Kadambavaneswarar Temple,
Erumbur – History
Erumbur, known in the early Chola period as Urumur, is
now an insignificant village. The Temple was called as Urumur Siru Tirukkoyil
Perumanadigal in ancient times. The presiding deity of the temple is called
Perumanadigal of Urumur Siru Tirukkoyil and in later times as Kadambavaneswarar.
There is an inscription on the southern wall of the main shrine, on the proper
left of the Dakshinamurti image.
It is dated in the 28th year of Maduraikonda Parakesari i.e.
Parantaka Chola I (935 AD).
It mentions that the vimana (the sanctum
with its superstructure) together with the sub-shrines for the Ashta Parivara
Devatas (the eight subsidiary deities) round the main shrine, was constructed
of stone by one Irungolan Gunavan Aparajitan. The temple is said to have been
constructed with the permission of the Chola King, Parantaka Chola I at the
request of the donor. It should be mentioned that this inscription relating to
the date of construction of the temple of stone is not the earliest inscription
found on its walls.
There are few inscriptions belonging to a certain
Parakesarivarman and Maduraikonda Parakesari, presumably Parantaka I himself. These
refer to a period earlier than the recorded date of the construction of this temple,
and they may relate to endowments made earlier. There are many instances of
such re-copying and re-inscribing of earlier grants after the completion of the
construction or renovation of temples. It is clear that there was ancient mud
temple in this village, may be during Parantaka Chola I period, the temple was
reconstructed with granite stones. This mud temple might be built by the Later
Pallavas.
In 925 A.D, Erumbur was called Nall Vayalur Kootrathu
Urumoor, in 1018 AD it was called Vada Karai Rajendra Simha Valanattu
Pradhesamana Urumoor, in 1134 AD it was called Vikrama
Chola Chathurvethi Mangalamana Urumoor. The name got changed from Vikrama
Chola Chathurvedhimangalamana Urumoor of Vadakarai Virutha Raja Payangara
Valanadu to Erumbur during Rajaraja Chola II (1153 AD).
There were Thiruvenkatathazhwar Temple, Thirumerkoyil
Azhwar Temple and Thiruviramikaramudaiya Periya Nayanar Temple in this village
along with Kadambavaneswarar Temple. In addition to these temples, there was a
Mandapam called Thiruvarangathevan Mandapam in this Village. There was an
inscription in the temple dating to 1026 AD stating that villagers gathered in
this Mandapam for annual audits of these temples. Also, Villagers decided to
levy local taxes for maintenance of these Temples. This inscription was dated
to Rajendra Chola I period. Except Kadambavaneswarar Temple, the Mandapam and
the temples were extinct.
There are 20 inscriptions in the temple belonging to
Parantaka Chola I, Sundara Chola, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I,
Rajendra Chola II, Rajaraja Chola II, Kulothunga Chola II, Vikrama Chola and
Thirubhuvana Rajaraja Devan. All these inscriptions talk about grants to burn
perpetual lamps, gift of golden articles, local villagers meetings and
renovations done to this Temple. People who lived in nearby villages Marungil,
Kachipedu, Aanaivaari, Poigai and Ozhukarai also provided gifts to this temple.