Friday, June 25, 2021

Veetrirundha Perumal Temple, Veppathur – History

Veetrirundha Perumal Temple, Veppathur – History

The temple is built on top of an older brick temple some of whose remains have survived. The older brick temple is dated to 550 AD. The remains constitute one of the two surviving Hindu temples of the pre Pallava period, the other being the Subrahmanya temple at Saluvankuppam, and one of the oldest ones in Tamil Nadu. The temple built on top of an older brick temple was constructed by Pallava King Nandivarman III in 850 AD.

He settled Brahmins in Veppathur and named the area as Avani Narana Chaturvedi Mangalam after one of his titles. The temple was called as Avani Narana Vinnagar. It was during the rule of Nandivarman III that the Pallava murals were painted (on the inner walls of the sanctum). The presiding deity at that time was a stucco figure. The Temple was extensively renovated by the Chola King Rajaraja Chola I. 

It was during the time of Rajaraja Chola I, the presiding deity of Veetrirundha Perumal, and his two consorts, Nilamangai and Thirumangai, all made of granite, were consecrated in the sanctum. The frescoes of the Chola period were painted over the Pallava murals during the rule of Rajaraja Chola I. The Temple was later renovated by Krishnadevaraya in 1520 AD and fresh murals were drawn over the Chola frescoes.

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has permitted the REACH Foundation to restore and conserve the temple. The stone images of the deities were brought down from the dilapidated sanctum and installed about 90 years ago in a shrine at the base of the mound. The worship of these deities continues to this day.