International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 8 Issue 1, January- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 |

A STUDY ON VIJAYALAYA CHOLEESWARAM TEMPLE – NARTHAMALAI, DISTRICT

Dr.W.ROSY

GUEST LECTURER DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY GOVT. ARTS COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (AUTONOMOUS) PUDUKKOTTAI

INTRODUCTION

Vijayalaya Choleeswaram in Narthamalai, a panchayat town in Pudukottai district in the South Indian state of , is dedicated to the Hindu god . Constructed in the Nagara style of architecture and rock cut architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the 9th century by Muttaraiyar kings, the cardinals of Pallavas, with later expansion from the Cholas.. The other portions of Narthamalai houses the 8th century Jaina Abode, the Aluruttimalai Jain Caves. There are also two rock-cut caves, one of which houses twelve life size sculptures of Vishnu. The temple is considered one of the oldest stone temples in South .

Narthamalai was originally named as Nagarathar Malai, known for a group of merchants who were engaged in this trade route between Tiruchi-Pudukottai, etc and played a key role in the maintenance of the temples, canals, irrigation tanks besides collection of taxes and other civic matters.

Narthamalai was originally called Nagaratharmalai on account of the business men (called Nagarathar in Tamil) who were active in business in the Trichy - Pudukottai - Madurai regions. The region was later captured by Medieval Cholas.[1]Though the temple is called Vijayalaya Choleeswaram, the temple was originally built by Muttaraiyar lieutant, Sattan Paliyili, during the seventh regnal year of Pallava king Nripatungavarman. As per some accounts, the temple is believed to have been built by the first king of Medieval Cholas, Vijayalaya Chola (848- 891 CE), but the view is highly debated.[3] As per the inscriptions, immediately after the construction, the temple was damaged by rains and lightning. The restoration work was carried out by Tennavan Tamiladirayan.

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ABOUT THE TEMPLE

The temple is located in Narthamalai, a rockyhill in Pudukottai district in southern Tamil Nadu. The other portions of Narthamalai houses the 8th century Jaina Abode, the Aluruttimalai Jain Caves. There are also two rock-cut caves, one of which houses twelve life size sculptures of Vishnu.[6] The temple is considered one of the oldest stone temples in South India.[7] The central shrine is surrounded by eight shrines, out of which six are still present. The main shrine faces West and the sanctum houses the image of Lingam, an iconic representation of Shiva. The walls of the sanctum are plain, unlike later Chola temples that have niches to house different images. The sanctum is approached through an Arthamandapa, a hall supported by pillars. The pillars are ornamental with rectangular shape in the bottom and the top and octagonal shape in the middle. The vimana, the shrine over the sanctum has a semi-spherical shape having four storeys. The sanctum is guarded by Dvarapalas on either sides. The inscriptions are made on the base of the Dvarapalas. There are also two rock-cut caves, one of which houses twelve life size sculptures of Vishnu.[8]

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International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Vol. 8 Issue 1, January- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE

The temple in a combined rock-cut and Nagara architecture is an early example of Cholan Art, continuing the tradition of the Pallavas. It is believed that the temple was the inspiration for the Gangaikonda Cholesvarar Temple built by Rajendra Chola I (1014-44 CE). The sanctum has four storeys in Omkara, shape of Hindu symbol Om. There were originally eight subsidiary shrines around the temple, out of which six are still existing. Each of them is identical with a semi-spherical top and a four pillared Madapa in the front. The Vimana, the shrine over the sanctum has sculptures of Uma, Shiva, Dakshinamurthy and Saptamatrikas. The individual images retrieved from the place are maintained in the Pudukottia Government Museum. The temple is the foremost structural of the Chola kings, who would later on go on to make Great Living Chola Temples in the next 300 years, declared as UNESCO as a World Heritage Sites. The temple is first among South Indian temples to incorporate Nagara and Vasara styles to be incorporated in the vimana.

The Vijayalaya Choleeswaram in Narthamalai, though so called under the name of the founder of the of , is a fine example of Mutharayar style of construction and indeed a forerunner of the magnificent temple at Gangaikondacholapuram built by Rajendra Chola. The first and second thala (base) of the temple vimanam is square in shape while the third is circular (vasara) and the griva and Sikhira also are circular.

Vijayalaya Chola was probably a Pallava vassal. Vijayalaya captured Thanjavur in 848, making use of the opportunity during a war between Pandyas and Pallavas. The Cholas under captured the Pallavas in the north and subdued the Pandayas and Cheras in the south. Parantaka I drove the Pandayas out of their territories and captured in 910. Rashtrakutasand Gangas in the north posed the biggest threat to the nascent Chola Empire and the Chola prince Rajaditya was killed in the battle of Thakkolam in 949. Parantaka had a long reign, and when he died in 950 his second son Gandaraditya became king. The Chola throne went to Gandaraditya's younger brother Arinjaya briefly before Arinjaya's son Sundara Chola took the reins of the kingdom overlooking the claims of Uttama Chola, son of Gandaraditya.

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International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Vol. 8 Issue 1, January- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939

The history of Cholas from the period of Rajaraja was tinged with a series of conflicts with the Western Chalukyas. The Old Chalukya dynasty had split into two sibling dynasties of the Western and Eastern Chalukyas. Rajaraja's daughter Kundavai was married to the Eastern Chalukya prince Vimaladitya, who ruled from Vengi. Western Chalukyas felt that the Vengi kingdom was under their natural sphere of influence. Cholas inflicted several defeats on the Western Chalukyas. For the most part, the frontier remained at the Tungabhadra River for both kingdoms and resulted in the death of king Rajadhiraja Chola.

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International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Vol. 8 Issue 1, January- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939

The Muthumariamman temple at Narthamalai is perhaps one of the most important and popular temples drawing tens of thousands of devotees during the annual festivals in the temple. Narthamalai is one of the finest examples of the cultural and sculptural heritage of the ancient days, and one should acknowledge with gratitude the excellence of the Archaeological Survey of India in maintaining these structures after restoration.

REFERENCES

1. Ganapathy (5 November 2004). "Classic example of Chola architecture". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 November 2015. 2. Jump up^ G., Jouveau-Dubreuil (1994). Pallava Antiquities - 2 Vols. Asian Educational Services. p. 16. ISBN 9788120605718. 3. Jump up^ Morley, Grace; Sengupta, Arputha Rani (2005). God and King, the Devarāja Cult in South Asian Art and Architecture. Daya Books. p. 1448. ISBN 9788189233266. 4. Jump up^ Rao, M.S. Nagaraja (2001). "The Concept of Jirnnoddhara". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. Vice Chancellor, Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune. 60/61: 15– 20. JSTOR 42936603. (Subscription required (help)). 5. Jump up^ "Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu". Archaeological Survey of India. 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

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