Muchu-kundesvara Temple surrounded by its parivara temples
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This is another early chozha shrine built
about 921 AD by Mahimalaya Irukkuvel (மகிமாலய இருக்குவேள்). It is certain
that this king belong to the Irukkuvel clan. However whether he was related
to the Bhuti Vikrama-kesari (பூதி விக்ரம கேசரி) the builder of Muvar-koil (மூவர்கோயில்)
is not known.
A deity from one of the parivara temples
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The temple is a parivara-temple, like the Muvar-koil and the Vijayalaya
Chozhisvaram (விஜயாலய சோழீஸ்வரம்) in Narttamalai. There is no idol in the
garbha-griham (கர்பகிரகம்) at present.
The main shrine consists of a garbha-griham (கர்பகிரகம்) and an
ardha-mandapam (அர்த்த மண்டபம்) facing
east. The closed maha-mandapam (மகா மண்டபம்) and the Amman shrine are later structures.
Only four of the seven sub-shrines characteristic of early chozha temples,
now stand. The walls of the main shrine are adorned with four-cornered
pilasters. The arches above the figure niches are surmounted by
makara-torana (மகரத் தோரணம்). Above the cornice are friezes of bhutha-gana (பூதகணம்) and vyali-s
(யாளி),
from the corners of the latter of which makara-heads just out. The stone
dome resembles that of the Thirukkattalai (திருக்கட்டளை) Sundaresvara (சுந்தரேஸ்வரர்)
temple.
The front view
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The temple seems to have been repaired in the 13th century when the
maha-mandapam was built. Of the stone-wall enclosing the temple only some
parts now remain. There is an ancient circular stone-well to the south of
the main temple.
 The
well inside the temple campus
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There is an ancient stone well close to the pillared-mandapam of the main
shrine, on the southern side. It is said to have a tunnel about 3 feet in width
below, probably an in-let for water from the tank in front of the temple.
The mandapam infront of the temple complex
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Before entering the temple complex, one approaches a stone structure
which looks like a mandapam. It is situated in the south-eastern corner of
the complex, by the side of the madhil (மதில்). It has walls on all the four
sides and a flat roof. It consists of a large pillared hall in front and a
small cell on the back-side. The entrance to this is from the east, outside
the temple complex. The entrance is flanked by two hexagonal pilasters. The
base of the pilaster is carved in the shape of a lion sitting erect and
carrying the pillar on its back.
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