Swaminatha Swamy Temple Kundukkarai

Kundukkarai Sri Swaminatha Swami Temple is located near Kundukkarai in Ramanathapuram district-Tamilnadu. This temple is around 300 years old and is considered very ancient.The main deity here is Lord Swaminatha Murugan.

At the temple entrance, the Rajagopuram features symbols like Nandi, a spear (Vel), a peacock, a snake, and a flagpole, which attract devotees

In the Swaminatha Swami Temple built for Lord Murugan, Murugan appears in a form with 11 heads and 22 hands, blessing devotees.

According to legend, after defeating the demon Surapadman, Murugan came to this place and stayed here. It is believed that he gives blessings in the form of Vishwaroopam here.

While in other temples Lord Muruga is shown as a Guru, explaining the meaning of the Pranava Mantra to his father, Lord Shiva, while sitting on Shiva’s lap. But in this temple, Lord Muruga is seated on a hill, while Lord Shiva stands, listening to the teaching. This unique posture represents the idea that Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga are one and the same.

Temple History

About 300 years ago, Bhaskara Sethupathi, who lived in Ramanathapuram, was a devoted visitor to the Kundukarai temple to worship Lord Muruga. After returning from a pilgrimage to Swamimalai, Lord Muruga appeared to him in a dream, advising him to replace the old idol in the temple with a new one for the prosperity of his family. Sethupathi followed this divine instruction with great devotion and named the deity Swaminathan, as he is called in Swamimalai.

At this temple, a flower-sprinkling festival is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai. The temple also has a large idol of Goddess Durga, carved similarly to Lord Murugan’s statue. This 7-foot-tall Durga has 18 arms and stands in a grand form. Special abhishekam and worship are performed for her on all nine days of Navaratri. On the day of Thai Pongal, a decoration called “Shakambari” is done, where the goddess is adorned with vegetables and fruits.

During Vaikasi Vishakam, a Brahmotsavam festival is held here. Other major festivals celebrated at this temple include Surasamharam, Thirukarthigai, Thaipusam, and Panguni Uthiram. After Tiruchendur, this temple is known for its grand celebration of Surasamharam. Devotees who worship Murugan here are believed to excel in academics. They fulfill their vows by performing abhishekam, offering clothes, and donating for temple renovations.