Keezhaiyur Twin Temples,
Pazhuvur – History
The ancient name of this village
was Mannuperumpazhuvur, Periya Pazhuvur and Melai Pazhuvur. Current Mela
Pazhuvur, Keezha Pazhuvur and Keezhaiyur forms the ancient Mannuperumpazhuvur. It
was the capital of the Pazhuvettaraiyar Chiefs who were from Kerala and ruled
Ariyalur area as feudatories of the Chola Kings from Aditya I to Rajendra Chola
I. Pazhuvettaraiyar Kumaran Kandan, Kumaran Maravan, Kandan Amudan and Maravan
Kandan were some of the notable kings of this family.
Chola Kings had marital
alliances with the Pazhuvettaraiyar family. Parantaka Chola married Arumozhinangai
who was the daughter of the Pazhuvettaraiyar Chief Kumaran Maravan and the
Chola King Arinjaya Chola was born to this princess. Uthama Chola (970-986)
also married a princess of this family. Panchavan Maadevi, wife of Rajaraja – I
was also a native of Avani Kandarvapuram. She was a dancing girl of this
temple.
The Chola Kings seem to have had
their minting factory at this Capital. Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan, famous
historical novel, a portion of the story revolves in this place. Keezhaiyur was
part of the capital city of Pazhuvettaraiyar chieftains, subordinates to the
Chola kings. It was called as Avani Kandarvapuram during the period of the
Cholas. It was a mercantile town of itinerant trade guilds.
The
Temple was called as Avani Kandarpa Isvaram and built in A.D. 884 during
the 13th year of Aditya – I by Pazhuvettaraiyar chief Kumaran Kandan
and Maravan Kandan. The temples were excellent examples of the early Chola
architecture. These temples had been constructed prior to the construction of
the Big Temple in Thanjavur. The temple has been the centre for promoting art
and culture.
The
temple has attached importance to music. This is evident from one of the
idols on the Vimanam holding a musical instrument. According to the
inscriptions, the temple in the north is called as Vadavayil Srikoil (Chozheeswaram)
and the one on the south is called as Thenvayil Srikoil (Agastheeswaram).
An inscription of the time of Rajendra Chola says that two persons guilty of
homicide had to surrender their land to the Keezhaiyur
temple.
Another inscription also of
Rajendra I's time shows that provision was made for paying a nattuvakkani -
dance master. The earliest inscription in the
temple complex is of the 13th regnal year of Aditya Chola. This
inscription records a gift for burning a perpetual lamp in the two shrines,
under the orders of Nakkan Pazhuvettaraiyar Kumaran Kandan. Many other
Pazhuvettaraiyars are mentioned in inscriptions in the two temples, and are
also referred to as Maravar, Vadugar and Kaikkolar.
An inscription here mentions
that one of queens of Rajaraja I belonged to the Pazhuvettaraiyar clan. The
inscription, of the 27 regnal year of Rajaraja, says that upon the request of
his queen Nakkan Panchavan Mahadevi, the daughter of Avani Kandarpa Purattu
Devanar of Pazhuvur, the King granted income from newly surveyed lands to the
temple.
