala’s architecture. But this was completely changed to the present structure ignoring the past. There is no trace of the old structure now. It is a shame of the history.  The present Shiva temple is a reconstructed one, without  any remembrance of the past glory and structure. There was no  epigraph, which might have been destroyed during renovation. I still remember, about the reconstruction of this temple  during my school days through one of my relative. But after reconstruction the old beauty has gone.

Moolavar    : Sri Kundrapureeswarar

Some of the important features of this temple are..
The temple is facing west. There is no Rajagopuram instead there is an arch.

There are Sannadhis for Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan. There is a Deepasthambham/ Vilakku Thoon or Garuda thoon in front of the temple. The temple is under renovation for Kumbhabhishekam.

HOW TO REACH : 
Kunnathur is on the state high way between Gobichettipalayam to Tiruppur and Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 

 Ambal sannidhi Vimanam 
 Ambal sannidhi vimanam 
Villakku thoon or Garuda thoon 

SRI LAKSHMI NARAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE

 Front view of the temple

Moolavar : Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal

Some of the important features of this temple are ....
This temple just opposite to Sri Kundrapureeswarar Shiva Temple on the straight line facing east. Here also there is a Deepasthambham/ Vilakku thoon or Garuda thoon is in front of the temple.

There is no separate Thayar Sannidhi, since Sri Lakshmi is sitting on the left Lap of Sri Narayana perumal.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple has lot of Epigraphs which proves that the temple was constructed during 12th century. Now the temple is under renovation. There is no change in the old base structure.

Inscriptions on the Sanctum Sanctorum wall
At least we have to appreciate that this epigraph is kept standing near a washing area
HOW TO REACH :
Kunnathur is on the state high way between Gobichettipalayam to Tiruppur and Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.


LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Moolavar vimanam under renovation for Samprokshanam
Dwarapalakar  
Villakku thoon or garuda Thoon 

Front view of the temple entrance 
GOOGLE MAP FOR THE LOCATION:CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ----

4 comments:

  1. I visited both these Siva and Vishnu temples while I was travelling from Coimbatore to Salem. When the present 4 lane was under construction, we used to take Avinashi, Perumanallur, Kunnathur, Perundhurai route only. During then I visited this West Facing Siva Temple. In 1990s, one SULLIKARADU was also famous in this region. But now many are not aware of it. I do not know why.
    Regards
    R Sukumar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Mr Sukumar for the information about Sullikaradu. I will cover the same in one of the up coming post.

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  3. Nice post. Considered as the sixth largest city in Tamil Nadu, Erode is proudly called the Loom city of India for its handloom and powerloom textile products. A number of hotels in Erode solves the problem of tourists searching for accommodation here.

    ReplyDelete

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