192. MUDHANAI

MUDHUKUNDREEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 14kms from Virudhachalam and 11kms from Neyveli

Shiva: Mudhukundreeswarar

Amman: Periyanayaki

Speciality:

Old name of the place is Mudhalnei.

This temple has only 1 entrance.

The Vinayaka of this temple is seated on his rat Vahana.

The Dhakshinamurthy is under the stone Banyan tree.

Shiva faces east and is 2.5ft tall.

Amman faces south.

The Arumugar Sannidhi of this temple is very special. He holds Vel, Arrow, Sword, Flagstaff, bow, lotus in his hands. He holds the bow and arrow as if he is going to launch it.

There are 2 temple ponds.

History:

One leader of Kadava family called Kachirayar lived here. He visited the Virudhachalam temple everyday. He became old. He was not able to travel to Virudhachalam daily. He prayed to Shiva to grant Dharshan in Mudhunai itself. Without having the Dharshan of Shiva he would not eat. Therefore Lord Shiva granted Dharshan along with mother Periyanayaki in Mudhunai. The devotee requested the Lord to stay here and grant Dharshan to all the devotees who visit this place. Shiva agreed. He constructed a temple in the same spot where he got the Dharshan of Lord. He built it in such a way that any person who visits the temple can also have the Dharshan of the Virudhachalam Pazhamalainadhar Gopuram by standing in different locations in the Mahamandapam.