Brahma Gnanapureeswarar
Temple, Korukkai – History
The
city of Pazhayarai was one of the capital towns of
the Chola Empire. It consisted of present Patteeswaram, Muzhaiyur, Udaiyalur, Cholan Maligai, Thirusakthimutram, Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Pazhayarai is surrounded by the river Mudikondan on the
south and the river Thirumalairayan on the north. This town was also a capital for few years during later
Cholas. Sundara Chola, father of great Rajaraja Chola I ruled Chola
Dynasty from Pazhayarai.
Pazhayarai was called as Pazhayarai Nagar in the 7th
century, Nandipuram in the 8th century, Pazhayarai Nandipuram in the
9th and 10th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11th
century and Rajarajapuram in the 12th century. Pazhayarai housed four battle camps of the Cholas namely Aariyapadaiyur,
Pampapadaiyur, Manapadaiyur and Puthupadaiyur. Pazhayarai was considered as birthplace of Amaraneedi
Nayanar and Mangayarkkarasiyar, a saint amongst the 63 Nayanmars.
During Devaram times, Pazhayarai was divided into four major division namely; Pazhayarai Vadathali, Metrali, Keezhthali and Thenthali.
Thali means Temple in ancient Tamil. Kailasanathar Temple was situated in
Metrali, Dharmapureeswarar Temple in Vadathali, Somanathar Temple in Keezhthali and Parasunathaswamy Temple in Thenthali. Thenthali is called as Muzhaiyur now. Dharmapureeswarar Temple in Vadathali is the Padal Petra Sthalam and the other
three temples are Thevara Vaippu Sthalam.
Before Vijayalaya Chola could set up his capital in Thanjavur (850 B.C.) and lay the foundation for the
powerful Chola Empire that followed, the Chola kings were the chieftains in Pazhayarai. It was in this metropolis that Raja Rajan (985
– 1014) spent his childhood and where his sister Kundavai lived with her
husband. King Rajendran I (1012 – 1044) lived here before shifting his capital
to Gangai Konda Chola Puram. This
temple is said to have been built during the times of Kulothunga Chola
III.