Sunday, February 25, 2018

Kailasamundaiyar Temple, Cholamadevi, Trichy

Kailasamundaiyar Temple, Cholamadevi, Trichy
Kailasamundaiyar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Cholamadevi Village in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located amidst the lush green paddy fields and sylvan surrounding on the northern banks of the Uyyakondan channel.




History
The highlight of the temple is that it was built by Rajaraja Chola I, who also built the internationally famous Big Temple of Tanjore. It dates to the 11th century (1065 A.D) and is a treasure house of historic information.

The Temple
The Siva Temple consists of a central shrine, ardha and Mahamandapams. The presiding deity, the Linga has a square base. The four-pillared Ardha Mandapam has exquisite in the front. Two Dwarapalas sculpture adorn the entrance of the Ardhamandapam. The main deity (Shiva) is called as Kailasamundaiyar. The Goddess is named as Karpagambal. The temple is in dilapidated state today. As the shrine of Goddess is not in good condition, the idol of Goddess is also placed near Shiva Linga.




The main shrine has the big relief images of Dwarapalas. They look somewhat similar to the images of Tanjore Big Temple. The small bali peetha and Nandi idol are found facing the temple under the open space. A lot of idols that are excavated in and around the site are placed inside the temple - Ayyanar with two consorts, Kaumari, Murugan and Valli, Chandikeswarar, Surya, Vishnu Durgai and another Goddess.




Ganesha, Dhakshinamoorthi, Bhikshatana, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are found as koshta idol surrounding the temple wall. The image of Dhakshinamoorthi is completely destroyed. The other idols look very attractive. In the temple wall, there is a small hole with the relief image of snake; it is the hole which was left for the snakes to enter inside the temple, it is believed.




Inscriptions
The temple, dating back to the 11th century, is a virtual treasure house of historic information pertaining to the Cholas. The adhishtana and the walls of the temple are fully covered with inscriptions belonging to the periods of Raja Raja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I and Vira Rajendra Chola I. A majority of the inscriptions belong to Raja Raja I. As per the inscriptions, the village was once called as 'Thenkarai Brahmadeyam Sri Cholamadevi Chadurvedi Mangalam'. This village was an important site during those times. It is said that Cholamadevi (referred in this place) was the 13th wife of Rajaraja Chola; he built this temple and a palace nearby for his queen. As per one of the inscriptions found in this temple, a huge flower garden measuring around 7 acres was there adjoining the temple; the flowers were used to be sent til the far-off Kanchipuram city.

Inscriptions about Saareerakabhashya:
Further, the inscriptions contain the earliest known reference to Saareerakabhashya, a commentary on Sankara's philosophy, written by Chidaananda Bhattaara. The inscription is in Tamil with a few Sanskrit words in between written in Grantha characters. This inscription in Cholamadevi belongs to the reign of Vira Rajendra Chola (1063-1069 C.E.). It records the grant of land, upon a royal command, for the maintenance of a teacher, who taught a Varttika called Pradeepaka, written by Chidananda Pidariar. The epigraph says this Varttika was a commentary on a work known as Saareerakabhashya, written by one who bore the title of Bhagavatpada.
The inscription could be assigned to 1063 -1069 C.E., the Varttika must have been written at least 50 or 60 years earlier, for it to have been learnt and expounded, and for a king to have provided a grant for teaching it. That would mean that the Varttika was perhaps written during the reign of Raja Raja I. As for the name Saareerakabhashya, used in the inscription, Sankara’s Brahmasutra Bashya. Ramanujacharya’s Bashya, popularly known as Sri Bashya is also referred to as Saareeraka Mimamsa Bhashya.
But the possible date of composition of the Varttika mentioned in the Cholamadevi inscription, means it cannot be a commentary on Ramanuja’s work, because the latter was born in 1017 C.E. Moreover, the honorific of Bhagavatpada is used for Sankara, and not for any other preceptor. The inscription is engraved very close to the place intended for Dakshinamurthy, although the icon is now missing. In the Advaitic tradition, Dakshinamurthy Ashtaka is recited before and after the conclusion of Sankara Bashya classes.
So, the location of the inscription was further proof that the Saareerakabhashya referred to in the Cholamadevi inscription was Sankara’s Bashya. Classes for teaching Chidananda Pidarar’s Varttika were also probably held somewhere close to the Dakshinamurthy sannidhi. In conclusion, the inscription reveals the following interesting facts: Sankara’s Brahmasutra Bashya was popularly known as Saareerakabhashya in Tamil Nadu; Sankara was referred to by his honorific Bhagavatpada, in Tamil Nadu, as early as the 11th century; a Varttika existed for his Bashya in the 11th century; the Varttika was considered significant enough for a Chola king to make arrangements for it to be taught.
There is no information about Chidananda Pidarar. Pidarar is an honorific in Tamil, equivalent to the Sanskrit Bhattaraka or Bhattaara. Unfortunately, Chidananda Pidarar’s Varttika is lost to us. Interestingly, the inscription says that the village assembly which declared the royal grant for teaching of the Varttika, met in the courtyard of the Vishnu temple in the village. The inscription refers to the Vishnu temple as Thirumaliruncholai Alwar temple. There are other inscriptions in the Siva temple that talk of provisions for conducting various services in the temple. In all these cases, the village council is said to have assembled in the courtyard of the Vishnu temple, to sanction these grants. But no traces of Vishnu Temple are found here.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 700 meters from Cholamadevi Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Thiruverumbur, 21 Kms from Chatram Bus Stand, 20 Kms from Trichy Central Bus Stand and 16 Kms from Trichy. Nearest Railway Stations are located at Thiruverumbur (5 Kms) and Trichy (19 Kms). Nearest Airport is located at Trichy (14 Kms).
Location

References