Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur

Munkudumeeswarar, Ponvilaindha Kalathur

Saivite Temples, Thirukazhukundram Taluk

God

Munkudumeeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Meenakshi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga. Chandikeswara, Kootruva Nayanar, Surya, Bhairava, Saneeswara, Navagraha

Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur is an ancient temple beautifully situated in a large campus. This area used to reap rich returns from the soil through agriculture in the ancient days and hence called Pon (gold, riches) Vilaindha (grow) Kalathur. The outer Prakaram is very large and has a large Nandi with remains of a Mantapa in the front. A tall and strong wall protects the temple which is entered through a doorway in the south. The inner Prakaram houses all the other deities and the sanctum sanctorum which has a Vimana in the Gajaprastha form. The goddess shrine is separate and facing south. A separate shrine is present for Kootruva Nayanar who is said to have lived here for some time. The idol of Surya is large and about 4.5 feet tall. There are some excellent carvings of idols here. Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur is an ancient temple which has many stone inscriptions around the sanctum sanctorum. Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur was built by Rajendra Chola who ruled between 1014 – 1044 CE.

Legend

The priest of this temple used to take the offerings after Pooja to the local King who was specific to start his daily activities after receiving it. One day the queen in her excitement at seeing a beautiful flower on the plate took it and kept it in her hair. The shocked priest plucked it out immediately, placed it back in the plate and offered to the King. A single hair was noticed by the King in the flower and he questioned the priest who told him it was the hair of the deity. The angered king told him it cannot be true, that he himself will come the next day to check on this and if found wrong the priest’s head will be chopped off. The priest fell at the feet of the lord and lamented. the next day when the doors were opened and the King entered he found a tuft of hair in front (Mun Kudumi) of the lingam and thus came the name Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur.

Directions

Munkudumeeswarar Ponvilaindha Kalathur is in the eastern side of the village on the road to Ponpatharkoodam and Thirukazhukundram.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Chingleput and Thirukazhukundram for food.

Saivite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples