Moovar
Koil, Kodumbalur – History
Kodumbalur was mentioned as Kodumbai lying in the trade
route between Uraiyur and Madurai in the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. The route taken by
Kovalan, hero of Silapathikaram, with his wife Kannagi. Kodumbalur is considered as the birthplace of Idangazhi Nayanar, one of the Irukku Velir chieftains who
served under the Chola kings. The Irunkovel line of kings ruled
over Ko Nadu identified with the Kodumbalur and surrounding areas in ancient Tamilakam.
Irunkovel clan is said to
have been descended from the Yadavas of Dwarka, who migrated
to South India with the sage Agastya. Sangam literature mentions
a chieftain called Irunkovel who could trace his lineage back over 49
generations to residence in Thuvarai (Dwaraka). He is later defeated by
Karikala and becomes a subordinate to the Chola sovereign. Kodumbalur was a battlefield between Pallavas and
Pandyas in the 8th century CE in which both sides claimed victory.
Later, Irukkuvel became a powerful ally of the Cholas in
the 9th - 10th centuries. Also, Kodumbalur became an
important commercial centre from 9th century as the Manigramam, an
early type of trade guild is found active here. Bhuti Vikrama Kesari was ruling over Kodumbalur in 9th century
CE. He is stated to have defeated the Pallavas and the Pandyas. Bhuti Vikrama Kesari is identified
with Tennavan Ilangovel, a feudatory of the Chola king Aditya I. Daughter of Bhuti, Nangai,
was married to the Chola prince
Arikulakesari, son of Parantaka I.
The
temple complex was built by Kodumbalur Velir chief Bhuti
Vikrama Kesari as per the Sanskrit inscription found on the southern wall of
the central shrine. He named the central shrine after
himself and the two flanking ones after his queens Karrali and Varaguna. The
inscriptions in the
temple also gives us a glimpse of the political climate of south
India between the 8th and the 10th centuries as well as
the relation between the royal houses of Chola and
the Irukkuvel.
The Irukkuvel were traditional allies of
the Cholas and the chief, Bhuti Vikrama Kesari himself was
the son of a Chola princess Anupama and Irukkuvel chieftain
Samarabhirama. Periyapuranam provides
a reference of Konnatukkodi Nagaram (apex
town of Konadu) for Kodumbalur. The
temple complex is maintained and administered by
the Archaeological Survey of India as a ticketed monument.
