Sivaganga District Temples

DISTRICT	PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Sivaganga Dist	Ariyakudi	Sri Thiruvenkadamudayan Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Devakottai	Sri Kottai Amman Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Devakottai	Sri Saibaba Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Devakottai	Sri Sundareswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Idaikattur	Arulmigu Karuvaludaiya Ayyanar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Idaikattur	Sacred Heart Shrine
Sivaganga Dist	Idaikattur	Siddhar Sri Idaikadar & Navagraha Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Idaikattur	Sri Aazhi Manikandeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Idaikattur	Sri Kariamanicka Perumal Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Iluppaikudi	Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Iraniyur	Sri Atkondanathar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Kalayarkoil	Swarna Kaaleeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Kanadukathan	Sri Sundareswarar & Ayyanar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Karaikudi	Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Koviloor	Sri Kotravaleeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Kundrakudi	Masilichuram - Rock Cut Cave  Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Kundrakudi	Sri Shanmuganathar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Mathur	Iinutreeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Nemam	Jayamkonda Soleeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Pillayarpatti	Sri Karpaka Vinayagar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Piranmalai	Kodunkundra nathar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Pulvayal	Sri Thiyagarajar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Sakkottai	Sri Veerasekareeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Thirumayam	Sri Sathyagiriswarar Rock Cut Cave Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Thirumayam	Sri Sathyamurthy Perumal Rock cut Cave
Sivaganga Dist	Thiruppuvanam	Sri Pushpavaneswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Thiruppuvanam	Sri Pushpavaneswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Tirupattur	Thiruthalinathar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Unjanai	Sri Tribhuvana Chakravarteeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Vairavanpatti	Arulmigu Vairavar Swamy Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Velangudi	Sri Desika Narayana Perumal Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Velangudi	Sri Kandeeswarar Temple
Sivaganga Dist	Visalur	Sri Markapureeswarar Temple

Kundrakudi Rockcut Cave Temple / ThennaRRu Nayanar Temple / Masilicchuram / Mayil Malai eswaran koil, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Kundrakudi Rock Cut Cave Temple at Kundrakudi near Karaikudi was a part of structural and Rock Cut cave  Shiva and Vishnu temples visit in Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Sivaganga Districts, on 21^st November 2021. This Rock Cut Cave is one of the 41 Rock Cut Caves excavated in Pandya country.

A Chandikeswarar bas relief is carved before the cave. He is sitting in padmasana posture, keeping both hands on thigh. The right palm is open and facing up, seems that he is holding something.  He wears padra kundala, Rudraksha and Yagnopaveetham.

The Cave Nos 2 and 3 are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Cave is with sanctum sanctorum and Ardha mandapam. The ardha mandapam is supported by 2 square pillars and 2 pilasters. The steps leading to sanctum is of ardha Chakra shape / sobanam. In sanctum sanctorum Shiva Lingas are excavated from the mother rock. Shiva Lings are on a square avudayar. Rishaba is in front of the middle Cave.  Dwarapalakas are on the side of the front ardha mandapam. The Dwarapalakas are in three bangha standing posture keeping one hand on the thandam and a snake is coiled around it. The other hand is in kadi hastam. A maguda is shown on their head, wearing Padra Kundala, sarapalli, tholvalai, Uthra bandham and yagnopaveetham. A Sword holder is shown on his hip.

In the next panel Mahavishnu with 4 hands is shown along with Garuda. Maha Vishnu is not in the usual posture. While the upper hands holds Changu / conch and Chakra, Maha Vishnu rests his left hand on Garuda and holding some thing in the right hand. He wears Kundala, sarapalli, Tholvalai, bangles and Yagnopaveetham. Garudan is in folding hands which is an unusual posture.

Bhairavar, Raishabam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are in front of the Cave. There is a Vinayagar Sculpture carved on the right side of the rock. Out of 41 Rock Cut caves in Pandya country, 18 Caves has Vinayagar sculptures and this is one of the cave.

The First cave is with panels of Murugan, Dwarapalaka, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Sankara narayanar, Natarajar in Chathura nadanam with 4 hands and two Shiva ganas playing musical instrument to Natarajar’s dance,  Kotravai with 8 hands  holding various weapons. Two Navakanda and Arikanda sculptures are shown below. All the original sculptures are finished with lime motor and colourful painting was done. Some of the Pictures are down loaded from the website and FB. My sincere thanks to Saravanamaniyan P A and the unknown Photographers.

The rock cut Cave was extended with structural mandapam, in which two shrines are also during Vijayanagara Nayakas period.  Part of Saptamatrikas and Jyeshtadevi / Thavvai/ Mootha Devi  Sculptures are kept in front of a shrine.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This rock Cut Cave was excavated during early 8^th century Pandya period. Pandya period Tamil vattezhuthu inscriptions are found on the pillars. Latter maintained and extended during Chozhas and Vijayanagara’s period. One of the Pandya period Vattezhuthu inscription mentions a name of  this rock cut cave as “Masilicchuram” means “Mayil Malai eswaran koil”

The Chozha period inscriptions recorded from this Rock Cut Cave Temple belongs to Rajraja-I and Kulothunga Chozha-I. Kulothunga Chozha-I, defeated Pancha Pandya Kings ( 5 Pandya Kings ) and Pandya Country was brought under the fold of Chozhas. Out of 5 to 6 Titles, the title starts with “‘புகழ்மாது விளங்க’… is very much popular. As per his inscription the Pandya Country was called as “Rajraja Pandya Mandalam”.  This place was called as “ThennaRu” ( ..?) and Lord Shiva was called as “ThennaRRu Nayakar” ( .. ?), “ThirukkunRakkudi Thirumalai Udaya Mahadevar”. The inscription reads as …  ( Thanks to Pon Karthikeyan )

1. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஶ்ரீ புகழ்மாது விளங்
2. க ஜயமாது விரும்ப நிலமகள் நி
3. லவ மலர்மகள் புணர உரி
4. மையிற் சிறந்த மணிமுடி சூடி மீநவ
5. ர் நிலை கெட வில்லவர் குலை தர விக்க
6. லன் சிங்கணன் மேல் கடல் பாய திக்
7. கனைத்துந் தன் சக்கர நடாத்தி விஜய
8. (ப)பிஷேகம் பண்ணி வீர ஸிம்ஹாஸ
9. நத்து அவநி முழுதுடையாளோடு
10. ம் வீற்றிருந்தருளிய த்ரிபுவன சக்கரவத்திகள்
11. ஶ்ரீ கொலோத்துங்க சோழ தேவ
12. ற்கு யாண்டு நாற்பதாவது இராஜரா
13. ஜ பாண்டி நாட்டு இராஜேந்த்ர சோ
14. ழ வளநாட்டு தெநாற்றுப் போக்குத் தி
15. ருக்குந்றக்குடித் திருமலை உடைய ம
16. ஹா தேவற்கு நாட்டாந் வீரசேகரநாந
17. விருதராஜ பயங்கர அதலையூர் நாடா
18. ழ்வாநேந் தெநாற்றுப் போக்கில்
19. எந் ஜீவிதமாய்யுள்ள ஊர்கள் திருக்கு
20. ந்றக்குடியிலும் வேழவூர்ரிலும் படை
21. காணியிலும் வெட்டங்குடியிலும் மகா
22. ஞ்சிரங்குடியிலும் சாழியிலும் பாதிரி
23. க்குடியிலும் பாரிவயர மங்கலதும்
24. மேற் கண்ண மங்கலத்தும் இத்தே
25. வர் தேவதாநமாய்யுள்ள நிலங்களெ
26. ல்லாம் இவ்வாண்டு முதல் எற்றைக்கு
27. ம் இறைய் தவிர்த்துக் குடுத்துக் குடுத்
28. தமைக்குக் கல்வெட்டிக் குடுத்தேந்
29. விருதராஜ ப(பு) யங்கர அதலையூர் நா
30. டாழ்வாநேந் திருக்குந்றக்குடித் திருமலை
31. உடைய மகாதேவக்கு இது பந்
32. மஹேஸ்வர ரக்ஷை”

HOW TO REACH

This Rock cut cave is on the west side of the hill, Kundrakudi Murugan Temple.

Kundrakudi is 14 KM from Karaikudi, 40 KM from Pudukkottai, 47 KM from Sivagangai, 88 KM from Tiruchirappalli and 414 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Atkondanathar Temple / ஆட்கொண்டநாதர் கோயில், இரணியூர் / Iranikkovil, Iraniyur, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Atkondanathar temple at Iraniyur near Tirupattur was a part of structural and Rock Cut cave  Shiva and Vishnu temples visit in Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Sivaganga Districts, on 21^st November 2021. This is one of the 9 Shiva temples constructed by Nattukkottai Nagarathars, after they shifted from Thiruvarur and about 3800 families belongs to this temple. 

 

Moolavar  : Sri Atkondanathar

Consort    : Sri Sivapuradevi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with Ashta Lakshmi Mukha mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Murugan are on the mukha mandapam parapet wall. The Rajagopurams on the east side and South side are 5 Tiers. Moolavar is of swayambhu. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam / Idabam are in maha mandapam in front of ardha mandapam. Utsavars and Natarajar are in ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are infront of the ardha mandapam. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy is on pedestal supported by 4 lions, Lingothbavar and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south with 2 hands in bhaya varada hastam. Bhairavar is also in a separate sannidhi adjacent to Ambal Sannidhi. In praharam Natarajar, Suryan, Chandran, Navagrahas, Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar / Murugan ( all the three are in sitting posture on Peacock vahanam), Gajalakshmi and Chandikeswarar.

Kali, Vayu, Rathi and Manmathan

Kalyana sundarar, Varunan and Maha vishnu & Narasimhar

Murugan, Manickavasagar, Indran and Tripurantagar

Venkadamudayan, Agni, Durvasar and Narthana Vinayagar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam. Ashta Lakshmi sculptures are in the Mukha mandapam in front of Rajagopuram. Ashtalakshmi Sculptures are on the pillars. The Mukha mandapam ceilings are painted with floral designs, Lord Shiva, Parvati, 12 rasis etc,.

The maha mandapam pillars are with exquisitely carved more than 200 big sculptures which includes, Nava Durgai, Murugan, Vinayagar, Pickshadanar, Veerabhadrar,  Rishabaroodar, Thiripurantagar, Lord Shiva with Parvati’s marriage, Ardhanareeswarar, Brahmi, Saraswati, Kalasamharamurthy ( the veins on the legs are carved very beautifully ), Mahishamardhini,  on the Rajagopuram Hiranya Kashibhu vadham by Narasimhar. On the Rajagopuram base front side has the bas reliefs of Vinayagar, Murugan /Subramaniyar as mayil vahanar, Manickavasagar, Indran, Thirupurantakar,  Maha Vishnu, Agni, Dhurvasar and Narthana Vinayagar,

A stone pipe arrangement was made on both sides of Sanctum sanctorum to drain out the rain water from the roof. The interconnecting beams of the pillars has floral designs, which includes Mahatma Gandhi, Rattai etc,.  

The sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam are in a raised level of about 3 feet from the praharam level.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhitanam with Jagathi, Threepatta Kumuda and Pattigai  on an Upanam with lotus petals and kapotham. A 3 tier stucco vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Provision has been made in the ardha mandapam to view Various levels from Shiva & Parvati, Kalasam of Moolavar vimanam along with Lord Shiva’s darshan.

Ardhanareesawarar as Rishabanthigar and Durgai

Durgai & Shiva & Parvati Marriage

 Veerabhadra & Pichadanar

Ashtalakshmi Mandapam

Stone pipe for rainwater disposal

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the temple web site this Iraniyur temple was handed over to Nattukottai Nagarathars in the year 714 CE. Hence the original temple belongs to 8^th century.

This temple belongs to 3800 families resides in 34 Villages of Sivagangai District. As per Nattukottai Nagarathar’s history, 502 families lived in Kaviripoompattinam east street, accepted Pandya King’s request and settled at Ilayathangudi. During 7^th Century, in that 502 families, two brothers came to this place renovated and expanded Sri Atkondanathar temple. 

LEGENDS

This is one of the ashta Bhairava Kshethram and Bhairavar is Kala Bhairavar, Vinayagar is Viththaka Vinayagar.  Kubera and Vayu Bhagwan appeared on a horse vahana and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

To get rid of the sin caused due to killing of Hiranyakasibhu, Maha Vishu Came to this temple and worshiped, hence this place obtained the name of Iraniyur. Since Lord Shiva, blessed Lord Maha Vishnu and relieved from the sin, Lord Shiva is called as Atkondanathar.  When Maha Vishnu took the Narsimha avatar / incarnation in a furious form, Ambica, the sister of Maha Vishnu also took 9 furious forms as Nava Durgai. The same is sculptured on the pillars of maha mandapam. Students pray Kala Bhairavar for achieving high ranks in studies.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Kubera Poojas, Thirukarthigai ( November – December ), Kandar Sashti, Thiruvathirai in Markazhi ( December – January ), Maha shivaratri ( February – March ), Masi magam star Day in the months ( February - March ) are celebrated in a grand manner.

Due to presence of Kala samhara moorthy , People celebrate their 60^th birthdays ( Sashtiyapthapoorthi ) and 80^th birthdays ( sathabishekam ), Kanakabhishekam, Bhimaratha Shanthi, Ayush Homam, Kanakabhishekam, in this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs to 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The land line and mobile numbers of Viduthi + 914577 265645    +9198424809309, Manager +91 97506 36636 and +91 9443947997 and Mani Gurukkal +91 909521840.. may be contacted for further details..

The Official website http://www.iranikovil.org/about-us.php

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Iraniyur is about 14 KM from Tirupattur,  18 KM from Thirumayam,  26 KM from Karaikudi,  86 KM from Tiruchirappalli and 412 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Karaikudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

Kalasamharamoorthy

Hiranyakashibhu vatham

Moolavar, Moolavar Vimanam, kalasam darshan

Mahatma Gandhi

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---