Saturday, December 17, 2016

Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple, Thiruvidandai – History

Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple, Thiruvidandai – History
The temple was built during the Pallava regime in 7th century. Kanchipuram, was the capital of the Pallavas who ruled the region during the 6th to 9th centuries. They had Mamallapuram and Thiruvidanthai as their port towns and the two towns emerged as strong ports for the Empire. The temple is believed to have been built along with the monumental temples in the region. The temple has inscriptions dated 959 CE from the Pallava times. There were later additions from the Chola kings as indicated from an inscription during the 35th regnal year of Rajadhiraja Chola during 1052 CE. 
Raja Raja Chola, is believed to have commissioned the Panguni Uthiram festival during 1003 CE. Raja Raja Chozha is said to have celebrated a 7day festival during the Tamil calendar month of Aavani and a 9day festival for Panguni Uthiram. He is also said to have fed a number of Brahmins here. Vijaya Rajendra Chozha is said to have donated this entire village to the Thiruvidanthai Lord.
There are inscriptions indicating benevolent contributions from Kulothunga Chola I during 1115 CE. The temple is a declared monument of the Archaeological Survey of India on account of the inscriptions in the temple. It is maintained as a monument under the Chennai circle and Mamallapuram sub circle of the institution. The temple has a palanquin made of ivory, the one of its kind for any Hindu temple.