Thirukazhukundram, some 15 km from Mamallapuram, is a town known for its religious and historic significance. This Tamil name translates in English as ‘sacred hill of the eagles’. This is because two eagles came to the hill-top around noon everyday for food.
The famous Shaivite saints (Nayanmars) Appar and Thirugnanasambandar who lived in the 7th Century and Sundaramurthi Nayanar of the 8th century also refer to this place as Kazhukundram, which shows that it was associated with this tradition of eagles for more than 1,000 years. Ancient inscriptions also mention the name Kazhukundram. The prefix ‘Thiru’ meaning ‘sacred’ was added later.
The Pallava era temple for Shiva called Vedagirishwarar, is located at the summit of the 500-foot high hill with a flight of steep steps leading to the top. Many images including Somaskanda (Shiva and Parvati with their son Skanda) and Yoga Dakshinamurti have been carved on the inner walls of the sanctum.
The circumambulatory passage (pradakshina) around this shrine bear vestiges of the Chola times. There is a small tank called Pakshitirtham near this temple. According to tradtion, Appar, Thirujnanasambandar, Sundaramurti Nayanar and Manikkavachakar — the four famous devotees of Shiva (Nalvar) — did not climb up this sacred hill, but instead worshipped Shiva from another place closeby which is now known as ‘Nalvar Kovil’.
A 7th Century Pallava rock-cut cave-temple dedicated to Shiva called Orukal Mandapam, is slightly below the Vedagirishwara temple on the hill. An inscripiton of Narasimhavarman I Pallava is found etched here. This monument is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
(The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture)