Sri Muchukundeswarar Temple / Muchu Kundesvara Temple / ஸ்ரீ முசுகுந்தேஸ்வரர் கோயில், கொடும்பாளூர் / Kodumbalur, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Muchukundeswarar Temple at Kodumbalur was a part of the Heritage Visit to temples around Keeranur in Pudukkottai District, organized by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே” group on 2^nd and 3^rd, October 2021.  This place is called Chengal Medu since there were no temples that might have existed and the Nandis are scattered around this area as its remains.

Moolavar  : Sri Muchukundeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are …

The temple is facing east with a Nandi in mandapam. A mandapa with a squatting lion / Simha pillar entrance is on the left side of the temple. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South.  No images are found in the Koshtas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. Ambal temple is in the open mukha mandapam facing south. The sanctum sanctorum is with simple padabandha adhisthana. Jagathi, threepatta kumuda, and pattikai are in the adhisthana. In Bitti no vedigai is found. The Brahmakantha Pillars divide the wall into Karnapathi and Salaipathi. Panchara is in the akarai. The Slaipathi is extended outwards and forms a Padra salai. The pilasters have the usual components of Kalasam, Thadi, Mandi, palagai, veerakandam, and Pothyal. Tharanga pothyal is shown on the pilaster top.

The prastaram is with valabi, kapotham and viyalavari. Nasis and palaikarukku are found on the kapotham. Nethra nasi is found on the karnapathi. Bhutaganas are in the valabi.

Veena Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, and Brahma are found on the first level of Vimana.  The Greeva portion also has the koshtas similar images of the first level. The thala Rishabas are on all the four corners.

The Sikaram is of Nagara style with maha nasis on all four sides. Alpa nasis also found in between maha nasis. The Kalasa / Stupi is also similar in shape to the greevam. Since the complete Vimana is built with stone from Adhisthana to Stupi, the Vimana is suddha Nagara Vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions this place was called Thirumudhukundram and Lord Shiva was called Thirumudhukundramudaya Nayanar. It is believed that this temple was built during the 10^th Century, by the Mahimalaya Irukkuvel, one of the Chieftains of Parantaka-I, The sanctum sanctorum was built during Parantaka Chozha’s period and Ambal sannidhi and mukha mandapa was built at latter date during Vijayanagaras.

The Parantaka Chozha’s 14^th reign year inscription records that this temple was constructed by the  Mahimalaya Irukkuvel alias Parantaka Veerachozhan Kunjaramallan.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 6^th reign year inscription records the renovation of the temple, which was found damaged.

A fragment inscription on the Mukha mandapa adhisthana Kumuda mentions the name of Sundra Chozha, PeNdati / பெண்டாட்டி, and Uthama tha. Here the Pendati means not the wife, but a cook who cooks food/servant.

The inscription on one of Mukha mandapa pillars records that the pillar was donated by Kodumbalur Kolanchetti Kambanatha Santhathanukka Pallavaraiyan.

Kovi Rajakesari’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by a person of Kodumbalur of Urathur Kootram.

Chonadu Vazhangiaruliya  Sundara Pandyan 28^th reign year inscription Siva Brahmin Alwan Thirukokodungundramudayan alias Kulaseka Brahmatharasan, Madathipathis and Temple officials gifted 6 ma land for the artha jama pooja and Naivedyam.

Kulasekara Pandya period inscription records that the   Visayapancharan Thirumadapalli was gifted by the Mudhusolkudi Nattu Nattavar ( thanmam ).

The Vijayanagara King Mahamandaleswarar Ariyarayan  Mallikarjuna rayar period inscription records that the Adaikalamkathar daughter Vazhiththunai Perumal Pillaiyilla kaana…  ( son …?), and her daughter Meiyarai and her sister Vazhithunai as Devaradiyars given to this temple. They were given 3 ma land and paddy.

Kaoparakesari Chozha Irukkuvel’s 7^th reign year inscription records that as per the request of Azhaganveerachozha Viswakarma and Kanmalar, a kala pooja in their name was created and Land was gifted for Naivedyam and prayer.

 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 750 meters off the Pudukottai – Manaparai Main road.

The temple is about 9 KM from Viralimalai, 37 KM from Tiruchirappalli, 38 KM from Pudukkottai, 39 KM from Keeranur, and 365 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Clouds in the form of Vimanam and Rishabam

Clouds in the form of Vimanam and Rishabam

Veenadharar on the Vimana

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---