© November 2017 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 6 | ISSN: 2349-6002 A Historical Study on Sri Narampunathar Temple Tiruppudaimarudur Dr. R.Selvaraju Assistant Professor of History (Stage III), Directorate of Distance Education-B.Ed, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli-12 Abstract- The present study focuses on the historical Called as Mukkatselvan, he has three eyes. The temple of Sri Narampunathar Temple representation of Siva found as Linga and as Icon in Tiruppudaimarudur, Tirunelveli District of Tamil the Sangam age. And also, Siva is worshipped in the Nadu. The present research explains the structural form of a stump of wood known as the Kandu. Tamil architecture as well as sculptural art of the early poet Nachinarkkinniyar describes Kandu as “Deivam Pandyas, Cholas, and later Pandyas in the Narampunathar - Gomathiamman temple at Uraiyumtari”. Tiruppudai marudur. Moreover, the study describes the The sangam age declined due to weakness of cheras, historical significance of study area, temple, and cholas and pandyas in the middle of third century original grown of the temple. The researcher has A.D to Sixth Century A.D. Tamil Nadu was ruled by adopted a descriptive research method in the present Kalabhras. They suppressed the domination of Hindu historical study. In addition, historical methodology is religion including Saivism and Encouraging Jainism adopted for observing, recording, describing, analyzing, and Buddhism. During the end of the Kalabhra rule interpreting and comparing the data, which is collected Saivism began. Thus, the religion plays a significant during the courses of research on the basis of dynastic role in the society. affiliation and chronology, the temple selected for the present study is classified into three groups namely AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Early Pandya, the later Cholas and the Later Pandyas. The present work aims at high lighting the The finding of the study reveals that the past ancient development of structural architecture as well as greatness of Sri Narambunather temple played an sculptural art of the early Pandyas, Cholas, and later important role in the development of Saivism in South Pandyas in the Narampunathar - Gomathiamman India. temple at Tiruppudai marudur. The architecture and Index Terms- Narampunathar temple, architecture, sculpture underwent a great deal of development sculpture, festivals, poojas. experimentation, influence mutual exchange and INTRODUCTION standardization under the liberal and consistent Religion plays an important role among the people. support of these dynasties during such period. The In India, majority of the people follow Hindu objective of this study is describing the historical religion. Every religion system consists of some significance of this place, temple, and original grown beliefs and religious practices. Hinduism consists of of the temple. Contribution of various rulers to the six systems namely Saivism, Vaishnavism, temple poojas and festivals and rule of the temple to Ganapathinam, Kaumaram, Souram and Saktham. In the society another objective is to bring out the Hindu Religion, Saivaites follow Lord shiva, he is spiritual and cultural rule of the temple among the supreme deity. He is described as destruction in the people of this region. Hindu trinity. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The historian, Sir John Marshall mentioned that The scope of the present work is confined to the Saivism was the most ancient faith in the world. architectural and sculptural study of Sri Dravidian, Aryan and some tribal elements also Narampunathar - Gommathiamman temple. contributed for the growth of Saivism in India. The Tiruppudai marudur in Ambasamudram taluk Lord Shiva wears Godess Ganges crescent moon and belonging to the early pandyas. Later Cholas, Later Konrai garland. He is also called by general names Pandyas and Nayaks the structures that were added like Alamaraselvan and Aikelu Kadavul. Moreover later especially the Amman shrine and Durga shrine IJIRT 144900 INTERNATIONAL JO URNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY 149 © November 2017 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 6 | ISSN: 2349-6002 to the original layout or elevation during the later for further investigation of the architectural and Pandya period or modern times were also includes sculptural details of the Sri Narampunathur temple at the bronze images and the presiding deity of the Tiruppudai Marudur. temple. Ganapathi Subbiah (1977) deals with the HYPOTHESIS architectural details of the three early pandya temples The following central hypothesis are formulated at Kovilkulam Ambasamudiram and Tiruvalisvaram, and tested in this work. Temple created it fails to take into account about the Narambunathar awareness among the people. It gives economic temple at Tiruppudaimarudur. impressments in their life give employment to Soundara Rajan. K. (1983) discussed about the the poor and disadvantaged. certain important architecture characteristics of Raja Temple is the best tools to make the people to Gopalaswamy temple (Mannarkoil) Tiruvalisvara pious and obedience, Thiruppudai marudur (Tiruvalisveram) and (Ambasamudram). village is inhabited by various communities like SECONDARY SOURCES Bhiramins, Nadar, Yadavar, Maravar, Carpenter A History of Tinnevelly by R.Caldwell and and Vellalar. The notable feature is that the Tirunelveli District Gazetteer by H.R.Pate A manual peaceful coexistences prevail among these of Tinnevelly District by A. Stuart form an important various communities. secondary sources throw a mine of information Thaipusam, Adi thabasu, Thiruvathirai and car regarding the general history of the Tiruppudai festival are very popular among the people and marudur and Narampunathar temple. these festivals play as a major role to establish All the available literary works and other sources do the cultural unity. not give a full picture of Tiruppudaimarudur and its SOURCES FOR THE STUDY Sri Narampunather and Gomathiamman temple in The source materials used to do this research work respect of historic, socio, religious, artistic and can be divided into two categories as primary and architectural features. Hence attempt is made in made secondary. The former include temple inscriptions, in this thesis to examine the history of sculptural specimens and epigraphically evidences Narambunather - Gomathi Amman temple in and the latter consists of books published, an Tiruppudai Marudur in a very detailed manner. unpublished articles, journals, thesis dissertations METHODOLOGY handbooks. Census reports, Gazetteers, Souvenirs The present research investigates the history of and deities. Tiruppudai marudur and the architectural beauty and Archaeological survey of India's Annual reports on sculptural art of the Sri Narampunather temple. India Epigraphy 1905, 1916. Epigraphic Indica and Historical methodology is adopted for observing and South Indian inscription Vol. XIV also give recording, describing, analyzing, interpreting and information about devadhana lands and donation comparing the data collected during the courses of allotted to the temple. The sthalapurana of the temple research on the basis of dynastic affiliation and provides valuable information regarding the festivals, chronology, the temple selected for the present study structures the temple; poojas and festivals furnish is classified into three groups namely Early Pandya, first hand information. The administrative records of the later Cholas and the Later Pandyas. the temple are found in the office of the Executive Descriptive method is adopted in the present research officer of the temple in Tiruppudaimarudur. to study the Land and people, structure of the temple, REVIEW OF LITERATURE poojas and festivals art and architecture and Banarjee. N.R (1962) and Mathruboothalingam sculptural importance of the temple.However (1969) gave an attention only on Tiruvalisvaram analytics and comparative approaches are also temple, while the former can controls on architectural adopted in the Present study. and sculptural contents of the temple, the later deals LAND AND PEOPLE OF with only a few sculptural representations in it. TIRUPPUDAIMARUDUR Bala Subramanyan, S.R. (1975) focuses on Sri Tiruppudai marudur, in the present Tirunelveli Narambunathar – Gomathi amman temple, district in Tamil Nadu is small village located in Tiruppudai Marudur, which he provides more scope picturesque surroundings on the banks of the IJIRT 144900 INTERNATIONAL JO URNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY 150 © November 2017 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 6 | ISSN: 2349-6002 river Tamraparani very near where it joins with Maravarman and his son had built a small temple Kadana river. in 650 BC. After that, Pandians, Vijayanagar and It is bounded on the north by the historic place Kalakkad kings expanded the temple. Situated in called Mukkudal, on the south by Athazhanallur, 6 acres of land, Tiruppudaimarudur Temple’s on the west by Tamiraparani river and on the east compound walls measure 575 feet in length. by Thiruppuvanam and Arikesavanallur.It covers From outside, the temple tower can be seen to go up a total area of 503.65.0 hect. Lands. in five layers like a step pyramid. It is heavily The temple Narampunathar, facing east, is embellished with figures from Hindu mythology. The located on a beautiful bend of the Tamiraparani name Tiruppudai marudur consists of two words 'Tiru river and with the various additions made to it in denotees holiness. Pudaimarudur means village later times, the entire temple presents a situated near the Sivalinga kept under