Kundrakudi Arulmigu Shanmuganathan Temple — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

Best place to prace a mint a beat architect buid by our tamilan and biggest gopuram with a Th temple has a five-tiered gateway tower, the gopuram in the hill, leading to a pillared hall and the sanctum. The temple is open from 6:00 am – 11:00 am and 4 - 8:00 pm. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January - February) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Kunnakudi Thiruvannamalai Mutt Adikam, while the rock-cut caves are maintained as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasandhi at 6:00 a.m., Uchikala poojai at 11:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Arthajama Pooja at 7:45 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for the presiding deities. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6:30 am – 12:00 pm and 5 - 8:30 pm on all days except during festive occasions when it has extended timings. The major festivals of the temple include the Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January - February). The other festivals include Kantha Sashti, Vaikasi Visagam, Aavani Moolam and Paal Perukku Vizha. Like other Murugan temples during the festivals, hundreds of devotees carry pots of milk and Kavadi around the streets of the temple.[2] Devotees offer pepper and salt to Saravana Poigai, the temple tank, as a mark of worship. The temple is revered in the verses of Thirupugazh the 15th century anthology on Murugan by Arunagirinathar.[2] The temple finds mentions in Mayuragiri Puranam, a medieval Tamil scripture. Devotees get married in the temple and worship for cure from diseases.[8]

In modern times, the Sivaganga district administration has identified the temple as one of the prominent tourist attractions in the district.[9] The temple is administered by Kunnakudi Thiruvannamalai Mutt Adikam, which was established during the 16th century.[10] In modern times, the caves are maintained and administered by Archaeological Survey of India as a protected...

Kundrakudi is a village in Sivaganga district that houses a famous Murugan temple, Shanmughanathar Temple, atop a small hill near Madurai, India. In Kundrakudi the Lord Murugan Temple is set up in a very small hill. Here Lord Muruga appears with his wives Lord Valli and Deivanai. The Murugan statue is set up with six faces and hence here Lord Murugan is called as "Lord Shanmuga", the meaning is Lord Murugan with six faces. The temple is under the control of Kundrakudi Aadhinam and maintained by them efficiently. At the bottom of the hill, there is a small temple for Lord Ganesh who is the brother of Lord Muruga and another temple is also at the bottom of the hill itself for Lord Muruga in the name Lord Palani Murugan. In this Palani Murugan temple the main statue is not fixed on floor and set up in a bar. Because this statue is brought to palani by the Kundrakudi Pada yatra group people every year at the time of Thaipoosam festival. Then on the way to the main temple three more mini temples are there, two temples for again Lord Ganesha and one for Lord Kadamba who is one of the devotees of Lord Muruga. In the main temple as already stated Lord Muruga is appearing with six faces and along with his wives. Statues of Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Lord Kulandaivelappar, Lord Nataraja, Lord Bhairavar and Lords of Nine Planets are also set up around the above-mentioned main statue of Lord Muruga. Generally the Nine Planets Lord are set up facing various directions but here all planets are set up facing the Main statue of Lord Muruga. Kundrakudi is situated very near to Karaikudi. Many famous temples such as Pillayar patti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Bhairavar Kovil Bhairavar Swamy Temple, Ariyakudi Thiruvenkatamudayan Temple, Thirupathur Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thirukostiyur Sowmyanarayar Temple are very near to Kundra kudi. So all of these famous temples can be seen in one day. Hill is very small one and climbing is easier. It can have around 150 steps. This temple is also called as 'Mayil Malai',...

Kunrakkudi Murugan Temple is located 12 km from Karaikudi in Sivagangai District. At the top of the hill called Kunrakkudi, Shanmuganathar blesses with Valli-Deyvanai and six faces with twelve tirukkaras. This correction, blessed by the Son, is the foremost of the places of prayer. The highlight of the temple is the peacock-like appearance of the hill, which is blessed by Lord Shanmuganath.

Legend has it that the peacock, the vehicle of Lord Murugan, was turned into a mountain by his curse. The Asuras once lied to Lord Murugan's peacock, saying, "Anna, the vehicle of Nanmugan, and Garuda, the vehicle of Tirumala, claim that we are more powerful than the peacock and can fly faster." Hearing this, the peacock, believing it to be true, closed its eyes in anger and took on a gigantic figure, devouring the blind man and Anna.

Brahman, Thirumala and Lord Murugan appealed to him about this. In response to their request, Lord Murugan rescued Anna and Karuta from the peacock. And to curb the peacock's arrogance, he cursed the peacock to turn into a mountain.

The peacock repented of his mistake and came to Kunrakkudi and became a mountain. Penance was as high as the mountain for Arumugam Perumana. The head history of the temple says that he rose on the hill in the form of a peacock and blessed it.

The worship of Kavadi can be specially mentioned in this temple. Apart from this, taking a jug of milk, performing organ donation and foot offering are some of the rituals performed by the devotees after completing their intended prayers. It is believed that even incurable skin ailments can be cured by visiting the temple.

At the bottom of the hill is the self-contained Thenarunathar Temple. It is noteworthy that this sage was worshiped by the sage Agathi. Itala Ambal has risen in beautiful form with the name of...