குன்றக்குடி (குன்னக்குடி) ஷண்முகநாதர் கோயில்Kunrakudi (Kunnakudi) Shanmuganathar Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

Kunrakudi (Kunnakudi) Shanmuganathar Temple stands on a peacock-shaped hill near Karaikudi in Sivaganga district, giving the hill its names Mayuragiri and Mayilmalai. One of the oldest Murugan shrines, it preserves early Pandya rock-cut cave temples of the 8th to 9th centuries on the lower rock, noted for among the earliest sculpted dvarapalas in South India, with later Chola additions and a five-tiered gopuram. In the sanctum Murugan is enshrined as Shanmuganathar, six-faced and twelve-armed, seated on his peacock and flanked by his consorts Valli and Devasena. Tradition holds that the sage Agastya worshipped Murugan at this hill, and the temple is celebrated in Arunagirinathar's Thiruppugazh and the Mayuragiri Puranam. Its rock-cut heritage, hill setting and antiquity make Kunrakudi a distinctive seat of Murugan worship in the Chettinad region. Chief festivals include Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Aadi Krithigai and Skanda Sashti, when devotees ascend the sacred peacock hill.