Atulya Nadheswarar Temple, Arakandanallur – History

Atulya Nadheswarar Temple, Arakandanallur – History

The original complex is believed to have been built by Pallavas in 7^th Century CE, with later expansion by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16^th century. There are rock-cut caves from the Pallava regime during the 10th century. The current Draupadi Amman shrine is believed to have been a Murugan temple.

There are several inscriptions from Chola emperors like Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014), Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120), Vikrama Chola (1118–1135), Kulothunga Chola II (1133–1150), Rajadhiraja Chola II (1166–1178), Kulothunga Chola III (1178–1218), Rajaraja Chola III (1216–1256) and Rajendra Chola III (1246–1279). There are inscriptions from Pandya kings like Maravarman Sundara Pandyan (1216–1238) and Maravarman Vikrama Pandiyan.

The contributions of the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire like Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529), Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) and Kampanna Udayar are also found in the inscriptions. There are also inscriptions from Kadava Emperor Kopperunjinga and Magadai chieftain Aragalur Udaiya Ponparappinan Rajarajadevan (Magadesan).

There are also inscriptions from the Sambuvarayar period, during the regime of Saga Loga Chakravarthy Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar. In all, there are a total of 96 inscriptions in the temple compiled in the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1902 in numbers 386-391, year 1905 number 26 and year 1935 number 111-195.

Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar was a chieftain of Medieval Cholas whose contributions are documented in his inscriptions across various temples in modern day Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts and also in his Sanskrit work Madhuravijayam. He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the temple. Most of these inscriptions talks about the grants & gifts made to this temple and renovations activities carried out in this temple.

This place was called as Rajaraja Valanattu Pennai Vadakarai Udaikattu Nattu Thiruaraiyani Nallur and Lord Shiva was called as Opporuvarumilla Nayanar / Oppillamanisvarar as per the inscriptions. The last consecration ceremony took place on 06.02.2003. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.