Kundrathur Kandazheeswarar Temple

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. Kandazheeswarar 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

Kundrathur village is associated more with Kartikeya (Murugan) than Shiva or Vishnu. There is a hilltop temple for Murugan, which is always highly crowded. The legend states that he stayed on this hill for a few days while traveling from the Tirupporur battlefield to take rest peacefully in Tiruttani. During his stay here, it is said that he installed a Shiva Linga, which is believed to be the presiding deity of this temple named Kadazheeswarar.

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. Though there is no proof, it is traditionally believed that the poet had regularly visited the temple, as he was residing in the neighboring street.

Kandazheeswarar Temple is a later Chola-era temple, probably built in the 12th century CE. The temple was renovated and extended by the Vijayanagara Kings. Most of the structural and sculptural works seem to have been done even much later than the period of the Vijayanagaras.

Three inscriptions are found in the temple. The oldest one belongs to Kopperunchinga's period. The latest one is from Krishnadeva Raya. Interestingly, there is an inscription that mentions the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. It is evident that this village was under the rule of the Mughal Emperor in 1699 CE.

Inscription # 1

Reference - A.R. No. 180 of 1929-30

Location - On the south wall of the sanctum

Period - 1240 CE; 24th year of the reign of the King mentioned below

King - Kopperunchinga I

The inscription states that two Brahmin brothers agreed to regularly light the twilight lamp in the temple of Kandazheeswaram Udaiya Nayanar, with the money donated by their mother's sister.

Inscription # 2

Reference - A.R. No. 181 of 1929-30

Location - On the south wall of the mandapa in front of the sanctum

Period - 1699 CE

King - Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb

The inscription records the renovation of the tower and Mahamandapa of the adjoining Tiruvuraga Perumal temple by Kudal Nayinar Mudaliyar Chokkappar. Aurangazeb is mentioned as Alamgir Badshah.

Inscription # 3

Reference - A.R. No. 182 of 1929-30

Location - On the slab set up south to the temple

Period - 1509 CE

King - Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadeva Raya

The inscription records the gift given by the king to Taluvakkulaindan Bhatta, the priest of Tiruvekamban Udaiya Nayanar temple in Kanchipuram. The money was provided to conduct temple festivals and light lamps. It records the village as Kundrathur in Kulotunga Chola Valanadu, a sub-division of Puliyur Kottam in Chandragiri Rajya.

It is interesting to note that the division called Jayankonda Chola Mandalam in the earlier days was replaced with "Chandragiri Rajya". 

Temple Layout and Iconography

This lesser-known ancient temple is located next to Tiru Uraga Perumal temple. The temple complex has two entrances facing west and south directions. None of the entrances has a tower (Raja gopuram), though.

Although the main shrine faces east, the entrance to the enclosure is in the southern direction. Hence, there is a wall obstructing Nandi's view of his lord. 

Kandazheeswarar is a tall and wide Shiva Linga. He is around four or five feet high. The small Maha mandapa has the south-facing shrine for the Goddess, Nagaimukha Valli. She bears such a beautiful Tamil name.

Beautiful Vijayanagara-era Ganesha and Dakshinamurti, two or three centuries older Durga, and the new images of Lingodbhava and Brahma, adorn the niches (Koshta) of the outer walls of the sanctum. 

The impressive icon of Chandikeshwara in the usual south-facing sub-shrine appears to be a few centuries old.

Small images of Ganesha and Subramanya flanked by his two consorts guard the entrance of the main shrine.

The images of all 63 devotees of Shiva named Nayanmars are seen in the outer circumambulatory path (prakara).

Behind Nandi mandapa, the dhwajastambha (flag staff) and bali peetha (offering platform) are located. The flagstaff has an image of Ganesha embedded on it.

A separate shrine for a bigger and older Shiva Linga named Vaaleeswarar along with his consort, Balambikai, is found.

The nine planets (Nava grahas) are found atop a lotus platform (Padma peetham). Ganesha is seen under a huge holy tree. There is an interesting relief image of hunter-turned-devotee Kannappa Nayanar, sacrificing his eye, with his one foot on Shiva Linga. 

The four main devotees called Nalvar, Karpaga Vinayaka and Surya are some of the other icons found on the temple premises.

The shrine of Bhairava stands out due to its unique feature. There are three images of Bhairava - Kapala Bhairava with elephant, Samhara Bhairava with lion and Unmatta Bhairava with a horse.

Happy travelling. 

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