VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Kunnandar Kovil / Kunrandar Kovil, A Rock Cut Cave Temple near Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday, 6 October 2018

Kunnandar Kovil / Kunrandar Kovil, A Rock Cut Cave Temple near Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th September 2018.

This temple is one of the rock-cut cave temples of Pudukottai covered during our Pudukottai Heritage walk. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva.

Moolavar : Sri Parvathagiriswarar

Consort : Sri Umayambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The rock-cut cave temple faces east with Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam. The entrance looks like a Rajagopuram base. From the outer praharam to the inner prakara entrance is like a Rajagopuram with stucco image of Rishabanthikar, Pichadanar with Rishipathinis and Gajasamkara murthy. Again a Nandhi in the mandapa. The sanctum is a rock-cut cave with Moolavar as an integral part of the main rock. The 61 cm Lingabanam is on the 57 cm high, 8-faced avudayar. The Gomukha is small. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance, but not similar. On the left called soola thevar and on the right called Mazhuvadiyar. A stucco Vimana is constructed above the sanctum on the rock.

The front mandapam is joined with the main rock to form the sanctum sanctorum. In front of the sanctum on the left Valampuri Vinayagar. Vinayagar’s yagnopaveetha and Mothagam are a little unusual to watch. On the right Shiva with Umai Ammai in the form of bas-reliefs. Shiva and Umai are sitting in Lalitasana. On the left mandapam Saptamatrikas with Vinayagar and Veerabhadra. Sri Murugan and Sri Valli are in a small rock-cut cave. Sri Chandikeswarar bas-relief is on the right side of the small cave.

On the west side of the temple is a 100-pillar mandapa with a raised platform. The front is built like a chariot pulled by the horses. In front images like sanganidhi, Padmanidhi and boothaganas. There is a Navakanda statue is kept in the mandapa, how it came here is not known. Ambal is in a separate temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastha. On the hill, there is an Arumuga with 12 hands sitting on a peacock temple. It was told that with the presence of the Arumugar temple, the place was called Kunrudayar Kovil later turned to the present name of Kunnandarkoil.

Shiva with Umaiyammai

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The rock-cut cave temple was excavated during the 8^th century by Nandhivarman. The front mandapa was extended by Pandyas. The 100 Pillar mandapas and some of the structures are built during the Vijayanagara period.

As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Thirukunrakudi Mahadevar, Kundrakudi Nayanar, and Kunraperumal. The original name of Kundrakudi was turned into the present name of Kunnandarkoil. The temple has more than 60 inscriptions, which speak about the land measurement, sale, Taxes, donations, and the punishment for the wrongdoers. One of the inscriptions speaks about the donation of 220 nazhi rice to 110 andhanars, by Kothaimayinthan, in the name of his son Mayinthan Veerakadayan on Thiruvathira day. The temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI).

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The rock-cut cave temple is on the Keeranur to Athanur Kottai Road and 13 KM from Keeranur.

Keeranur is on Pudukkottai to Trichy Road.

LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE