Sri Shanmuganathar Temple, Kunnakudi

Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar Temple is situated in Kundrakudi, a village in Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Murugan.

The temple is open from 6:00 am – 11:00 am and 4 - 8:00 pm. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January - February) being the most prominent.

The place is also called by other names like Mayuragiri, Mayilmalai, Arasavaram and Krishanagaram as the hill resembles the shape of a peacock. As per Hindu legend, sage Agasthya is believed to have worshipped Murugan at this place.

The presiding deity Murugan is sported with the images of his consort Valli and Deivasana, each of whom are seen sitting on a peacock. There are shrines of other deities around the sanctum in the precinct.

There are various sculpted images of Vishnu, Durga, Lingodbhava, Harihara. 

Devotees get married in the temple for a bright future, and they worship Murugan for getting cured from diseases. The temple is administered by Kunnakudi Thiruvannamalai Mutt Adinam, which was established during the 16th century AD.

SONGS FROM SRI KANDAR KANIYAMUDHU, A COLLECTION OF SACRED POEMS IN PRAISE OF OUR DEAR LORD ARUMUGA

May my Lord Saravanathan, Saravanagurunathan the Almighty, who is the Eternal Truth transcending the Mind, World and Body; the celestial Guru to His ardent devotees; who is flawless and pure; praised by all from the eight directions (of the World) and Who is my ever-glorified Lord, Eswara; protect my Head every day.

May my Lord Muruga Who is the basic Source and Cause of everything and the sweet Son of Lord Siva) of Mount Kailas, protect my entire body.

May my Lord, the Holder of the red, glowing Vel (Who rouses in us the longing for Mukthi) protect my twin Ears to function normally. may Murugavel-the ever-young, all beautiful, Fragrant Lord protect my Mouth; may the benevolent Lord Kumara protect my Tongue and Teeth; and the younger Brother of Lord Ganesh (with His Elephant Face and Trunk resembling the Form of and signifying the basic manthra "Om") protect my spotless Cheeks; May Lord Sivasubramania (a harmonious combination of Siva, the Father and Subramania, the Son; Who are not different but One and the same Divine Entity) protect my rear Neck to keep it lovely!

May Lord Muruga, the Repository of the wealth of Divine Grace and the darling Child of Karthigai maids protect my Neck; May the Son-in-law of goddess thirumagal (Lakshmi) protect my Shoulders and ribs to keep them beaming and brawny; May our Lord with His twin-six weapons (including the Vel) in His twelve hands protect my flawless robust Chest; May the (Old) Chief of the flourishing *Kurinji (Mountain) Land (in Tamilnadu, the favourite resort of our Lord) protect my Elbows which are unblemished!

May my Lord, the younger son of Goddess Uma, protect my Fore-arms to keep then strong and sturdy! May Lord Muruga, the God Supreme, protect both my Hands in full to keep them mighty and manly; may the holder of the sharp, powerful Vel protect the back portion of my Palms, (which alone is visible when they are joined together during our prayers to our Lord) May the son-in-law of our great and glorious Thirumal protect the Ten fingers of my hands which are indispensable for all handicrafts and manual labour; may the young divine Lord, Kumaresan, protect my Back.

May my Lord *Saravanathan, the Almighty, who is pervading all spheres of the Universe (including the Heaven and Earth); Who is the Eternal Truth transcending the Mind, World and Body; the celestial Guru to His ardent devotees; who is flawless and pure; praised by all from the eight directions (of the World) and Who is my Eswara; protect my Head every day.

May my Lord Muruga Who is the basic Source and Cause of everything and the darling (Son of Lord Siva) of Mount Kailas, protect my lovely Forehead; may the Wearer of the fragrant kadamba garland, protect my Eye-brows; and the glorious effulgent Delty Thanigesan of *Thiruthanigai, protect my spotless, clear Eyes; the divine Babe and the Lord of the six Karthigai maids (i.e. stars, who fed our Lord with their breast-milk in Saravana poigai) protect my Nose willingly.

May my Lord, the Holder of the red, glowing Vel (Who rouses in us the longing for Mukthi) protect my twin Ears to function normally. may Murugavel-the ever-young, all beautiful, Fragrant Lord protect my Mouth; may the benevolent Lord Kumara protect my Tongue and Teeth; and the younger Brother of Lord Ganesh (with His Elephant Face and Trunk resembling the Form of and signifying the basic manthra "Om") protect my spotless Cheeks; May Lord Sivasubramania (a harmonious combination of Siva, the Father and Subramania, the Son; Who are not different but One and the same Divine Entity) protect my rear Neck to keep it lovely!

May Lord Muruga, the Repository of the wealth of Divine Grace and the darling Child of Karthigai maids protect my Neck; May the *Son-in-law of goddess thirumagal (Lakshmi) protect my Shoulders and ribs to keep them beaming and brawny; May our Lord with His twin-six weapons (including the Vel) in His twelve hands protect my flawless robust Chest; May the (Old) Chief of the flourishing *Kurinji (Mountain) Land (in Tamilnadu, the favourite resort of our Lord) protect my Elbows which are unblemished!

May my Lord, the younger son of Goddess Uma, protect my Fore-arms to keep then strong and sturdy! May Lord Muruga, the God Supreme, protect both my Hands in full to keep them mighty and manly; may the holder of the sharp, powerful Vel protect the back portion of my Palms, (which alone is visible when they are joined together during our prayers to our Lord) May the son-in-law of our great and glorious Thirumal protect the Ten fingers of my hands which are indispensible for all handicrafts and manual labour; may the young divine Lord, Kumaresan, protect my Back.

May my Lord, the Rider on the blooming multi-coloured *Peacock protect my Stomach which contains food; may the Lord of Devas with His elevated, fragrant shoulders protect my Navel bud: may the Son (who emerged from the devine sparks) of Goddess Gowri who is our Lord Kanda protect our Private parts; May Arumuga (the six-faced Deity) protect the Anus. 

May the Lord of the Invincible *Vel protect my Hip to keep it firm without any slackness or instability; May the beloved Son of God Siva protect my twin lovely Buttocks; May the foster son of Ganges (Kangeyan) and the Embodiment of Eternal Truth protect the twin-split portions of my Back thighs; May my supreme God (and the saviour of my soul) with His red lotus Feet protect the Front portion of my robust Thighs.

May the Presiding Deity of Thiruyeragam# (Swamimalai) protect my two Knees; may the Deity of Seer Alaivoi
(Thiruchendur) protect my well-set Ankles; May the Lord of the renowned Paramgiri (Thirupparamkundram) protect my two wellformed Heels.

May our beautiful young Lord Kumaresan of the hill-temples protect the ten Toes of my feet; May our Lord (Nathaswaroopa) of the green Palni hill protect Soles of my feet; May the pristine pure Lord Shunmuga, the basic cause for all Beings and things, protect my Entire body; May the god of Devas and the Lord (of His birth-star) Visaka be ever in my mind to protect it from the desires and distractions of the World!

May the peerless, powerful Vel of my Lord Muruga terrorize and drive out (from my presence) the ghosts and apparitions which threaten me with their huge noise and uproar, the Raksha Devil which longs for and lives upon animal and human sacrifice and Evil Spirits of all kinds which are apt to cause distress and deadly effects on me.

May the sharp Vel of my Lord protect me from the bad effects of sorcery, witchcraft and the Like, performed by wicked persons and from the powerful effects of their Manthras and Thantras!

May the powerful Vel in the sacred Hand of my Lord protect me from any injury or harm sought to be done to me by
my wrathful foes with their fierce weapons of sword, bow, Vel, trident, mace, wheel, stick "Parazu", spear etc. (may His Vel be an impregnable shield to guard me from the onslaughts of my Foes!)

May the sacred Vel (which safeguards all the worlds), of my Lord Muruga, who was a terror to the wicked Surapadma who was ever ready to pounce on his foes, protect and guard me) if those who are jealous, flesh-eaters, mean, devilish, cruel (like Asuras) ignorant and enemy towards me, daringly come to pounce upon, embrace and wrestle with me with a foul and firm determination!

May the bright, beautiful Vel of my Lord, the foster son of Ganges, come to my aid quickly to protect and prevent any harm to be done to me by the deadly poisonous snakes, lion, bear, dog, tiger, mighty elephant, cruel wolf, monkey, pig, cat, fox and such other quadrupeds.

My Lord! Just as the Tamizh letter "Nn" is an adjunct to the other letters of that language (by embracing them), may Thy supreme Vel of divine Wisdom (Gnanasakthi) likewise protect me and those of my coterie of Thy devotees! May the Vel also guard me against any harm to be caused to me by the species of cruel birds, rat, scorpion, "Nandukkali", "Seyyan", poisonous Lizard, "Vonan", "Pooran", spider and other slim bodied poisonous insects.

May the sharp Vel of my Lord Muruga Who emerged from the divine sparks (from the eyes of Lord Siva) afford me, with its immense power, timely protection from any danger or distress to be caused to me by the crocodile which is powerful in water and the pointed long-horny fish known as " Thirikkai" as also by the brood of other cruel beings Living on earth or in water! 

May the Vel in the sacred Hand of our Lord on the beautiful Peacock guard us from the mal-aspects of the Planets!
May the victorious Vel of my Lord, with His twelve robust shoulders, protect us from the diseases of the eye, tooth, nose and ear, Thimirnoi, Vatham and Sogai (i.e. Pale body).

May the vel in the sacred Hand of my Lord, Who split the Krouncha mountain, protect us from the approach and affliction of acute diseases such as the terrible headache which torment the head, beating like a drum, Adenitis neck (Kandamaalai), the severe hook-worm disease, Intestinalcolic, Bronchitis, Asthma, Tuberculosis the deadly disease of Gonorrhea (Which disables us from holding erect, or even rising from the bed) and Diabetes.

May the Invincible Vadivel of my Lord save me from the deadly sway of the family of poignant diseases such as the Pile (which causes burning sensation in the stomach) Virulent fever, Leprosy which reduces and deforms the fingers of the hands and toes of the feet, Piles, Peptic Ulcer, Dypepsia and Sinusitis (Janni) which causes death in no time.

May the strong and impregnable Vel of my Lord protect me from the disease which causes perpetual unquenchable thirst (by drying up the tongue), Vatham, Sayithiam, Arosagam, internal excess of bodily heat which reduces us with a wasting effect, undue and prolonged tiresomeness, Hiccough, diseases causing Pus, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Anda-vaathum and Soolai (accute stomach pain).

May the Gracious Vel of my Lord protect me from the infliction, even for a moment, of the dire diseases of Granthi
(which causes itching sensation), the disease of Paandu which causes swelling, Leprosy of white and black colour, vomiting and the disease of Pavuthram which appears in no time, causing no little pain.

May the sacred Vel in the Hand of my ever-gracious Lord *Shashtinathan come to me, of its own accord, and protect me wherever I may be, whether on earth, tree, mountain, fire or in cool water or when I ride in a vehicle or even if I be in the sky or underground or in any other place, anywhere! 

May the sacred Vel of my Lord, Who hath on His divine fragnant shoulder the three pointed trident (resumbling the Tamil letter (uu), protect me In Front ; May the Vel of my Lord with His twelve sacred eyes (like the twelve vowels of the Tamil alphabet commencing with the letter (9() protect me on the Back side ; May the Vel of my Lord with His Name of six letters (in Tamil i.e., Saravanabhava) commencing with the first letter (a) "sa" protect me in the Mid-portion, May the pioneer Vel of my Lord, adorned with the mighty Crown of Divine Glory, protect me from above and below. 

May the victorious Vel of my God Muruga Who is the Lord of the sweet-tongued Sri Deivayaanai and lovely Life-partner Sri Valli(our Divine Mother) protect me ably well on the Easternside; May the Vel of the Hero of Divine Wisdom guard me on the South eastern side (swayed by the God of Fire);May the powerful Vel of the sacred Hand (which destroyed its foes) of my Lord of *Kathirkamam Who never retracted in battle, protect me on the South.

May the Vel of the sacred Hand of my Lord Muruga; Son-in-law of Lord Thirumal (with the conch in His hand) Who
danced on the back of the big black body of Rakshasa Serpent known as Kalingan when its strength was crushed and its body trembled, twisted and curved like the Tamil letter "su" "LA" protect me (in my devotional pose) on the South western side; and may the dazzling, radiating (Kathir) Vel of Kuga (the dweller of the cave of our hearts) protect me on the North western side.

May the sacred Vel of the beloved Son of Lord Easwara guard me on the Northern side; May the Vel of my celestial
Guru Who taught the Vedas protect me on the Northern side, pertaining to Lord Easwara Who rides on the bullock
(representing the four footed Dharma Devatha); May the Almighty Vel of my Lord, Which pierced right through the
krownji mountain, protect me when I walk, sit, speak, get up, lie down or sleep tie. in all poses and at all times during day and night.

May the Vel in the Hand of my Lord Muthayyan, which confers on me the life of Eternal Bliss, protect me graciously
when I take my delicious food, when I participate in tiresome physical exercises ( such as wrestling, fencing, etc.), when I control and concentrate my mind to worship the lotus feet of my Lord which are praised by the ancient Devas; May the Peacock of my Lord likewise protect me well.

May my ever-flourishing Lord Arumuga graciously appear before my humble-self and protect me in my bov-hood, prime of youth and advancing old-age (when I will be affected with grey hairs, shrivelled limbs, disease and infirmity); May my Lord (Om) Sivaswami (Who is the basic Pranava Manthra) protect me in the early Morn (i.e. before sun-rise); My Lord Sivagurunathan (the Preceptor of Lord Siva) protect me during (the bright)Noon and Afternoon.

May the Lord of the lovely feathered Cock and the plumed Peacock protect me in the prior part of the night; May my Lord, the Foe of the Egoistic Surapadma, protect me in the latter part of the night; May my Lord (Muruga) Whose Lotus Feet are adorned with anklets, and garlands of honeyful fragnant flowers, protect me at midnight; May my youthful Lord Kumara adored by the Vedas protect me (without any break or Slackness) for ever!

May my Lord Saravanabhavanar protect me both when 1 am alone and in the
company of others; May the God and Guru of saint Arunagirinathar who composed and sang the immortal and
intensely devotional Kandar Anubhoothi songs (with divine wisdom) guard me for ever; May my Lord (Shunmuga) protect me (Kumaragurudasan) who has composed these precious verses (of powerful effect) to be chanted with the fullness of heart, zeal and devotion!

“OM SRI SHANMUGANATHA SARAVANAGUHANATHA SHIVAGURUNATHAYA NAMO NAMAHA”

WRITTEN BY

R. HARISHANKAR