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

This temple is one of the rock cut cave temples of Pudukottai covered during our Pudukottai Heritage walk.  The presiding deity is Lord  Shiva. The second visit to this  Parvathagriswarar Temple at Kunnandarkoil, was a part of Heritage Visit to temples around Keeranur in Pudukkottai District, organized by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே” group on 2^nd and 3^rd, October 2021. It was told that with the presence of Arumugar temple, the place is called as “Kunrudayar Kovil”, which latter turned to the present name of “Kunnandarkoil”.

Moolavar  : Sri Parvathagiriswarar

Consort    : Sri Umayambigai

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

The rock cut cave temple is facing east with Balipeedam, Nandi and Dwajasthambam. Entrance looks like a Rajagopuram base. From the outer prakaram to the inner prakara entrance is like a Rajagopuram with stucco image of Rishabanthikar, Pickshadanar with rishipanthika and Gajasamkara murthy. Again a Nandi is in the mandapam.

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 little unusual to be watched. 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. Ambal is in a separate temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastham. On the hill there is a Arumuga with 12 hands sitting on peacock temple.

ARCHITECTURE

On the west side of the temple is a Vijayanagara period 100 pillar mandapam with a raised platform. The front portion is built like a chariot pulled by the horses. In front are the images like sanganidhi, Padmanidhi and boothaganas. The mandapa extension was started but couldn’t completed, which can be seen with unfinished extension. There is a Navakanda statue is kept in the mandapa, how it came here is not known.  But to my guess, this legend may be similar to the Navakanda statue with inscription at Jambai Shiva temple. To complete the construction of this mandapa, the hero might have sacrificed himself in the form of Navakandam.

The sanctum sanctorum is with padabandha adhisthana comprises of jagathi, Vrudha Kumuda, kampu, Kandam ( Kandapadam )and kampu.

The mukha mandapam is like a small shrine with square pillars and tharanga pothyal. The sanctum Sanctorum is a Rock cut cave and moolavar is an integral part of the main rock / Thai parai. The 61 cm Lingabanam is on the 57 cm high, 8 faced avudayar. The komukha is small. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance, but not similar. On the left called soola Devar and the right called as mazhuvadiyar.  A stucco Vimana was constructed above the sanctum on the rock.

Bas relief of Valampuri Vinayagar  is in the mukha mandapa, on the opposite is Lord Shiva with Parvati as Gangavijarsanar and a servant maid in the form of bas-relief. In prakaram Saptamatrikas and Karuppu Swamy.

The mandapams Potharaiyar Mandapam and Natya mandapa are constructed by the Mutharaiyars.  Murugan Statue is in another rockcut cave and Chandikeswarar is in the form of bas-relief.

 

This Hero might have sacrificed for construction of this Mandapam 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

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

As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called as Thirukundrakudi Mahadevar, Kundrakudi Nayanar and Kundraperumal . The original name of Kundrakudi was turned to the present name of Kunnandarkoil. The temple has more than 60 inscriptions, which speaks about the land measurement, sale, Taxes, donations and the punishment for the wrongdoers.

The Pallava king Nandivarman-II’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the gift of 200 Nazhi rice to 100 people on Thiruvathirai day by Visaiyaraiyan of Vaduvur in Meepuzhai Nadu.

One of the inscription records the donation of 220 nazhi rice to 110 andhanars, by Kothaimayinthan, in the name of his son Mayinthan Veerakadayan on Thiruvathira day.  

Pandya King Konerimelkondan Sundara Pandyan’s period inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam and Sathupadi ( alangaram ) for the sandhi pooja created in the name of the King itself. For the same 100 gold ( coins..? ) was given as deposit by the king itself, after exempting from Taxes. 

The temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI).

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham days, Maha Shivaratri, Pongal, New Year days and all the important days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

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

HOW TO REACH:

Malayadipatti village is on the Keeranur to Killukottai Road and 17 KM from Keeranur, 36 KM from Tiruchirappalli, 46 KM from Pudukkottai and  354 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    : CLICK HERE

Karuppa Swamy 

May be donor of the mandapam

Moolavar on a octagnal avudayar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---