Kundrakudi Murugan Temple
The Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar Temple, located in Kundrakudi near Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as Shanmughanathar. This temple complex is unique as it comprises two temples: the main temple, perched atop a small hillock about 55 meters high, and a second, more recent temple at the base, constructed by the Nagarathar community.
Kundrakudi Murugan Temple History
The temple’s legends are rich with stories of Lord Murugan’s compassion and justice. One notable legend involves Murugan’s peacock mount. As per the story, the demon Soorapadman and some other asuras (demons) deceived the peacock by claiming that Brahma’s swan and Vishnu’s Garuda considered themselves more powerful. In its pride, the peacock transformed into a massive bird, intending to confront the swan and Garuda. To protect them, Murugan intervened, cursed his peacock to become a hillock, and, upon its repentance and devotion, restored it to life. The temple hillock is thus believed to be the transformed peacock, and from certain angles, it appears as a peacock in shape. This association is reinforced by the entrance pathway, resembling peacock feathers. Accordingly, the temple’s Vinayaka deity is named Thogai-adi Pillaiyar, referring to the “feather-footed” Ganapati.
The hill was initially known as Kundrakudi, with “kundram” meaning hillock in Tamil. Other names such as Mayilmalai, Mayuragiri, and Arasavaram reflect the hill’s resemblance to a peacock and its association with Lord Murugan’s mount. The temple is also known as a place where several sages, including Agastya, and various divine beings like Indra, Narada, Surya, and Kama are said to have worshipped.
The structural temple dates back to the early Pandya period, around the 8th or 9th century. Inscriptions on the temple walls and pillars offer insight into the era, with references to Pandya kings such as Maravarman Sundarapandyan, Sadayavarman Sirivallhapadevan, and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan. Later, the Chola kings, including Raja Raja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, and Kulothunga Chola I, contributed to its renovations. Inscriptions also indicate additions during the reign of the Maruthu brothers, who played a prominent role in the region’s history and revered this temple, leaving bas-relief sculptures in their honor.
Unique Architecture and Deities
The main shrine at the hilltop features Lord Murugan in his form as Shanmughanathar, with six faces and twelve arms, seated on his peacock mount. He is flanked by his consorts Valli and Deivanai, but unusually, Valli is positioned on his right, and Deivanai on his left—a rare depiction in Murugan temples. This temple resembles the layout of a Shiva temple, with separate shrines for deities like Lingodhbhavar, Somaskandar, Dakshinamurti, and Vinayakar.
The temple also features intricate sculptures and carvings from the Pandya period, including 45 inscriptions related to its historical rulers. At the base of the hill is another temple dedicated to Shanmughanathar, built by the Nagarathars and known for its extensive Nagarathar architectural elements and art.
Kundrakudi Murugan Temple Rituals
Kunnakudi Temple is known for its healing powers, especially concerning skin ailments. Maruthu brothers’ elder was reportedly healed of a severe skin disease here, after which he renovated the temple tank, known as Marutha-Oorani. Devotees come seeking blessings for marriage, children, and healing, often receiving sacred ash (vibhuti prasadam) believed to possess healing properties.
The temple is mentioned in Tamil works like Tiruppugazh, a collection of hymns by saint Arunagirinathar, and Mayuragiri Puranam, which narrates its origin and significance. The temple is administered by the Kunnakudi Tiruvannamalai Templeheenam, a Saiva Siddhanta monastery with historic ties to Tiruvannamalai.
This historic and mythologically rich temple continues to draw thousands of devotees, offering a space for worship, healing, and connecting with Tamil spiritual heritage.
Kundrakudi Murugan Temple Archanai
- Regular Archanai: This involves a basic prayer offering for general well-being. The priest chants Lord Murugan’s name along with the devotee’s name, nakshatra (birth star), and gothra (lineage). This archanai is meant to invoke the deity’s blessings for protection and peace.
- Special Archanai for Skin Ailments: Given the temple’s reputation for healing skin diseases, specific offerings and archanais are performed by devotees seeking relief from such ailments. The vibhuti prasadam (sacred ash) from the temple, believed to possess healing properties, is applied by devotees to affected areas.
- Marriage Blessing Archanai: Devotees looking for blessings for marriage may perform a special archanai, where Murugan is invoked to remove obstacles in the path to marriage. This ritual often includes the offering of special items like flowers, coconuts, and fruits.
- Childbirth Blessing Archanai: Couples seeking blessings for children often perform an archanai in Murugan’s name, asking for his blessings to conceive. After a child is born, many couples return to the temple for thanksgiving and to perform additional rituals, often offering fruits, sweets, and a cradle as a token of gratitude.
- Kavadi and Pal Kudam Offerings: For specific festivals, devotees offer Kavadi (a decorated wooden arch carried on the shoulders) and Pal Kudam (milk offerings) as forms of archanai. These offerings are often carried out as an act of penance or deep devotion.
- Astrological or Star Archanai: Since Kundrakudi has historical significance with references to ancient sages and planets, some devotees perform an archanai aligned with their birth star to seek cosmic alignment and blessings from the deity.
Kundrakudi Murugan Temple Festivals
- Skanda Sashti: The Skanda Sashti festival is a prime occasion for archanai offerings, especially for those seeking victory over obstacles. This includes Soora Samharam (the enactment of Murugan slaying the demon Surapadman) and Valli Kalyanam (Murugan’s marriage to Valli). Devotees offer archanai for blessings and participate in processions and celebrations.
- Thai Poosam: During this important festival, devotees perform special archanais and carry Kavadi as a show of devotion, often to fulfill vows or seek divine intervention in their lives.
- Vaikasi Visakam: During this festival, a chariot procession is held, and devotees perform archanais to seek Murugan’s blessings for prosperity and well-being.
Devotees visiting the Kundrakudi temple can choose from various archanais based on their needs, which are conducted with deep reverence and traditional rituals under the guidance of temple priests.
