Anantheeswarar Temple, Kattumannarkoil – History
The
temple was much older than Thanjavur
Peruvudayar temple. Chola King Aditya Chola I had two wives. Rashtrakuta
Queen’s son Kannara Thevan did not get the kingdom. Parantaka Chola I, son of
Pallava Dynasty Queen came to power as Chola king in 907 A D and ruled it till
945 A D. He got the titles as Veera Chozhan, Veeranarayana, Irumudi Chozhan and
Panditha Vathsalan. Parantaka Chola I constructed Anantheeswarar
Temple at Udaiyargudi in 940 A.D. The place was called as
Veeranarayanapuram (presently Kattumannarkoil) named after his title.
As per Parantaka Chola 1 33rd regnal year
Inscription indicates Kattumannarkoil Region was called as Vadakarai
Brahmadeyam. A fort was constructed on the northern side of Anantheeswarar
Temple. Kanadarathitya Chola and Arikula Kesari Stayed in the fort with
their troop. This place is called as Kottaimedu now. Chembian Maadevi, wife of
Kanadarathitya Chola used to go to Anantheeswarar
Temple daily to worship the deity at that time.
Sundara Chola’s mother Veeman Kundavai and Adhithyan
Kothai Piratti had darshan of Anantheeswarar in the 12th year of
Sundara Chola’s regime (969 AD). As soon as Madurantaka Chola better known as
Uthama Chola took charge of the kingdom in 970 A.D. He came from Thanjavur and
stayed here in Udaiyargudi. His son also came and stayed here. As the Chozha
Udaiyars stayed here, this place was named as Udaiyargudi.
There are many Chola period inscriptions. This
Temple houses the inscriptions detailing punishments given to the
conspirators involved in the Mysterious Assassination of Aditya Karikala Chola
at Kadambur palace. This inscription dated to Rajaraja Chola I regime mentions
the name of the murderers of Aditya Karikala Chola and the punishment given.
The punishment was applicable not only to the persons involved but also to his
close relatives. The punishment was to dispose their belongings and sent out of
Chola country.
Also, it is believed that marriage of Rajaraja’s
grandmother Chembian Madevi’s marriage was held in this
temple. Veeman Kundavai donated lands for performing Abishekam of 1000 pots
of water on Makara Sankaranthi Day and Kothai Piratti donated lands for
Abishekam of water in 108 pots on the Chithirai New year Day. Rajendra Chola I
used to say that Anantheeswarar was their family deity (8th year
stone Inscription).
The stone inscriptions relating to Veeranarayana
Perumal Temple also were inscribed in this
Temple as it was in brick construction then. The portion south of
Veeranarayanan Lake and east of Madurantaka River (Vadavaru) is said to be
Veeranarayana Chathurvedhimangalam according to stone Inscriptions. Maha
Kumbabhishekam was performed in 1954 and again on 22-8-2004.