Tirukalukundram

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Tirukalukundram (Tamil: திருக்கழுகுன்றம் Tirukkaḻukuṉṟam [ t̪iɾɯk ː ˌ aɻɯ kundrʌm ]; Thirukazhukundram also ) is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with around 29,000 inhabitants ( 2011 census ).

Tirukalukundram is located about 60 kilometers south of Chennai (Madras ) inland from the coast of the Gulf of Bengal. The nearest major town Chengalpattu is 13 kilometers north-west. 15 km east lies the beach town of Mamallapuram ( Mahabalipuram ). Tirukalukundram is the capital of Tirukalukundram taluks in the district Kanchipuram.

In Tirukalukundram is a major Hindu shrine, the Vedagiriswarar Temple. The sanctuary consists of two temples: one is at the foot of a hill, the other on its tip. The temple on the hill is the God Shiva in his form as a dedicated Vedagiriswarar ( "Lord of the Veda - mountain" ), the temple at the foot of the hill, his consort Parvati or Tripurasundari. The upper temple stands on a rocky spur. The most striking feature is its towering Vimana (temple tower). The lower temple has, however, as is typical for the South Indian Dravidian style, rectangular in plan and each one gopuram ( gate-tower ) at the inputs in every direction. In addition to the complex there is a separately standing large temple pond.

The sanctuary of Tirukalukundram was already in the 7/8 Century sung in the Tevaram hymns of poets Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar and of Manikkavasagar. The name is derived from Tirukalukundram Tirukalugukundram and means " holy ( Tiru ) Geiersberg ( kalugu - Kundram ) ". The name refers to the vultures that are traditionally fed here by the temple priests. According to legend, the vultures represent eight seers who were cursed by Shiva.

Gopuram of the lower temple

The upper temple

Vultures are fed by a temple priest (1906 )