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The word Thirukazhukundram comes from the Tamil words Thiru (Respectful), Kazhugu (Vulture/Eagle), Kundram (mount). It was known as &quot;Thirukazhugukundram&quot; in ancient times, which over time became Thirukazhukundram. The town is also known as Pakshi Theertham (Bird&#39;s Holy Lake) because of a pair of birds -Most likely&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_vulture">Egyptian vultures</a>- that are believed to have visited the site for centuries.

These birds are traditionally fed by the temple priests and arrive before noon to feed on offerings made from rice, wheat,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee">ghee</a>&nbsp;and sugar. Although punctual, the failure of the birds to turn up was attributed to the presence of &quot;sinners&quot; among the onlookers.&nbsp;Legend has it the vultures (or &quot;eagles&quot;) represent eight sages who were punished by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva">Shiva</a>&nbsp;with two of them leaving in each of a series of epochs.

It has also been known as Uruthrakodi, Nandipuri, Indrapuri, Narayanapuri, Brahmapuri, Dinakarapuri, Muniganapuri in the past. There are many inscriptions in the temple. It is also called Pakshitirtham.

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Sacred vultures fed by temple priests at Thirukalukundram, 1906

Sage Bharadwaja prayed to the god Shiva for a long life so he could learn all the Vedas. Shiva appeared before him and granted him the wish to learn the Vedas and created three mountains each signifying a Veda (Rig, Yajur and Sama). Shiva took a handful of mud and said &quot;Dear Bharadwaja!

The Vedas that you could learn are only this handful compared to the mountains present here, even if you live much longer and hence, learning is never ending and could possibly cannot be the route for Salvation&quot;. Shiva also said that in Kali Yuga, the simplest and the surest way to salvation is Bhakti or unfettered devotion, service and love of God and his creations.

It is believed that the hill on which the Vedagiriswarar temple is built, is the mountains signifying the Vedas created by Shiva himself. The name Vedagiriswarar means &quot;the Lord of the Vedic Mountains&quot; in Sanskrit.

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Panoramic view of the Tirupurasundari Amman Shrine at the foothills

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It is one of the shrines of the 275&nbsp;Paadal Petra Sthalams. The four&nbsp;Nalvar,&nbsp;Appar,&nbsp;Sundarar,&nbsp;Manickavasagar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Thirugnanasamandhar&nbsp;visited the temple complex and composed hymns in praise of Vedagiriswarar. A shrine, Nalvar Koil, is dedicated to them.&nbsp;Arunagirinathar&nbsp;composed many of his hymns of&nbsp;Thirupugazh&nbsp;in Thirukazhukundram.

Thirukazhukundram is located on State Highway 58, 70&nbsp;km away from Chennai and 15&nbsp;km away from the famous tourist town&nbsp;Mahabalipuram. It is also 15&nbsp;km away from Chengalpattu. Near road links are, 10&nbsp;km away from&nbsp;Old Mahabalipuram Road, 10&nbsp;km away from&nbsp;East Coast Road&nbsp;and 15&nbsp;km away from&nbsp;GST road. 
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	Main&nbsp;Gopuram&nbsp;of Hill temple of Thirukazhukundram
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sangu_Theertham.jpg"><img alt="Sangu Theertham(conch tank) of Thirukazhukundram" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Sangu_Theertham.jpg/150px-Sangu_Theertham.jpg" style="height:200px; width:150px" /></a>

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	Sangu&nbsp;Theertham(conch tank) of Thirukazhukundram
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orukal_Mandapa,_Brahma_Siva_Visnu_Cave_temple_1,_Tirukkalukkundram_Tamil_Nadhu.jpg"><img alt="Orukal Mandapa (610-640 CE) is a Pallava-era rock-cut cave temple about 50 steps below Vedagiriswarar temple, east side of the hill." src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Orukal_Mandapa%2C_Brahma_Siva_Visnu_Cave_temple_1%2C_Tirukkalukkundram_Tamil_Nadhu.jpg/129px-Orukal_Mandapa%2C_Brahma_Siva_Visnu_Cave_temple_1%2C_Tirukkalukkundram_Tamil_Nadhu.jpg" style="height:200px; width:129px" /></a>

Orukal Mandapa (610-640 CE) is a Pallava-era rock-cut cave temple about 50 steps below Vedagiriswarar temple, east side of the hill.
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tirukalukundram2.jpg"><img alt="Temple view from foothills" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Tirukalukundram2.jpg/150px-Tirukalukundram2.jpg" style="height:200px; width:150px" /></a>

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	Temple view from foothills
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tirukalukundram4.jpg"><img alt="Basement temple view from the hill" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Tirukalukundram4.jpg/200px-Tirukalukundram4.jpg" style="height:150px; width:200px" /></a>

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	Basement temple view from the hill
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tirukalukundram7.jpg"><img alt="Sangu Theertham(conch tank) view" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Tirukalukundram7.jpg/200px-Tirukalukundram7.jpg" style="height:150px; width:200px" /></a>

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	Sangu Theertham(conch tank) view
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	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thirukalukundram_Sangutheertham_and_Hill_Temple.jpg"><img alt="Thirukalukundram Sangutheertham and Hill Temple.jpg" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Thirukalukundram_Sangutheertham_and_Hill_Temple.jpg/200px-Thirukalukundram_Sangutheertham_and_Hill_Temple.jpg" style="height:150px; width:200px" /></a>
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