Pon Vilaintha Kalathur Munkudumeeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Pon Vilaintha Kalathur Munkudumeeswarar Temple, P.V. Kalathur, Kanchipuram district– 603 405 Mobile: +91-97890 49704 / +91-99624 67355

Deity

Munkudumeeswarar Amman: Meenakshi

Introduction

• Location: Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, 10 km from Chengalpet, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.
• Deity: Lord Shiva, known as Munkudumeeswarar; Goddess Meenakshi Amman.
• Specialty: Notable for the tuft (Kudumi) on the head of the Shivalinga.
• Historical Background: The temple is believed to be over 1000 years old, built by Rajendra Chozhan.

Puranic Significance

• Legend of Munkudumeeswarar:
  • A king, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, would receive Prasadam daily from the temple.
  • One day, while waiting for the king, the priest’s flowers got mixed with the queen’s hair, leading to a misunderstanding.
  • To prove the priest’s innocence, the king demanded to see if the Lord had a tuft of hair.
  • The next day, the priest discovered a tuft on the Shiva Lingam, confirming the divine mercy and leading to the deity being named Munkudumeeswarar.
• Village Name Origin:
  • The village name “Pon Vilaintha Kalathur” translates to “gold harvested” due to a legend involving Vedanta Desikar, who witnessed gold where a white horse had run.

Beliefs

• Devotee Practices:
  • Those seeking mental peace or relief from deception pray here.
  • After receiving blessings, devotees often perform Abhishekam and offer clothing and special poojas.

Special Features

• Deity Representation:
  • Munkudumeeswarar faces east, with Nandhikeswara present in front of the sanctum.
  • Goddess Meenakshi Amman has a separate shrine facing south.
• Architectural Highlights:
  • Koshta Deities: Brahma, Dhakshinamurthy, and Durga surround the sanctum.
  • Shrines: Anukkai Vinayaka, Muruga with Valli and Deivanai, Kalabhairava, and Navagraha in the corridor.
  • Sculptures: Beautiful carvings on the mandapam pillars, including a Panchamuga (5-headed) Lingam.
• Nandhi:
  • A majestic Nandhi statue faces the sanctum, with strong pillars suggesting it once had a Nandhi Mandapam.
• Surroundings:
  • The temple is set in a vast area amidst serene paddy fields, protected and maintained by the Archaeological Department.

Festivals

• Key Festivals:
  • Brahmotsavam: March-April (Panguni)
  • Chitra Poornima: April-May
  • Aadipooram: July-August
  • Annabishekam: October-November (Iyppasi)
  • Navarathri: September-October (Purattasi)
  • Skanda Sashti: October-November
  • Thirukarthigai: November-December
  • Shivarathri: May-June (Vaikasi)
  • Thiruvadirai: December-January (Margazhi)

Century/Period/Age

1000 Years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HRCE)

Nearest Bus Station

Ottivakkam

Nearest Railway Station

Pon Vilaintha Kalathur

Nearest Airport

Chennai

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