Kundrathur Tiru Uraga Perumal Temple

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Kundrathur is situated at a distance of 13 km from Tambaram, the southern suburb of Chennai city. The locality is known for its numerous ancient temples. Tiru Uraga Perumal temple is one of the main temples located here. Besides providing the details on temple structure, icons, history and legends, this article briefly introduces all the inscriptions.

Legend

As per the legend, Kulotunga Chola had a disease that no one could cure. Vishnu appeared in his dream and asked him to visit the Tiru Uraga Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. The King did accordingly and got his disease cured. As an act of gratitude, he built a temple for Tiru Uraga Perumal in Kundrathur. While constructing the temple, Vishnu appeared to him in the form of Tirupati Venkatachalapati, and hence the sculpture was made as the replica of Tirupati Balaji.



History

The famous Tamil scholar and poet Sekkizhar was from this village named Kundrathur. He lived in the 12th century C.E. during the period of Kulotunga Chola II. He was the author of Periya Puranam, which talks about the lives and greatness of 63 Nayanmars in detail. 

Tiru Uraga Perumal, also known as Ulagalanda Perumal temple, is a later Chola-era temple. It was probably built during the reign of Kulotunga Chola II in the 12th century CE. The temple was renovated and extended by the Vijayanagara. In 1697 CE, the Maha mandapa and the Raja gopuram (tower) were built by a wealthy person named Koodal Nayanar Chokkappar in 1697 CE.

Three inscriptions are found, each from the Cholas, Telugu Cholas and Vijayanagara.

Inscription # 1

Reference - A.R. No. 179 of 1929-30
Location - On a pillar in the Maha mandapa
Period - 1160 CE; 14th year of the reign of the King mentioned below
King - Rajaraja Chola II


The inscription states that the temple priests agreed to light a twilight lamp with the money endowed by a Devaradiyal of the Tirunagesvaramudaiyar temple of the village.

Inscription # 2

Reference - A.R. No. 177 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1256 CE; 7th year of the reign of the King mentioned below
King - Vijaya Ganda Gopaladeva (Telugu Chola)  


The damaged inscription records the land gifted to the deity by the villagers. God's name is mentioned as Ilandatta Vinnagar Emperuman, and the village is described as Kundrathur of Kundrathur nadu, a sub-division of Puliyurkottam division of Jayankonda Cholamandalam.

Inscription # 3

Reference - A.R. No. 178 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the sanctum
Period - Mid-14th century CE
King - Ariyana Udaiyar (Harihara II), Vijayanagara


The inscription records the provision for appointing some "nambimars" for the temple service.



Temple Layout and Iconography

The west-facing temple has a colorful and magnificent five-tiered Raja gopuram (tower) with many beautiful stucco images. 


The moolasthana (sanctum) unusually faces the west direction. It enshrines the gigantic seven feet tall Tiru Uraga Perumal. The four-armed deity is in the standing posture. Perumal flanked by his two consorts, in the form of metal images, are also found in the sanctum.


The Goddess bearing a nice Tamil name, Tiruvirundavalli, is in a separate east-facing shrine.


Vishwaksena, Ramanuja and Nammalvar are found on the Maha mandapa. The hall has full of large round-shaped pillars.


Andal graces in a sub-shrine in the prakara (circumambulatory path). The next sub-shrine has the images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, with Hanuman in the opposite direction.


Ganesha, called Tumbikkai Alwar here, is seen near the shrine of Tiruvirundavalli.


The flag staff, bali peetha (offering pedestal), deepa stambha (lamp post) and the image of Garuda are found facing the direction of the presiding deity.


The sculptures of Ganga and Yamuna are carved on either side of the temple entrance. There are multitude of mini sculptures found above these river Goddesses. These are typical architectural elements found in most of the temples. But, some of these images are related to Shaivism such as a sage worshiping Linga and various forms of Shiva. This is unusual.


The carvings of ten Avatars of Vishnu and a few others on the ceiling of the base of temple entrance is attractive.


Happy travelling.







Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.



Location: Kundrathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600069, India

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