Moolanathaswamy Temple, Thenkarai, Sholavandan –
History
Iron Age:
Archaeologists
have unearthed stone weapons belonging to late Stone Age and burial urns
belonging to megalithic period which corresponds with Sangam period or Iron
Age.
Katti Kallur:
In earlier
days, the village is known by many names usually based on the names of the
rulers. Initially, the village was Kallur. As the feudatories ruled the area
was named as Katti, it gained its name as Katti Kallur.
Sendhaneri Katti Kallur:
During
the reign of early Pandya ruler Chezhiyan Sendhan, a lake Sendhan lake was dug.
Henceforth, the village was known as Sendhaneri Katti Kallur.
Parakrama Pandiyapuram:
It also
gained another name called Parakrama Pandiyapuram when medieval Pandya King
Parakrama, reigned between 1087 A.D and 1104 A.D. In 1190 A.D.
Kulasekerapuram:
Jada
Varman Kulasekaran – I ruled the area and christened it as Kulasekerapuram.
Thenkarai:
During
the regime of Thirumalai Naicker, the village got its name – Thenkarai as it is
located on the southern bank of river Vaigai.
Temple Construction & Renovations:
King
Veerapandian in the year 946 A.D. constructed a temple for Lord Siva, so says
Thenkarai Puranam and the inscriptions. This temple lasted for 100 years and in
due course falls into decay. In the 11th century, Parakrama Pandian constructed
a temple in the same place. This took 17 years for the completion. There are
inscriptions in the temple regarding the construction and contributions made by
the rulers. Lord Moolanathar Temple had its full form in 1090 A.D. King Parakrama
Pandian, Srivallabha Pandian, Kulasekara Pandian and later Naicker rulers had
donated abundantly. The inscription of Tirumalai Naicker in 1629 A.D. and
Chokkanatha Naicker in 1673 A.D. are still found in this temple which narrates
their contribution to the temple.