Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur – Inscriptions
The temple was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th
century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers of the
Sangama Dynasty, the Saluva Dynasty and the Tuluva Dynasty. An inscription
which was dated in the 20th year of the Rajendra I
(1012–1044) beginning with the introduction "Tirumanni
valara" is found on the north and west walls of the Thyagaraja shrine.
There is a list of gifts including a number of the jewels and lamps to the Lord Vidividanka
Devar (Thyagarajar). Inscriptions say that the temple was built in stone by the
king Anukkiyar Paravai Nangaiyar.
Royal patronage meted out to this shrine is evident from the
abundant stone inscriptions that are seen in the temple complex. It is evident
that the original shrine of worship, possibly a brick and mortar structure was
replaced with a more rugged granite structure and added to, over a period of
time. The earliest inscriptions regarding grants to this temple date back to
the period of Aditya Chola of
the latter half of the 9th century CE and Parantaka Chola I (907-955 CE).
The Achaleswarar shrine
in the temple complex was rebuilt of stone during the period of Sembian
Mahadevi. Rajaraja Chola I the
best known of the Chola monarchs
built the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur and endowed it with vast amounts of wealth. It is
learned from records that forty four dancers were brought in from Tiruvarur to render their service
at the Thanjavur temple.
Raja Raja was a great devotee of Nataraja
and Vitankar (Dakshinameru Vitankar - an icon
representing the Somaskanda manifestation
installed in a separate shrine at the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur).
There are inscriptions testifying to his son Rajendra Chola's visit
to the Tiruvarur temple, and his donation of a lamp in commemoration of the
visit, soon after the conversion of the brick built shrine into a stone
structure. Rajendra Chola is also associated with rebuilding the Thyagaraja shrine at Thiruvotriyur in
stone. Both Thiruvotriyur and Tiruvarur are closely associated
with the life of Sundara Moorthy
Nayanar. Images of Rajaraja
Chola and Rajendra Chola are housed in the Tiruvarur temple.
Inscriptions from the period of the Chola rulers that
succeeded Rajendra Chola are
seen in the temple complex. Kulottunga
Chola II extended great patronage to the temple and instituted
grants for carrying out several festivities in the temple on a regular basis.
Also are seen, inscriptions from the Pandya period, the Vijayanagar rulers, the Nayaka period and the Maratha period.
The name Thyagaraja became
associated with Veedhi Vitankar during
the period of Kulottunga Chola II (vide Muchukunda Sahasranamam). Several
literary works such as the Tiruvarur
Puranam came to be written after the 15th century.
The Maratha ruler Serfoji Maharaja of Thanjavur was devoted to the shrine at Tiruvarur and
he performed the renovation and the Kumbabishekam of the shrine in the year 1717.
Another Kumbabishekam was
performed in the temple in 1986 and the most recent one in March 2001. The
unbroken traditions of this temple survived the changes of the kingdoms and
absorbed their influences in art, craft, literature, and
history. The Thyagarajaswami temple once called Poongkoil has a
synonymous association with Thiruvarur today.