Konar Temple, Thirumalpur –
History
The
temple might have built during the transition
period between Pallava & Cholas. The green stones used in building this
temple are different from the locally available granite stones. Lord Vishnu of this temple is called as Ninrarulina Perumanadigal as per the inscriptions
available in this temple. The
temple contains inscriptions of Paranthaka Chola I,
Rajaraja Chola I, Sundara Chola, Uthama Chola, Parthivendravarman, Rajadhiraja
Chola I and Kulothunga Chola III.
Inscriptions dated to Parantaka Chola I were dated from
his 12th to 41st regnal year. One inscription refers to the
gift of a lamp by prince Parantaka Uthamasili, a son of Parantaka I. Another
records the gift of a lamp by the Chola queen, Amanimadeviyar from Pandinadu to
Ninrarulina Perumanadigal at Govindapadi in Vallanadu, a sub division of Damar Kottam in Thondai
Nadu.
The Chola queen Pallavan Madeviyar of Kunnathur in
Umbala Nadu made a gift of a lamp to this deity as per the inscription dated to
31st regnal year of Parantaka Chola I. Another inscription dated to
unknown regnal year of Parantaka Chola I records a gift to this Lord made by
the Chola queen Panchavan Madevi. There are four inscriptions dated to Parthivendravarman,
a Pallava chieftain under Cholas, who took the head of Vira Pandya in the
famous Sevur battle.
All his inscriptions were dated from his 3rd to
13th regnal year. His inscriptions record the gift of gold by
Vaidumbaraditta Brahmadhirajan, the building of a mandapa and purchase of land
by the mahout of the king & donating to feed the priests in the mutt attached
to the
temple. There are two inscriptions dated to the 17th
regnal year of Sundara Chola records donation of perpetual lamps. An
inscription dated to the 14th regnal year of Uthama Chola records an
idol of Manavala Perumal was installed and a gift was made for offerings to him.
An idol of Hanuman was installed, and provision was
made for the recitation of Nammalvar Thiruvaimozhi in the
temple as per the inscription dated to the 11th regnal
year of Rajaraja Chola I. An inscription of Rajadhiraja mentions
the Lord as Ninrarulina Perumal Uyyakkondalvar at Govindapadi. This
temple is under the control of Archaeological survey of India (ASI).
