SRI KUNDRAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE, KUNNATHUR, TIRUPPUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

14^th October 2019.

The second visit to this Kundrapureeswarar Shiva temple was on 14^th October 2019. During my first visit, this Kundrapureeswarar Temple, was under renovation and preparing for the Kumbhabhishekam. As per the inscription this place was called as Kuruppa Nattu Kundrathoor ( குன்றத்தூர் ),  during 13^th Century and latter corrupted to the present name of  Kunnathur. Kuruppa Nadu was one of the sub division of 24 Nadus of Kongu mandalam during Kongu Chozha period.

Moolavar : Sri Kundrapureeswarar.

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing west. The Deepasthambam/ Vilakku Thoon or Garuda thoon in front of the temple. There is an entrance arch on the west side. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi are in front of sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum is in an elevated level.  In koshtam, Durgai, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy and Vinayagar. In prakaram Sandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suryan.   

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and arthamandapam. Amman is in a separate sannadhi facing west. As per the inscriptions the temple might have been built before 12^th Century. But this was completely changed and the temple looks like recent period temple. There is no trace of the old structure now and inscriptions are also not available.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

As per the Tamil Nadu archaeological Department’s report, the temple had 15 inscriptions of Hoysala King Veera Vallalan-III (14^th Century ), Vikrama Chozha-III ( 1275AD), Veera Pandyan (13^th Century ), Sundara Pandyan ( 1291AD) and Mysore Wodayar king Nanjararaya wodayar (18^th Century ) As per the inscriptions this place was called as Kun(d)rathur and Lord Shiva was called as Kundramudayar.

As per the inscriptions the renovations were carried out in 13^th Century for the same, mahamandapam, arthamandapam door jambs / frame and steps are donated by Kangeya nattu Vellakkal merchant Punniyathevan and Siruvalur Vellalar caste ( sathanthai sub sect) Kesan’s wife Anthiyuraandi. 

The Mysore wodayar’s inscription states that Kettimudali’s descendent Thamba Mudaliyar was given power in this area, who was thrown out of power during Madurai Nayak’s period.  A 13^th century inscription speaks about sharing proportion of income from the temples by Bhattar, Thanathar ( Donars ) and ThirumuRRa Nambiyars.

The inscriptions also speaks about donation of money in terms of Achu for burning Sandhya Deepam and Perpetual lamps.  If anybody looks for these inscriptions will get disappointed, since all the inscriptions were lost during recent renovations. Hope moolavar and Nandhi are original.

  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs

HOW TO REACH : 

This temple  is on the Kunnathur to Nambiyur road.

Kunnathur is on the junction of Tiruppur to Gobichettipalayam and Erode/ Perundurai to Tiruppur via Perumanallur. 

Kunnathur is 40 KM from Erode, 21 KM from Gobichettipalayam and 28 KM from Tiruppur

The nearest railway station of Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---