Saturday, March 10, 2018

Veerattaneswarar Temple, Thiruvathigai – History

Veerattaneswarar Temple, Thiruvathigai – History
The Thiruvadigai Temple was originally built as a Jain temple by the Pallava King Mahendravarman I in the 6th century AD. However, on his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism under the influence of Appar, Mahendravarman demolished the existing temple and built a temple to Shiva called Gunavareswaram in its place. Mahendra Pallava is believed to have attained the name Gunavareswara on account of the incident. The temple contains some remaining Jain artifacts. There is also another Shiva temple and a Vishnu temple nearby believed to have been constructed from the remains of the demolished Jain temple.
A king called Kalinkaraya is believed to have endowed lot of treasures and built various structures in the temple as seen from the inscriptions in the temple. King Rajaraja is believed to have stayed in this temple for a long time to study the architecture before building Brihadeeswarar Temple. Thanjavur Peria Koil (Big Temple) Vimana was designed after this Temple. The temple is designed with such mathematical accuracy by the Pallavas that the shade of the temple does not fall on the ground. In later stage the temple was used by the French Government, Arcot Nawabs,  Marathas and Britishers  for storing arms and as fort.