Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam – History
The
recorded history of Vedaranyam is found from the inscriptions in
Vedaranyeswarar Temple. The inscriptions date from the reign of Aditya
Chola (871–907 CE), Rajaraja
Chola I (985–1014 CE), Rajendra
Chola I (1012–1044 CE) and Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicating various grants to the
temple. Paranjothi Munivar, a 13th-century saint, who wrote the book Thiruvilayadal
Puranam, was born at Vedaranyam. An inscription dating back to Parantaka
Chola mentions the gift of
90 sheep by a merchant to the temple for the maintenance of a perpetual lamp.
Vedaranyam
continued to be a part of the Chola Empire and the Chola region emerged as a
centre of Saivism during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE).[9] After the fall of Cholas during the reign of Rajendra
Chola II in the 13th century
CE, the erstwhile Chola region was caught under a power struggle between
Pandyas and Hoysalas. The royal patronage continued to the temple during the
rule of the Nayaks. The Negapatam region (modern day Nagapattinam
district) was briefly captured by French troops led by Lally (1702–66 CE) in 1759 CE. The Tanjore district was annexed by British after the French failed to
subdue the king of Tanjore. In modern times, the temple is maintained and
administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.