Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #93: ShanmuganatharTemple, Kundrakudi

சண்முகநாதர் திருக்கோயில், குன்றக்குடி

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Kundrakudi

Dedicated to Lord Murugan the popular Tamil deity, this is an ancient temple perched upon a small hillock. The village is sometimes referred to as Kunnakudi, a derivation of Kundrakudi. Kundram means hill in Tamil. Kudi stands for a village. The hill is shaped like a peacock, the Vaakanam or mount of Lord Muruga. Thus it is sometimes referred to as Mayil Malai or Mayuragiri. It is about 40 m in height. It is an easy climb of about 162 steps hewn into the granite rock face. There are many historical and literary references to a river called the Thenaru (River of Honey) which no longer flows around here.

Legend says that the peacock, the sacred mount of Lord Murugan had an altercation with Lord Vishnu's mount the Garuda and Lord Brahma's mount the swan and destroyed them. To allay Lord Murugan's wrath for this dastardly act, the peacock did penance at this site. So the hill took the shape of a peacock. It remains a temple that symbolises repentance and redemption.

The temple is at least 1200 years old, although it is difficult to date it precisely and the site could be much older. Murugan worship is quite ancient in the Tamil country. It has been built and maintained by Pandian kings in the eighth century. There are inscriptions from later Chola and Pandiyan kings. In the late 18th century the Marudhu Pandiyar brothers have carried out extensive renovation work at this temple.

It has a five tier rajagopuram. The steps leading up to the sanctum at the top are covered by a roof, forming a long upward sloping mandapam. The pillars of the mandapam are adorned with granite and stucco statues of donors and benefactors including those of the Marudhu brothers, Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu. The Lord graces at the hilltop sanctum seated on a peacock mount and manifests in his Arumugan form, the Lord with six faces and twelve hands. His consorts Valli and Deivanai are also mounted on peacocks which is special at this temple.

Arunagirinathar in his Thirupugazh portrays the Lord thus in the late 14th century:

வானா டேழ்நா டும்புகழ் பெற்றிடு

தேனா றேசூழ் துங்க மலைப்பதி

 மாயூ ராவாழ் குன்றை தழைத்தருள் ...... பெருமாளே.

(my Lord thrives here on this hill called Mayuram by the river Thenaru, which is famous in all the surrounding country)

Festivals like Thaipusam in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February) and Panguni Uthiram in the month of Panguni (March-April) are celebrated with great fervour. The temple is usually open usually from 6 am to noon and then from 4 pm to 8 pm. Like most active temples it is closed between noon and 4 pm.

Kunnakudi or Kundrakudi is also the birthplace of the legendary 20th century carnatic musician and violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The other famous contemporary personality associated with this village is Kundrakudi Adigal, Saivite acetic, orator and writer who was the pontiff of the Mutt here, the Kundrakudi Tiruvannamalai Adheenam. The Mutt is responsible for the maintenance of this temple.

It is located about 80 km or 1.5 hours northeast of Madurai and 12 km or 20 minutes northwest of Karaikudi. It is 40 km or 45 km south of Pudukkottai. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Kanadukathan.

Sources:

Census of India, 1961: Temples of Madras State Volume 9, Issue 1 Office of the Registrar General. Manager of Publications.

Credits: Google Maps