Rajakesari Vinnagara Emperuman Temple, Kottamangalam,
Trichy
Rajakesari
Vinnagara Emperuman Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Kottamangalam Village near Lalgudi
in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. Kottamangalam Village also has an Ayyanar
Temple, a Pidari Temple and a ruined Shiva Temple. The area where the Siva and
Vishnu temples were built was called Kiramangalachcheri, a part of
Korramangalam which had as its administrative unit the body called
the Perunguri Mahasbhai in Kalar kurram, included in Vadakarai Rajaraja Valanadu
(during and after the days of Rajaraja I). Kottamangalam was then also called
Jananathanallur, after a title of Rajaraja I.
This
ruined Vishnu temple is situated at about a few metres from the main road
beyond a cocoanut grove is interesting. There are eight inscriptions about
this temple, three of an unspecified Parakesarivarman (two of them dated in the
eleventh year, one of an unspecified Raja-Kesarivarmam, one of the twentieth
year of Rajaraja I, one of the thirteenth year of Vikrama Chola and one of the
thirty-fourth regnal year of Tribhuvanavira Deva (i.e., Kulottunga III). This Temple
would have been destroyed during the subsequent Muslim invasion, as it lay on
the highway from Trichy to Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
The
temple is now in ruins. It is unique in many respects and deserves the
attention of scholars. It is a brick temple built on a granite Adhishtanam.
There is no deity in the sanctum. A reclining Vishnu figure of stone lying
buried near the temple proves that it was a figure of Anantasayi, the original
deity of this temple. There are a few patches of the old paintings at least in
two layers on the inner walls of the garbhagriha. There is a dilapidated
stone mandapa in front. The temple can be entered by steps on the
sides of the mandapa. The garbhagriha is a square structure,
while both the griva and the shikhara are circular.
The
temple of Sri Rajakesari Vinnagar may be one of the temples built on the banks
of the Kaveri during the days of Aditya I, as suggested by the prefix to the
name, Rajakesari. The Temple is located at about 1 Km west of Kattur, 6 Kms
from Lalgudi, 6 Kms from Lalgudi Bus Station, 6 Kms from Anbil, 9 Kms from Mandurai,
21 Kms from Srirangam and 28 Kms from Trichy. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Kattur (500 meters) and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy (33
Kms).
Location
