Kundrakudi
 |
Kundrakudi is a village in Sivaganga district that houses a famous Murugan temple, Shanmughanathar Temple, atop a small hill near Madurai, India.
In Kundrakudi the Lord Murugan Temple is set up in a very small hill. Here Lord Muruga appears with his wives Lord Valli and Deivanai. The Murugan statue is set up with six faces and hence here Lord Murugan is called as "Lord Shanmuga", the meaning is Lord Murugan with six faces. The temple is under the control of Kundrakudi Aadhinam and maintained by them efficiently. At the bottom of the hill, there is a small temple for Lord Ganesh who is the brother of Lord Muruga and another temple is also at the bottom of the hill itself for Lord Muruga in the name Lord Palani Murugan. In this Palani Murugan temple the main statue is not fixed on floor and set up in a bar. Because this statue is brought to palani by the Kundrakudi Pada yatra group people every year at the time of Thaipoosam festival. Then on the way to the main temple three more mini temples are there, two temples for again Lord Ganesha and one for Lord Kadamba who is one of the devotees of Lord Muruga. In the main temple as already stated Lord Muruga is appearing with six faces and along with his wives.
Statues of Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Lord Kulandaivelappar, Lord Nataraja, Lord Bhairavar and Lords of Nine Planets are also set up around the above-mentioned main statue of Lord Muruga. Generally the Nine Planets Lord are set up facing various directions but here all planets are set up facing the Main statue of Lord Muruga.
The Shanmuga Archana is performed to Lord Muruga here. The present cost for this Archana is Rs.2,000/- At the time of this Archana all Pooja materials are given by the Temple administrative body themselves and we need not to bring any pooja materials for such Archana.
Kundrakudi is situated very near to Karaikudi. Many famous temples such as Pillayar patti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Bhairavar Kovil Bhairavar Swamy Temple, Ariyakudi Thiruvenkatamudayan Temple, Thirupathur Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thirukostiyur Sowmyanarayar Temple are very near to Kundra kudi. So all of these famous temples can be seen in one day.
Hill is very small one and climbing is easier. It can have around 150 steps. This temple is also called as 'Mayil Malai', 'Mayurachalam'.