Sri Shanmughanathar Temple (ஸ்ரீ ஷன்முகாநாதர் கோயில்) Kundrakudi, Sivaganga

Sri Shanmughanathar Temple ,Kundrakudi,Sivaganga

Moolavar : Shanmughanathar
Urchavar : –
Amman / Thayar : Valli, Deivanai
Thala Virutcham : Arasamaram – Bodhi tree
Theertham : Thenaru
Agamam / Pooja : –
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : Arasavanam
City : Kundrakudi
District : Sivaganga
State : Tamil Nadu

Singers:

Arunagirinathar Thirupugal

Festival:

10 day Panguni Uthiram in March-April and 10 day Thaipoosam in January-February, are the two great festivals in the temple. Paal (milk) Perukku vizha in Chithirai (April-May), Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Aani Mahabishekam in June-July, Aadi Tirupadi Puja in July-August, Aavani Moolam Pittu Thiruvizha in August-September, Skanda Sashti and Arrow festival in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple very grandly.

Temple’s Speciality:

Sri Thenattru Nather graces as swayambumurthy.

Opening Time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Address:

Sri Shanmughanathar Temple, Sri Tiruvannamalai Adheenam, Kundrakudi, Sivaganga district.
General Information:

Lord Kannapiran, Creator Brahmma, Indira, Sages Vasishta and Viswamitra, Narada, Garuda, Sun God, and Manmatha (Cupid) had worshipped in this historical temple.

Prayers:

This is the most important shrine in Tamilnadu for submitting our prayers to the Lord. A sincere worship in the temple ensures the devotee a healthy life free from illness, freedom from various problems, child boon, longevity, education, prosperity, high yields in farms. Kundrakudi Kavadi is very famous. While mentioning anything impossible, a proverb goes, “It will not be possible though one carries Kundrakudi Kavadi”. It means indirectly that carrying Kundrakudi Kavadi would never let down the believer.

Thanks giving:

Carrying Kavadi, milk pots, observing Sashti fasting, men rolling around the prakara (anga pradakshinam) Adi pradakshina (step by step walking around the prakara) by women are the prayer commitments followed by devotees. They offer pepper and salt in Saravana Poigai and in Idumban shrine for remedy from skin diseases. Farmers contribute grains as their commitment. They also spill rice in the steps. People also donate cocks and cattle. Devotees perform Shanmugha Archana, Shanmugha Homa, observe Kruthika fasting, donate for renovation and do poor feeding.

Greatness Of Temple:

The hill is 40 meetam (a measurement basis) tall from the ground. Rajagopuram is 16.15 meetam tall. The total height of the hill temple is 56.15 meetam. The temple complex covers an area of 6.75 acres. The hill is in the shape of a peacock. As Muruga’s peacock vehicle was relieved of its curse here, the hill is called Mayil Malai-peacock hill. For many, the hill appears in a peacock form.

Presiding deity graces with 6 faces and 12 hands majestically. Lord Muruga is also known as Chetty Murugan, Kundrayur Udayan, Mayuragirinathan, Mayil Kalai Kandan, Kundrai Murugan, Thenattrunathar etc.

Thanattrunathar on the banks of Thenaru River in the east temple is a swayambumurhty. Sage Agasthya had worshipped in this shrine.

All merciful consorts of Lord Muruga, Valli and Deivanai add to the beauty of the temple with their graceful looks. The temple is praised in the Tirupughzh hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar. The other springs of the temple are Saravana Poigai, Thenaru and Mayil theertham. The special feature of the temple is that Valli, Deivanai and Lord Murga grace darshan individually sitting on a peacock.

Lord Muruga appears as if alighting from His peacock. Kundrakudi hill appears in the form of a peacock. There are evidences that enlightened souls lived here. There are also some Brahmi epigraphic evidences in the Jain Ashrams-Pazhis.

There are many shrines in this hill temple of exquisite sculptures. Great souls as Agasthya and Pandavas worshipped in this temple. Idumba from Kalinga carried a Kavadi to this temple and got his stomach pain cured.

Temple History:

Demon Sura and his men, intending to revenge the Devas, told peacock that that Garuda of Lord Vishnu and the Swan (Annam) were boasting that they could fly faster than the peacock. Believing this true, the peacock grew angry and swallowed them. Lord Vishnu and Indira appealed to Muruga to get back their vehicles. He also cursed the peacock to become a hill. Realizing its mistake, the peacock came to this hill Kundrakudi-Arasavanam and performed penance for relief. Lord Muruga pardoned the peacock. The temple is praised in hymns.