Gopinatha Perumal Temple, Patteeswaram – History

Gopinatha Perumal Temple, Patteeswaram – 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 7^th century, Nandipuram in the 8^th century, Pazhayarai Nandipuram in the 9^th and 10^th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11^th century and Rajarajapuram in the 12^th 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.

Several temples had been built around the Pazhayarai between 9^th Century and 13^th Century by the Chola kings. Most of them were dedicated to Lord Shiva, this Temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Temple was destroyed during Islamic invasion and was again renovated by the Vijayanagara Kings. The Temple is currently in dilapidated state. The temple is known as Gopinatha Vinnagaram. The Temple had been called as Dwarka of the south India by Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer.