VELUDHARAN's TEMPLES VISIT: January 2015

15, January.2015.

My Tiny Village Pappavalasu is about 4 KM from Kunnathur in Erode district. Whenever I used to cross Kunnathur to Gopichttipalayam or Coimbatore thought of visiting the Kunnathur Shiva Temple. Some how it could not happened. But during my recent Visit to my native Place Visited this temple. I had done my school education in NRKN ( NR Karuppana Nadar Kalvi Nilayam ) High school and then I did my Engineering Diploma at Government Polytechnic, Coimbatore. During my school days I was not an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

Arunachala Pasupathi Dharshan, Irattai Pillayar and Sri Bootha Narayan Temple is on the way to East Rajagopuram, which is the end point of our Girivalam. Bootha Narayan Perumal and Irattai Pillayar temples are very near.

The present Shiva temple is a reconstructed one, without any remembrance of the past glory and structure. There was no epigraph, which might have been destroyed during renovation. I still remember, about the reconstruction of this temple during my school days through one of my relative. But after reconstruction the old beauty has gone.

HISTORY OF KUNNATHUR.

The old name of this Kunnathur was “Kundrathur”, in Kongu Nadu. Kongu nadu was called after name nectar. Kongu nadu was divided in to four parts via North Kongu Nadu, South Kongu Nadu, Mel Kongu Nadu and Keel Kongu Nadu. The present Erode district lies in South and North Kongu Nadu. This was divided in to 24 sub sections called as Nadus once again. Kunnathur is in one of the Sub sect Nadu called “Kuruppu Nadu”, which comes under Perundurai. It was believed that large number of Kurumpu section (குறும்ப இன மக்கள் ) people lived in this area. The name Kurumpu latter turned to Kuruppu. ( I used to wonder why this Name “Kuruppu Nadu” is mentioned in the marriage betrothal ceremonies ( Nadu Vilambuthal - நாடு விளம்புதல் ). Now I under stood how I belongs to “Kupruppa Nadu” – we belongs to “Kuruppa nadu Kammalars” ).

After reading the book about Kongu Nadu published by the ASI ( Archaeological Survey Of India ), I feel very proud of being born in a historical place which had links to Hindu and Jain religion and ruled by Chera,Chozha, Pandya, Hoysala, Vijaya Nagara Kings and Mysore Udayars, ( The Vijayamangalam was once a capital to Kogu Nadu, is very near to my Native Place. The Vijaya mangalam still has a jain temple which I have to explore yet ).

I had made up my mind that I will cover one or two places of History during my future visits to my native place. Hence I mentioned this post as PART-1.

KUNNATHUR SHIVA TEMPLE.

As per ASI this temple was built during 14^th century with Hoysala’s architecture. But this was completely changed to the present structure ignoring the past. There is no trace of the old structure now. It is a shame of the history.

Iraivan : Sri Kundrapureeswarar

Iraivi:

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing west. There is no Rajagopram instead there is an arch.
There are Sannadhis for Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan.
There is a Vilakku Thoon or Garuda thoon in front of the temple.
The temple is under renovation for Kumbhabhishekam.

HOW TO REACH :

Kunnathur is on the state high way between Gopichettipalayam to Thirupur and Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Moolavar Vimanam with Sandikeswarar Sannadhi

Ambal sannadhi Vimanam

Ambal sannadhi vimanam

Villakku thoon or Garuda thoon

SRI LAKSHMI NARAYANA PERUMAL TEMPLE

Some of the important features of this temple are ....

This temple just opposite to Sri Kundrapureeswarar Shiva Temple on the straight line facing east.
There is no Thayar Sannadhi, since Sri Lakshmi is sitting on the left Lap of Sri Narayana perumal.
The temple has lot of Epigraphs which proves that the temple was constructed during 12^th century. Now the temple is under renovation. There is no change in the old base structure.
Here also there is a Vilakku thoon or Garuda thoon in front of the temple.

HOW TO REACH :