Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi

Somasundareswarar, Kilakurichi

Saivite Temples, Pudhukottai District

God

Somasundareswarar, facing east

Goddess

Anandavalli, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Muruga, Chandikeswara, Navagraha

Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi is an old temple that has dilapidated over the ages. During our visit some parts were being renovated and hopefully the temple should be back to its old glory soon. The temple is entered through a gate in the south side. A single Prakaram houses the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The shrines were empty as construction work was going on. A Mandapam is in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum from where both the main deity and Goddess are visible.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Pond in the north side

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi is said to be several hundred years old and dates back to the Chola Period. There are several inscriptions on the base of the sanctum sanctorum. The details from them are not available to us at present. We came to know that the inscriptions belong to the time of Kulothunga Chola III.

Legend

Kilakurichi being in the border of the ancient Pandya and Chola Kingdoms was frequently a witness to battles. The village did not have a temple and the people had to go elsewhere for worship. The news reached the Chola King through his spies and since it was strategically located he decided to build the Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi temple and monitor the Chola presence at the border.

Directions

Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi is about 7.5 kilometers southwest of Narthamalai. Somasundareswarar Kilakurichi is about 5 kilometers northeast of Annavasal.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest would be Thiruchirapalli and Pudukottai.